THE ABTO GAZETTE August, 2013 Volume 21 Number 8

Mailing address: P.O. Box 50428, Mesa, AZ. 85208

Visit at:www.azbigtrains.org

IN THIS ISSUE

President’s Message

Rail Fans Trip to World’s Largest Rail Yard

August Membership Meeting Information

Christmas Open Houses

Calendar of Events

Photo by Don Sorenson at Mesa Library

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THE ABTO GAZETTE

President’s Message Hello Garden Railroaders,

I would like to thank all of you who attended the general meeting this month at the

Cardon Children’s Medical Center, Ocotillo Room. We had a good turnout from the mem-

bership. Our speaker was Ennis Thompson, a very long time member. Ennis had an inter-

esting mix of personal stories and construction hints for buildings. He brought along nu-

merous buildings and some rolling stock to act as discussion items for his presentation.

Many of you know Ennis, but have no idea of his background and experience. I think we

all learned a little about him and his buildings. After the meeting, some of you strolled

over to the CCMC RR to see the latest changes.

As a last minute note, Rich Hull is hosting a rail fan trip to view

the largest UP yard, steam engines and rail fan rides. The date

for notifying him is Aug. 1st

, so you will have to move fast, as

you will be getting this Gazette on that date. Please call him

immediately if you are interested in going - there are still

openings. 602-684-1203. This will be a great opportunity to

see facilities and locomotives that are not available to the

general public. As always, he puts together a fabulous, jam-

packed experience for a good price. Don’t miss out!

Speaking of the CCMC RR, we will be meeting at the Cardon Children’s Medical Center for

this month’s general meeting. (Note the date change in the Gazette.) Jim Kangas (our

module chairman) will be giving a discussion of DCC locomotive control. He will have a

locomotive with the DCC module installed, for presentation and inspection purposes. If

you have questions about a DCC control system, this is the meeting to attend. Again, the

new meeting time and location details are in the Gazette. Just as in last month, light re-

freshments will be served.

I also want to thank Mike Reddy for being our web master. Mike’s efforts over the years

have given ABTO great exposure for new members and our club events such as the

Christmas Open House Tours. Many COH attendees have told us how helpful Mike’s

website has been in enabling them to find the homes. The board has decided to expand

our web site offerings, which has necessitated a new web master and we are currently

working with her. Thanks again Mike, for your dedication and willingness to maintain the

web site for ABTO.

I Hope to see all of you there!

Bob Rauperstrauch

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THE ABTO GAZETTE

PLEASE NOTE: If you need reimbursement for

expenses, you need to see Bob Rauperstrauch

JULY 2013 ABTO TREASURER’S REPORT

Income: CCMC Reimbursement $ 225.00 TOTAL INCOME $ 225.00 Expenses: Monti’s (Christmas Dinner Deposit) $ 500.00 State Farm Insurance (Module Trailer) 14.00 Spring Open House Exp. 53.10 Library Books 156.75 TOTAL EXPENSES $ 723.85 NET PROFIT - $ 498.85

Rail Fans Trip to World’s Largest Rail Yard

In October ABTO members will have a chance to participate in a great rail fans trip that will take you to

three states and up close and personal look at the World’s Largest Rail Yard in America. Here are the

details:

- Dates: Wednesday, October 9 to Sunday, October 13.

- Fly Frontier Airlines to Denver and travel from there by rented van.

- In depth tour of the Union Pacific Bailey Rail Yard in North Platte, Nebraska.

- Tour Union Pacific Rail Yard in Cheyenne, Wyoming, visit museum, engine shop,

restored engines and depot.

- Ride the famous Georgetown Loop outside of Denver.

- Visit Colorado Rail Museum or Forney Museum in Denver

- Return to Phoenix on Frontier airlines. Estimated costs for this trip: Air-$170, Van-$80 plus share of fuel, Georgetown Loop-$26, Colorado Rail

Museum-$8.00 or Forney Museum- $6.00. Possible $10.00 charge to go to Golden Spike tower at Union

Pacific yard in North Platte, 4 nights lodging based on rooms at $130 per night double occupancy, if

shared room your cost would be $65.00 per night. Total cost for this trip would be approximately $550

plus meals per person. This cost is based on a 15 passenger van. If fewer people go we can move to

SUV’s and possibly make the cost lower.

As always all hotel arrangements will be made plus scheduling at all facilities. You will have to make your

own plane reservations but we need to coordinate so we are all on the same flight.

Decision to move ahead with this rail fans trip needs to be done quickly. I need your input by August 1 so

all arrangements can be finalized. This trip will go with as few as 5 participants.

Please contact Rich Hull, 602-684-1203, or rich@hullbroadcasting.com if you are interested. Final de-

tails will be made when we know total number of participants.

