By Ed Ives

A visit was paid to the railroad as there had been a call for help with the Lionel layout there. The layout has been moved from the south side of the building to the north side and in the process the wiring was unsympathetically cut. This needs to be repaired as the museum would like for the layout to be operational for the Thomas event in July. I need to recruit 4D members for the task of repairing and running the layout during the event.

As to the museum’s long term plans for this layout, it seems that it is destined to be mobile at least within the building. To avoid the current difficulties, electrical disconnects would be desired under the layout. The life of the layout is expected to be only (in their words) 5 to 10 years (sound permanent to me).

The Railway has started construction of the roundhouse where several 12″ to the foot pieces of equipment will be on display. In the floor above there is a plan for a large HO (I believe) layout representing the local historic scene. When complete the Lionel layout will be decommissioned but the existing N gauge layout will be retained, or that is the current expectation.

Please if you have some spare time, do volunteer to assist in the repair of the layout (wiring and scenery) as well as operating it during the Thomas event. All volunteers must register as such on the railway website. It only takes a couple of minutes.

Questions? Call Ed Ives 425-391-3313 or email Gresley7@gmail.com

Ed