DCC is operational again in Vista and West End yards. The power supplies were replaced with linear amplifiers. As a result, power is restored. Doering, Del Mar, and Roundhouse are next. The work is straight forward enough (each requires three wires to be installed) but finding time to do the work is the hold up.

Dave Flynn, Electrical Department Head, has installed a new BLMA 2-head signal on the main just east of the Bayshore Station. The signal is held in place with a custom designed base that utilizes magnets. The magnet base is designed so that there is only one way to install the signal base. Best of all the magnet, while strong, will still give way if someone bumps the signal tower while cleaning track.

In order to drive the white, red, and green LEDs the 8 wire leads had to be reprogrammed to work with our digital signal system. After an extensive debugging the software glitch was found and the signal works as expected.

The BLMA signal is top-drawer with see-through mesh platforms, scale ladders and the like. Come on down and see the signal in operation.

These boxcars are new additions to the web site and were created by artist Dawson Weber. They are, to be sure, heavily weathered. An example of the artist’s work.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – Santa Fe 4-8-4 No. 3751 will pull excursion trains between Los Angeles and San Bernardino in conjunction with a visit to San Bernardino Railroad Days next month. The 1927 Baldwin 4-8-4 was displayed next to the Santa Fe San Bernardino depot for decades following its 1953 retirement. On April 21, the steam special will depart Los Angeles at 10 a.m. for San Bernardino over Metrolink's San Gabriel Subdivision. The train will return April 22, departing San Bernardino at 3 p.m. Source: Trains Magazine, Newswire

The Electrical Department reports that Vista and West End DCC is operational. The old power packs have been replaced with new linear amplifiers; power is restored. Doering, Del Mar, and Roundhouse are next.

The recently concluded Open House provided an object lesson of the need for insisting on adhering to high standards for locomotives and rolling stock that run on HPRR rails. Of the 3 days of operation, there ware only 2 instances of cars derailing or not coupling. All other rolling stock and locomotives on the numerous trains operated during Open House preformed flawlessly. In those two instances the cars were pulled and moved to the Wheel Cleaning Room to be repaired after Open House was completed.

Kudos to all members who brought standards-compliant equipment to run during Open House.

The next regularly scheduled Quarterly Business Meeting is set for Wednesday, January 11, 2012. The meeting will be held in the Club Rooms at 854 E. Broadway, San Gabriel, CA 91776. The meeting begins at 8:00 PM.

If you are unable to attend the meeting download, complete, and return a proxy form. You can download a proxy form HERE.

Video from the successful and recently complete 2011 Open House has been posted. You can watch it here.

Earlier this month we reported that UP 844 would be in the southland on a tour of statehood celebrations for Arizona and New Mexico. Member Ray Olesen was up early filming this iconic locomotive at Devore on its way to Yermo. Here's his video shot on a hand-held iPod Touch.