CONTENTS

President’s Message.……………………………..2

Treasurer’s Report………………………………...3

Rail Fans Trip ...…..………………………………...3

July Meeting Minutes…………………………….4

Calendar of Events/Meeting Date Chg…...4

August Membership Mtg.……………………...5

August Meeting Speaker………………………..5

Hey Open House Fans………...………………...6

Swap Meet and Layout Tour………………….6

2013 Organizational Meeting for the ABTO

Open Houses………………………………..7

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THE ABTO GAZETTE

A.B.T.O. REGULAR MEETING 7/20/13

The meeting was held at CCMC.

President Bob R. opened the meeting at 9:10 AM. Bob asked

to introduce any new members or guests.

The minutes were approved as printed in the Gazette.

There was no treasurers report.

Jim K talked about all our upcoming module shows and asked

for volunteers to help host the modules. The Mesa Library is

1st.

Setup will be Sat. 7/27 at 9AM. Running times will be M-Th

10-6

and F 10-4:30 and S, 10-3 followed by take down. Jim will tow

both ways. We will be giving raffle tickets for 2 free tickets

on the Grand Canyon RR. Both the regular layout and the Red

track will be on display. Boy Scouts can earn a merit badge

on Weds. 7/31.

Still no action on the new Web site. Will contact soon.

Bob said its time to step up and run for office. Rich H and Bob

are looking for future officers. Contact them if you are inter-

ested.

Glenn Saber talked about the Prescott Swap Meet Bus Trip

on 8/17. Contact Glenn. We will try to change our regular

meeting date to 8/24.

Guest speaker was Ennis Thompson. Ennis talked about his

youth and his music and how he got into garden trains. Quite

an interesting life.

The door prizes were won by Jim K, Ennis T, and Jim S.

The raffle prize, a pickle car was won by Mary S.

Meeting adjourned 10:15 AM

Submitted Tony Vacek Secretary

CALENDAR OF EVENTS:

Mon.-Thurs. July 29-Aug. 1 10am-6pm Operate trains at the Mesa Library

Friday, August 2 10am-4:30pm Operate trains at the Mesa Library

Saturday, August 3 10am-3:30pm Operate trains at the Mesa Library

Saturday, August 3 3:30pm Teardown module

Saturday, August 17 Beat the Heat Swap Meet & Layout Tour (more info. Page 6)

Wednesday, August 21 6:00pm Board Meeting at Rauperstrauch’s home

Wednesday, August 21 RSVP Deadline to Ennis Thompson—egtrailroading@wbhsi.net

Saturday, *August 24 9:00am Membership Meeting at Cardon Children’s Medical Center

* signifies membership meeting date change

Photos from module setup at Mesa Library—

July 27th—photos by Don Sorenson

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THE ABTO GAZETTE

MEMBERSHIP MEETING AT CARDON/BANNER DESERT MEDICAL CENTER

Saturday, August 24, 2013 9am

1400 South Dobson Road

ROSATI EDUCATION CENTER-BLDG 1432

Ocotillo Room

Speaker—Jim Kangas

DCC & RC Seminar (more info on bottom of page)

RSVP by Wednesday, August 21st

to Ennis at egtrailroading@wbhsi.net

Coffee, orange juice, water and donuts will be furnished

Did you ever think about DCC or Radio Control? DCC decoder and RC receiver

installation seminar along with some General Maintenance! By Jim Kangas

Did you ever wonder how to install decoders, receivers, or just want to do some maintenance requir-

ing disassembly? We will do a virtual install of both DCC & RC along with covering maintenance along

the way. I will cover tools, do’s and don’ts, helpful hints, and some of the manufacturing variables

that I am aware of. I will try to make this short, sweet and informative for everyone in attendance at

the August meeting!

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THE ABTO GAZETTE

Hey Open House Fans,

It’s the 1st of August already and Christmas is creeping up on us. I’ve included the agenda

from the June meeting in case we missed anyone, we’ll activate their interest and get the ball rolling.

We have some strong reasons to get all interested participates who want to be open for COH 2013 to

sign up by September 15. There is a lot of preparation that goes into the COH’s by Ginny Morris and

Sandy Rauperstrauch, plus a whole new Web Site for ABTO to work with in the future,

Remember, this has become our major fund raiser to supplement many projects in the club.

Please, all members, who are interested, get your names into the co-chairman, Mike Quaintance or

Ennis as soon as possible.

These are the names of the people who have notified us. (if I missed someone just remind

me): Helen Rabbitt, Rich & Sharon Hull, Dennis & Dana Busby, Brian & Rebecca Casull, Jim & Joanne

Gardner, CCMC by Bob & Sandy Rauperstrauch, Ennis & Marcia Thompson, Glenn Saber, Roger

Crooks, Don Sorenson & Karen Lenzen, John & Pat Meyers, Terry & Adrienne Haas.

