May 16, 2025
Today is a Red-Letter Day! The first train left Gerber for Redding and returned. The last time a train ran on the Gerber Sub was October 9, 2019! Tearing out the old layout, moving, and starting construction on a new one put me 6 years behind schedule. Had we not moved, that time would have been spent building structures and Westerfield car kits. At 79, I’ll have to decide what can be accomplished and probably sell of things I don’t think will get done. Bult so happy to have trains running again.
The only thing left to build is the 10-track staging yard and perhaps a mining spur. My friend, John Garfield, came over and we put about 150 cars around the layout. This should be enough to get us started with operations and then unbox more once staging is completed. That is John at the throttle.
Before John came over, I wiped down the Redding fascia with a tack rag and then gave it 2 coats of paint – the 2nd coat did away with some blotchiness where the mud absorbed paint differently than the prepainted panel. While the paint was drying, clipboard holders were installed. After he left, drink holders went up along with Redding clipboard holders.
Next project is to name various switch locations on the fascia to make it easier for operators – especially in the Gerber Yard.
