Timetable Operating Session Scheduled for April 29th

Night has fallen on the Highland Pacific Railroad

James Keena, Paymaster and Head of Operations, has announced a full-scale timetable operations night on Wednesday, April 29th.

“Arrival and departure times on the timetable are closer than they appear.” So said Pat Fluhrer after one of the club's timetable operating sessions. Club members will have the opportunity to run the Highland Pacific Railroad like the model first-class railroad that it is. There are plenty of operating stations for every member in attendance. The railroad will need a dispatcher, locomotive engineers, yard operators, Blue Island local operator, and brakemen.

The group is getting better at using the car card system around which our timetable operations are organized. All in all, running trains based on principles of real railroads will make the session more than “Christmas tree” running.

Our next Timetable Operations session is scheduled for Wednesday, April 29, 2015. Come on down and join in the fun.

Wardwell Gets Kudos for Work as a Volunteer

Ron Wardwell, long-time active member of the Highland Park Society of Model Railroad Engineers, has been recognized for his shining work as a volunteer. Ron's volunteerism was recently recognized by the City of Hope in Duarte.

You can hear Ron's own description of the important work he does. Watch:

Happy Birthday to you …

Today the Highland Pacific Railroad is 67 years old.

April 1, 1948 is the official founding date of the Highland Park Society of Model Railroad Engineers, Inc. Thanks to the farsighted men who got together and formed the club, still going strong 67 years later.

Here's a special shout out to George Boggs who is one of the founding members of the Society. He is the only surviving member of the original group of founders. Thanks George!

Video page now live. Again.

After a brief hiatus the Videos page is live again. These are mostly videos of or about the layout over which the mighty Highland Pacific Railroad runs.

While we feature videos shot and produced by club members, we will include videos taken by non-members that visit the layout. Let us know if you have some video worth sharing.

Annual Open House Dates Announced

The 67th Annual Open House for the Highland Park Society of Model Railroad Engineers, Inc. has been set for:

Wednesday, November 4, 2015, 7 to 10 PM
Saturday, November 7, 2015, Noon to 5 PM
Sunday, November 8, 2015, Noon to 5 PM

Mark your calendars.

New Keys Required

The locks in the club rooms have been changed. Your current old key will no longer work. Bring your old key and trade it for a new key to the club.

That key and access is a privilege of membership. Don't lose your key and don't give it to or bring non-members into the club to run trains. Breeches in security require a rekeying of the locks and that now costs the club in excess of $200.

Pat Keegan Named Man of the Year for 2014

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Pat Keegan has been named the Highland Park Society of Model Railroad Engineers, Inc. Man of the Year for 2014.

Pat has been the project lead in converting the club's DC system over to a more modern DCC system. Actually Pat has been working on implementing a dual system–both DC and DCC power equipment are able to run on the layout. 

Pat was surprised at being named the Man of the Year but members at the banquet indicated that it was a popular and correct choice. Congratulations Pat.

Service Awards

The following members received service awards as tonight's Annual Awards Banquet.

• David Dodd.         1 year
• Javier Gomez         5 years
• Jerry Duncan       10 years
• Tom Geer            10 years (Sustaining Member)
• Charles White     25 years
• James Keena        30 years
• Cliff Bender        35 years
• Ray Olesen         35 years
• Arie Korporaal    40 years
• Bill Chappell      50 years

Congratulations to all our members receiving an award.