Let’s make the 2013 Show one to remember!

Ennis Thompson

Agenda from June/Organizational Meeting on page 7

SPECIAL NOTE: THE ABTO MEMBERSHIP MEETING HAS BEEN

CHANGED TO AUGUST 24th TO ENABLE MEMBERS TO TAKE

ADVANTAGE OF THE “BEAT THE HEAT SWAP MEET & LAYOUT

TOUR”. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THE BUS & LAYOUT TOUR,

YOU MAY CONTACT ABTO MEMBER GLENN SABER at

602-956-6695 or email thmpr@cox.net

TIDBIT:

Bill Nagle will repair

buildings, etc, in his

home. You must de-

liver the items to his

home.

If you are interested,

please contact Bill at:

phone-480-899-9054

Email-he111bill@

aol.com

You must take your

item to Bill’s home.

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THE ABTO GAZETTE

2013 ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING FOR THE ABTO OPEN HOUSES

Planning for Two big events Begins! 1. “ Christmas Open Houses” Dec. 6*, 7, & 8th 5:30 – 8:30 PM

Dec. 13*. 14. &15th

5:30-8:30 PM

*6th

& 13th

are optional

2. “Round About/Tucson” November 2nd

8:00 AM start?

Tentative Route: Steve Lewis, Wesley Schriver, Dennis Busby, Dennis

Sirrine (Lunch). We need 2 or 3 more volunteers.

A. Advertising & Correspondence Chairman- Ginny Morris

Magazines, Newspapers, Fliers, Web Sites, Garden Railroad Magazine, Hobby Shops

and other stores, emails, Clubhouses and Etc. Ginny needs a co-chairman to help with

some of these tasks.

B. Maps & Fliers – Chairman Sandy Rauperstrauch

Sandy really has a handle on the maps and if you want to be open on the 6th

& 13th

Sandy should

be notified and she will note your option about being open on Friday in your map. This past year she

came up with an itinerary sheet with the open houses listed and days open. Everyone in the Christmas

Open House Tour should be open on Saturday and Sunday except Dennis Sirrine,

C. Neighborhood Support and Advertisement - We have preached this concept over the years and

Dennis Busby is the best example of how it works. Year in and out The Busby’s place high in attendance

and donations for the Christmas Open Houses, which is directly a result of their rollover, aggressive ad-

vertisement , friends and neighborhood help, in their area. Most of the time in Sun Lakes, we use

some club assistance, but most of the people who help are from the neighborhood or friends. It also

gives each open house member a chance to meet their neighbors and friends throughout the immedi-

ate neighborhood.

D. Let’s get your request into the chairmen about your interest for being on the COH 2013 Tour by

September 15, 2013. This gives Ginny and Sandy plenty of time for preparing their maps and advertiz-

ing packages. Almost all magazine entries go in August or Sept. 15th

to be included in their magazines.

E. Website: We have a new Web Site this year. Mike Reddy has done a tremendous job in the

past, working with all of us. Last minute changes for weather and closures will be made the same as

before.

F. 13 years of ideas worth of experience. You might have some too?

People to contact about the COH 2013:

Sandy Rauperstrauch 480-753-9690

Ginny Morris 480-248-9130

Michael Qaintance 480-721-7745

Ennis Thompson 602-527-0402

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ABTO MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

The renewal fee is $30.00 per year and the new

membership fee of $35.00 per year entitles you

to attend all meetings and events, to receive the

monthly newsletter, and to have one name badge

created for you. Additional badges may be pur-

chased for $7 each.

ABTO CONTRIBUTIONS

Members are encouraged to contribute articles,

letters, illustrations and/or photographs related

to garden railroading for inclusion in the news-

letter and/or posting on the club web site.

Members who have hobby-related items for sale

or trade may submit an advertisement for publi-

cation and/or posting at no charge. Please limit

each ad to a maximum of four lines. Accompany-

ing photos will be considered for publication as

space allows.

OBJECTIVES

Membership in Arizona Big

Train Operators (ABTO) is open

to anyone with an interest in

gardening and the creation &

operation of large scale model railways. At our

meetings, items of mutual interest associated

with the hobby are discussed and demonstrated.

Meetings are typically held at member’s homes,

where they have the opportunity to showcase

their railway creations. General meetings are

usually held on the third Saturday of the month.

ABTO BOARD MEETINGS

Board meetings will be held on Wednesday prior

to the general meeting of each month. Board

meetings are open to members who are current

on their dues and have an item for the agenda.

If you plan to attend, call a Board member to

confirm location, time and date

ARIZONA BIG TRAIN OPERATORS

Arizona Big Train Operators 1633 E. Lakeside Drive Unit 1 Gilbert, AZ 85234