July
RAILMAIL
President, Donnie
Shirey
918-361-1760 donniewshirey@mbcsi.com
Vice.
Pres. Vernon Guess
918-361-6084 vg3616084@aol.com
Treasurer, Kathy
Klawitter
918-382-9924 mjkjn6789@sbcglobal.net
Secretary, Nadine
Hodge
918-742-1743 nh2640@sbcglobal.net
Editor, Jim Martin
918-756-3324 nitram1933@sbcglobal.net
C/o
www.tulsagardenrailroadclub.org
info@tulsagarderailroadclub.org
Greetings from the
President’s Roundhouse
July
is now upon us, and as it goes in
Remember,
we still need items for show and tell for the club meetings. Bring your items
to the next meeting for a little “show and brag”. Until the
meeting…. Donnie
Large
Scale Closeout.
The remaining large scale inventory (Skip Diehl’s)
will be available for sale at our meeting in July at closeout prices. Those
items not sold will be raffled off or put into the club’s inventory of rolling
stock.
2- 1926 Monogram Mack Truck Kits
1- Bachmann 2-4-2 White Pass & Yukon Loco &
Tender
1- Bachmann 4-6-0
4- 20’ Flat Cars
1- 1934 Ford Coupe, Red
1- 1939 Ford Pick Up, Red
1- Coke Oven
1- Ozark Logging Disconnect Kit (2 cars)
1- Pr. Logging Disconnects
3- HLW 4
1- HLW 4 Wheel Bobber Caboose
1-
1- Sierra Climax Sound System
1- Clear Creek 10’ Tool Car Kit
1- Clear Creek 10’ Crane Car Kit
1- Badger Air Brush Set
1- Ozark Hand Pump Car
1- Box Misc. Figures and Accessories
1- Crest Gel
1- HLW Diesel Switch Engine
1- ART 5480 27 mh2 Hand Controller
1- Unit Stationary Roller
Misc. Doors & Windows
Misc. Batteries
Misc. Electrical Parts
If you’re in the area, this is a must see. One of the finest displays of equipment and dioramas showcasing the
“railroad’s history” and impact on our nation’s growth. X4294 is a cab
forward 4-8-8-2, one of several dozen, that were operated by the SP through the
mountains and tunnels of the
www.californiastaterailroadmuseum.org
Whoops!
This old flanger at the
RR Motel looked like it had been slightly over worked in its day.
Minutes,
July Meeting
The
meeting was called to order by Bob Gardine, filling
in for President Donnie Shirey. The
Minutes were approved. The Treasurer’s Report
was given.
Old Business
The Annual tour was held Saturday May
31. Most tour sites were hit hard by
heavy rain. But the weather cleared, and
attendance picked up in the afternoon. Dewey
– Bob suggested that if the purpose for attending events is to help the club
gain membership, setting up at events in OKC or Dewey would not serve that
purpose since we are not likely to draw in members from that far away.
Ground track trailer -- No progress has been
made on locating a trailer for the ground track.
New Business
Raffle tickets for a G-scale Lionel were
sold at the tour sites during the annual tour.
The winning ticket was drawn at the meeting. The winner, club member Rob Hardgrove.
On June 16, hosts and volunteers met for an after-tour meeting. The following
suggestions were made (1) more advertising and earlier advertising (2) more
signs (3) more participation by club members (4) more help at tour sites before
the tour (5) add city & state to the sign-in sheets. At the meeting, those
suggestions were discussed, as follows:
Advertising – Bob explained that, in
the past, we have targeted our advertising to train enthusiasts. We left flyers at hobby shops, and informed
other clubs. We wanted to be selective
on who we invite into our back yards. Charging
for the tour books also limits attendance to those most interested. Bob suggested asking other train clubs and
water garden clubs to post on their website an announcement of our tour and a
link to our website. It was also
suggested that we leave flyers at local nurseries, e.g., Colebrook and Southwood.
