LIVE! from Zube Park

On Nov. 15, 2001, HALS was featured live during numerous segments on Houston Channel 26's Morning Show. The previous morning, members met with the staff explaining and planning for the next day's broadcast. Then on the 15th at 6:15 a.m., the first remote interview was conducted. Yep, that early. Members had to open up at 5:00 a.m. to let the TV crew in and the members turned out in large numbers. Great coverage resulting in the next Saturday's 2000 riders.

Andrea Watkins, Channel 26 News Reporter

Jesse Castaneda, Cameraman

Stu Brown, Soundman

Andrea and Vance Nickerson	The TV Van	An Electronic Junkie's dream	Judy Nickerson, Stu, Andrea and Vance	Stu, Jesse, Andrea and Vance
Andrea and Vance	Andrea, Vance and Jesse	Jesse, Vance and Andrea	Doug Blodgett, Jesse and Andrea	Taking a ride for the camera
Andrea enjoys a ride	Stu gets a quick lesson	Stu takes the throttle!	And Jesse enjoys the ride	Photos: Fred Rorex David Hannah

Members in Action November 3rd

A Garage Sale of some of Jim Jackson's prized possessions. Slab poured for the Interlocking Tower from David Hannah's Browning Railroad.
Click to Enlarge

Doug Blodgett-First buyer of the day	Array of Castings and Tools	Metal	Tom Herbert handles the sale	Carolyn Jackson in the center
Michael Hales and Dan Douglas put wheels on the new cooler	Michael Hales mixes the concrete for the interlocking tower	Doug Blodgett scrapes the concrete	Doug: Hmmm I think my screed is warped	Dan Douglas and Bobby Bridges put on the finishing touches
Refurbished by Doug Blodgett, the Interlocking Tower is in place

Wimberley, Blanco & Southern, August 4, 2001

1 Pavilion greets visitors.	2 Carlift/transfer table.	3 Turntable	4 Turntable to bay lock
5 Lock closed	6 Car barns	7 2x4 ties	8 Narrow gauge barn
9 Roundhouse	10 Inside car barn	11 Immaculate 27 year-old Atlantic	12 The Atlantic's backhead
13 Reverse Osmosis water treatment	14 Ballast bin/tipple	15 Bobby's end-dump ballast car	16 Drainage
17 Flood control	18 Unfinished crossover	19 Finished double track crossover	20 60-ft clear span followed by 20-ft clear span bridge supports
21 Massive bridge abutments	22 Rock first cut by saw and then by ram hoe	23 Double slip-switch	24 Workcar with individual's toolboxes

 

The following are photographs of the placing of the bridge components on the WB&S Click for larger pictures.

These are from trip to Nick Edward's track and Reported by Doug Blodgett:
I took Pia and Greg, and Gary Brothers in my van and Lee took Tom Herbert and Bobbie Bridges in his truck. We were treated royally by our host and hostess and learned a lot about how to build track in the hill country. A number of good ideas were seen that can be used on the CC&S and we were treated to a demonstration of the "back end drop" ballasting car that Bobbie has built for them. We were also treated to a good demonstration on tamping and track straightening procedures. Some things we drooled over, like the split level engine barns ground level front entrance track and waist high tracks inside the building accessible through the back doors. Unfortunately, we don't have the natural slopes in our terrain for something like that. After a very nice lunch prepared by Nick Edwards and Bill Lairds wives, some of us drove trains while others checked out bridge construction, etc. All in all, it was a very nice and informative trip and I am looking forward to incorporating some of the things we saw into our own track (especially the way they build crossovers for vehicles).

Origins of Thomas the Tank Engine

Could this photo be doctored? Or is it Lee's nightmare?

April 21 Run Day Here are some additional pictures from the April 21st Run Day submitted by Rick White. Captions are provided by Rick. Thanks, Rick, for these pictures and the ones on the Run Day Page.

Prototype

Yes, there's a prototype for everything and here's some photos that Fred Rorex shot in March which should be of interest.