The November "Sn3" Mini-Meet at Joel Shank's place... "And a great time was had by all !"

The November Mini-Meet at Joel Shank's place. . .

. . . And a GREAT TIME was had by all !

~ Fresh Updates: Saturday, March 10, 2007 ~

Here's John McKenzie, caught with his "fingers in the pie" while doing a photo shoot on Joel's Ridgeway Yard scene.
Joel's entire layout is this spectacular! Almost unbelievably! Truly an awesome accomplishment !

This should have been posted last November, but if you've been readin' the "Tickertape", you already know why it's been delayed. . . Right? ( If not, Click Here to see some photos that'll verify that ol' Billy's had his nose to the grindstone of late...)

So to continue our story, as it turned out, the short notice ( and Joel's physical location. ) didn't serve to bring in the crowd we'd expected, but those that did brace the journey were treated to a great day of camaraderie, palaverin' with old friends and makin' a few new acquaintances too.

Rather'n spend a lot of time lamely describing what went on down there, I figure that, since a picture's supposed to be "worth a thousand words", I'd post a few of the photos taken there by some of the guys with cameras, and let you draw your own conclusions. . . So here goes:

Here's a shot, looking at Rigeway Yard from the entrance to the layout room. The "High Line" is to your right.
'Looks like Steve Hatch and Ron McKenzie are trying to decide who's on first, doesn't it?
You can click on most of these photos for an enlarged view.

Here's a cameo of Joel's Placerville Bulk Oil Dealer facility. With a P-B-L CONOCO "Short Dome" Tank Car spotted on the siding.

There are literally THOUSANDS of Trees on his layout! They certainly contribute mightily to the feeling of "almost like being there", don't they?

What's an R.G.S. themed layout without a Vance Junction scene? Here's a shot of Joel's Vance.

A man could spend HOURS just viewing this layout, let alone having the privilege of operating a train over it, couldn't he?

Our short tour will conclude with this shot looking through the Enginehouse at Rico. After all, this page is supposed to be about Joel's Mini Meet; not about his Layout. Hopefully you'll have seen enough to make you want to see this amazing layout for yourself, in person?

And Joel's said that Next November's soundin' real good to him again, which must mean we haven't worn out our welcome quite yet, and that's a good thing, eh?

O'course we did more'n just run trains and talk. . . We'd called ahead and had some scrumptious sandwiches 'special made for the gang at the local Safeway's Deli. . .

And of course, just about everybody was having too much fun to be bothered to take any pictures, but Mike McKenzie managed to get a few of our lunch break. Here's Steve Hatch, Ron McKenzie and Dusan Petras doin' one of the things they do best, or so it would appear. . . ( It takes one to know one yer saying? )

And lest one of the above starts crying "Foul"; this here's a very uncomplimentary shot of yr fthfl svt caught in the act too.

You'll note that Captain Mac is already chowing down. A sure indication that "he got there first", eh?

Joel had thoughtfully put up some shade for us in the form of this side-less "tent" you see so we wouldn't get too hot in the sun. Tee shirts in November! Nice. REAL nice !

'Course, after that well deserved respite, a true waffling session got underway in the "Guestibule" Joel built when he designed his layout room.

Said room is replete with his modeling desk; paint booth; Computer; VCR & DVD & TV for watching train movies; Refrigerator, Bar Sink and a for real bathroom !

From left to right you see Paul Washburn, Ron McKenzie, Yr Fthfl Svt, Dusan Petras and Mike McKenzie.

Here, from left to right you see Dusan in the foreground, Mike McKenzie, Jimmy Booth, Mike Schwab, Steve Hatch, John McKenzie, Paul Washburn and ol' Billy. Jan Rons and Goeff Hamway from Phoenix were there too, but had to leave earlier than when this photo was taken.

As was stated at the outset:

A GREAT TIME WAS HAD BY ALL!

Don't forget: Joel has indicated that he's up for hosting another "Meet" this coming November 17th. ( 2007 ) He says the weekend of the 17th could still see weather in the 80's, ( think Tee Shirts in November ! ) and very likely no rain.

'You plannin' on being there? This date coincides with the date the "Narrow Gauge Group from San Diego" will host their annual "Round Robin" meet, so Joel mentioned that there will be "Some other great layouts to view on Saturday evening and Sunday for those who don't want to stay and enjoy the sights and sounds of a real (Sn3) layout. "

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