Photo 31 Dispatcher
Justin Obarek wonders about his
future visit with the operations
superintendent as he points to
the collision at the diamond
which occured on his watch.
View
from Newschopper 7 showing the
result of the collision of the
CSX Tropicana Juice train and a
Union Pacific general merchandise
freight at the diamond. The CSX
engineer was transported by
helicoptor to a local hospial and
treated for minor injuries. This
incident was the result of
dispatcher error.
Photo 33 The
Valley Model Railroaders hit the
road to the 2008 Scarecrow
Festival which is held in St.
Charles, Il. early in October. In
operation for this event was an
HO DCC layout; a small portable
layout for the kids to operate
and earn an valley engineer's
certificate; a layout consisting
of Lego constructed trains as
well as a large G gauge
operation. The club displays were
set up in the VFW hall and a
great time was had by both club
members and visitors alike. 2008
was the second year in a row that
the club has participated in this
event.
Photo 34
This
youngster watches and listens as
a C&NW freight passes by.
Many of the locomoives running on
the layout are equipped with
sound which grabs your attention.
Photo 35 The
large HO layout was quite a hit
with visitors for the 3 day event
at St. Charles.
Photo 36 The
G Gauge display occupied a large
area on the floor of the VFW
hall. Many a youngster sat on the
floor in front of the display
watching steam, diesel, and
interurban trains pass by.
Photo 37 Walt
Schalk sets up his G gauge
Chicago Aurora and Elgin
interurban train at the VFW hall.
As a history footnote the
CA&E ran electric passenger
trains into St. Charles from the
early part of the 20th century up
to 1937.The "Great Third
Rail" ended its remaining
passenger service on July 3,
1957. The former right of way of
the railroad is now the Illinois
Prarie Path.
Photo 38 Valley
Model Railroad Club members set
up a train layout and teach the
Railroading Merit Badge to Scouts
at the Three Fires Council Merit
Badge University at York High
School in Elmhurst on February
28, 2009
Photo 39
Existing
track and bench work removed to
support the layout improvment
project starting in March of
2009.
Photo 40
Jeff Obarek and Larry Fries line
up bench work to support several
new bridges for the main line
tracks and trolley line.