Signs – Bob indicated the club
purchased the signs several years ago, paying $100 for 50 signs. Joe stenciled the train; Bob
stenciled the TGRRC.
Where are all the signs? It was
suggested that former club members might still have them, club members who
hosted a tour. Bob suggested
that in the future, we indicate to the tour hosts that they have custody of the
signs but that the signs belong to club.
More participation by club
members –
Bob recognized that many club members this year wanted to visit the tour sites,
so they were not available to help with the tour. He suggested that a solution to this might be
to hold Open Houses during the year.
That way, club members can see the tour sites during the year, which
will free them up to help on the day of the event.
More help at tour sites
before the tour
– Bob again suggested an Open House as a solution, a working Open House. Club members could help lay track or help
solve problems with the layout. Bob
indicated that he held his Open House the week before the tour as a dry run, to be sure everything would be running smoothly for the
tour.
Add city and state to
sign-in sheets. The sign-in sheet asked for an email address,
which we plan to use to announce next year’s tour and/or upcoming events but
not for monthly meetings. The sign-in
sheet also asked how the visitor heard about the tour, which will help us focus next year’s advertising. Adding city and state to the sign-in sheet
might also help determine where to advertise the tour. The following
suggestions were also made at the meeting relative to improving next year’s
tour:
Fun for kids – Bob reminded us that
former club members and tour hosts, Fred & Marilyn Allen, prepared lists of
items for kids to look for on the railroad, such as, where is the water tower;
can you find the log cabin? They may
also have provided a word search puzzle.
Information sheet – Bob indicated that since
he was working alone on the day of the tour, he found it helpful to have a
general information sheet for visitors.
It gave basic information and answered the most frequently asked
questions, which freed him up to give more detailed information to those most
interested.
Business cards -- Also handy to have at
tour sites, for visitors to take with them, are business cards or brightly
colored strips of paper with the club name and web address.
Host identifier-- Sonya Bennett indicated
it would be helpful to know, when entering a backyard, who
the host is. Bob mentioned that in
previous years, the host has worn a lanyard with a “Host” identifier. He also mentioned that the Ozark club has a
metal sign, when entering a tour site, that identifies
the host and the name of the railroad.
Feedback – We encourage feedback
from hosts and visitors. Please let us
know what worked and what didn’t so we can improve next year’s tour.
Videos – Bob suggested showing
videos (with sound) at events, not just photo albums and scrapbooks.
Socializing – Bob indicated the Ozark
club meets on Saturdays at someone’s house.
Their club is a social club. By
comparison, the
Crossbuck Signs -- Bob has wooden crossbuck signs
available for purchase at $15 each. They
have been primed. They need to be
finished with white enamel paint and the “Railroad Crossing” lettering. And Joe has plans available for crossbuck signs with flashing lights.
Reimbursement for gasoline
expense --
A lengthy discussion was held about the possibility of the club reimbursing
club members for gas expenses to and from events. The club would need to vote on it.
Bob
suggested, if we decide to go this route, that the
club reimburse only that club member who hauls the track to events or who pulls
the parade float, but not reimburse the volunteers helping at the event.
Model airplane event – Gary Gill announced a
model airplane fly-in on July 26-27 at
Program
Sonya
and James Bennett, who visited all the sites on the annual tour, showed a video
they compiled. And they circulated a
photo album of the tour sites. They also
produced a photo CD of all the tour sites and provided a copy to all the tour
hosts.
Submitted by Nadine Hodge, Club Secretary
Banner
Photo
This
month’s banner photo is from the railroad of Ron & Ginny Salach! Good to see them back in action again.Got
a favorite photo of your railroad? Send it to me at nitram1933@sbcglobal.net
Last
Stop,
28 Cabooses make up this unique motel along with
several coaches and box cars that serve as restaurant and lounge in this
mountain setting. A nice last stop for the cabooses, and a
unique sleep over for their guests.
www.rrpark.com
Our
Next Stop… 6:45pm, Thursday, July 31st at the