All,

For a variety of reasons, I was unable to attend either of
Sunshine Models' seminars here in California. There was one in Southern
California on the 4th, and one in Northern California on the 11th.

Can some of the attendees comment on the presentations and the
event in general?

Thanks,

-Jeff

--
Jeff Aley, Development Engineer jaley@...
Graphics Components Division
Intel Corporation, Folsom, CA
(916) 356-3533

For a variety of reasons, I was unable to attend either of
Sunshine Models' seminars here in California. There was one in Southern
California on the 4th, and one in Northern California on the 11th.

Can some of the attendees comment on the presentations and the
event in general?

Sunshine Models was our host (i.e., it was not a meeting of the the cult of
the personality).

Richard gave a nice overview of the design history of covered hoppers as
exampled by the ATSF fleet.
Gary showed us 60 years of house cars from the Standard railroad of
Harrisburg PA. The charts of the fleet population were particularly
helpful.
no-host lunch.
Martin explained why you bring mosquito repellant when railfanning the SSW.
Ted compared real gons to model gons (I quite enjoyed this one).
Tom showed us Pullman sumps and ducts. Once you know what these things are
you start seeing a lot more in the photos.
Tony demonstrated how much slide projectors don't like his SP slides, even
if his audience does.

Much conversation between presentations. It appeared a good time was had by
all. And if my bag was any indication, Martin made out fairly well.

Dave Nelson

All,

For a variety of reasons, I was unable to attend either of
Sunshine Models' seminars here in California. There was one in Southern
California on the 4th, and one in Northern California on the 11th.

Can some of the attendees comment on the presentations and the
event in general?

Dave Nelson spoiled my fun. I was going to say that, no, we weren't going
to tell you anything that happened at Pleasanton, not even the rude things
people said about the fact that you weren't there, and in future if you
want to know what's going on, get your priorities straight and come to the
meetings. I will tell you that quite a bit of time was spent trashing the
Union Pacific, though it was the current UP, Not the real (historical) UP.

Richard H. Hendrickson
Ashland, Oregon 97520

On Mar 12, 6:09pm, Richard Hendrickson wrote:

Subject: Re: [STMFC] Prototype Modelers Seminar Report?
I will tell you that quite a bit of time was spent trashing the
Union Pacific, though it was the current UP, Not the real (historical)

UP.

Oh, well. At least there's still a UP to bash, unlike the SP, ATSF, and
others. For that matter, in my myopic view, there's not much to bash in
comparison with UP's peers. Certainly UP supports STEAM-ERA history
better than any other existing Class 1 [partially on-topic]. And it seems
to me that UP's current FREIGHT CAR fleet [the other half of being
on-topic] is as good as any other Class 1's fleet (i.e. full of
uninteresting modern cars).

I will do my best to attend next year, and will also do my best to steer
the conversation towards BNSF-bashing (though I'd much rather bash the
last days of the Unfriendly Espee).

Regards,

-Jeff

--
Jeff Aley, Development Engineer jaley@...
Graphics Components Division
Intel Corporation, Folsom, CA
(916) 356-3533

Jeff Aley wrote:

"Certainly UP supports STEAM-ERA history better than any other existing
Class 1 [partially on-topic]."

So long as it's UP's OWN steam-era history! You don't see a whole lot of
history about C&NW, M-K-T, MP, WP, or SP, except the odd reference to them
in the names of UP's vintage passenger car fleet. Kind of like German and
Japanese history books skipping over WWII, ya know.


Ben Hom

I will do my best to attend next year, and will also do my best to steer
the conversation towards BNSF-bashing (though I'd much rather bash the
last days of the Unfriendly Espee).

Topic is up to you, Jeff, but all bashing must be done in person. No more
of this sniping from a distance via e-mail.

Richard H. Hendrickson
Ashland, Oregon 97520

On Mar 12, 7:29pm, Benjamin Hom wrote:

Subject: Re: [STMFC] Prototype Modelers Seminar Report?
Jeff Aley wrote:

"Certainly UP supports STEAM-ERA history better than any other existing
Class 1 [partially on-topic]."

So long as it's UP's OWN steam-era history! You don't see a whole lot

of

history about C&NW, M-K-T, MP, WP, or SP, except the odd reference to

them

in the names of UP's vintage passenger car fleet.

True enough. But my statement still stands. Though the UP does not
preserve history as well as the Smithsonian Institution, they do a better
job than the other Class 1 railroads.

Regards,

-Jeff

--
Jeff Aley, Development Engineer jaley@...
Graphics Components Division
Intel Corporation, Folsom, CA
(916) 356-3533