September 27, 2023
UPCOMING EVENTS
Bosse Toy Train Museum:
- October 28th, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- November 4th, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- November 18th, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
The 33rd Annual Festival of Trains:
- December 8th (Setup)
- December 9th
- December 10th
- December 11th (Takedown)
- December 9th
- Dinner at The Timbers
- Dessert to follow at the Goleta Libarary.
Brief Notes
Our meeting on Wednesday, September 27th, commenced at 7:05 PM, with President Kalvin leading the way. We had the pleasure of hosting ten regular members and one member joining us via Zoom.
Treasurer's Report
The treasurer, Art Bosse, was engaged in a special event that evening and, therefore, couldn’t provide a Treasurer’s Report. We’re pleased to report that all members have paid their dues.
Old Business
- TrainFest at Union Station:
On September 10th, Leo and Kal went to Train Fest at Union Station in Los Angeles. The event featured various model train layouts, including those from the Amtrak Club, the Orange County Model Railroaders, the Southern California Traction Club, and the Southern California Z Scale Model Railroading Group. Alongside these layouts, there were real trains on display, such as the Amtrak P42 number 203 and various passenger equipment, including sleeper cars. Visitors had the opportunity to explore a Metrolink F125 locomotive and the Bombardier cars, with access to the locomotive cab and informative descriptions. Additionally, there were private cars available for tours, including the Talgo passenger car observation car and a Union Pacific car.
The event showcased several locomotives, including one from Burlington Northern Santa Fe, although it was not accessible for visitors. The SoCal Railroad Museum had the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe 5704 painted in red, white, and blue, and the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society’s Santa Fe number 3751 steam locomotive. Visitors could explore the steam locomotive’s cab, and it was operational, allowing attendees to blow its whistle, although this was limited to avoid losing steam pressure. It was an enjoyable and educational experience.
- The Bosse Toy Train Museum:
Held an open event on September 16th, which drew a nice turnout of visitors. On September 27th, the museum hosted a special event from 12:00 to 2:00 for the Antique Auto Club of America.
New Business
- Zoom
We had a productive discussion about our Zoom account during the meeting. Currently, we are using a free version of Zoom, which limits our meeting times to 40 minutes and often interrupts us right in the middle of Show and Tell. We explored the option of getting a paid subscription, which would cost $150. However, considering the number of people using the Zoom account, we collectively decided that the cost doesn’t justify it. Instead, we plan to schedule two Zoom meetings, one immediately following the other. This way, we can make the most of our time without disruptions.
- Club Dinner
Club dinner will be at the Timbers: Our next item of business concerns the December Club dinner. Based on the positive experience last year, where we dined at the Timbers, we are considering revisiting the venue. However, this time, we need to determine if the Timbers can provide separate receipts for each group within the party. Last year, the club covered most of the bill, with each member contributing only around $10. As our group has grown, we will not be covering the bill this time, but we are discussing how the club can supplement it. Further details will be discussed at the next meeting.
- 33rd annual Festival of Trains
Dave’s Festival of Trains: It’s that time of year again, and the 33rd annual Festival of Trains, Dave’s Festival of Trains, is set to take place on December 9th and 10th, with setup on the 8th and teardown on the 11th. The event will run from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM on Saturday and from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Sunday. We’re looking for volunteers to help with setup, operation, and takedown. Details will be discussed at the next meeting.
- Club Shirts
There has been a growing need for more Club shirts, given our increasing membership. Art is currently exploring options for having more shirts made. The club may consider contributing toward the cost of the shirts as well.
Next Month's Theme
As we approach October, we discussed our theme for the next meeting. Given that it’s the Halloween season, we decided to make it Halloween-themed, focusing on BLACK and ORANGE or anything SPOOKY. Feel free to bring your ghoulish train-related items, and we’ll have a spooktacular time!