From the Superintendent’s Desk
By John Williams, Division 15, Superintendent
Whenever there is a change in leadership it is often the time to change things.
To that end I announced at our September meeting the formation (or reformation) of three committees: a finance
committee, a module committee, and a clinics committee.The reasons for these committees are several fold: First there is a need for transparency especially when it comes to finances. We all need to feel that our dues are being well spent. This new committee has been charged to set up guidelines for purchases, especially those involving major acquisitions. With the growth of our modules and some changes on our immediate horizon I see this committee assisting Wally in the long range planning of our modular layout. The clinic committee has a simple task - to put together a clinic schedule for our meetings. One of the things that make belonging to the WNCMR exciting to me is the opportunity each month to learn something new. Clinics don't happen by themselves, however, it takes to time to recruit and plan for each month's activities.
The most important reason for these committees is you, the member. This is your division and your club. Participating
in the running of the division and club is part of being a member. I may be your elected superintendent, but I don't
have all the answers, and certainly not all the right answers. I need your input to stay on track. As we go on through
the year I will look at other committees to form, but for now let's see how these work.
Operating Sessions on the LOST RR
By Wally Brown
During September we had our first operating session using the new Industrial District or "ID" segment. Even though we are conducting operations on the new ID, there is much work to be done in term of adding permanent structures and scenery to the area. Even if "operations" is not you thing, we encourage anyone interested to help out with the scenery and structure aspect of this new venture.We are also in need of some new type of cars for the LOST RR. including woodchip gons, pulpwood cars, covered grain hoppers, covered chemical hoppers, tank cars (chemicals for paper mill), reefers and stock cars. And when we receive donated cars, we usually upgrade them to with Kaydee couplers and metal wheels. As a result, we always welcome donations of the following: Kaydee #5 couplers, metal wheel sets (such as Life-Like 33" or equal), motor cycle self-stick wheel weights (1/4 ounce sections), and Kaydee spacer washers (red or grey).
If you would like to supply any of the above items, feel free to bring them to the monthly club meeting this Thursday. Drop them off with either Penn or me. If you would like to take a look at the ID project and what the needs in construction are, we'll have the barn open after the September meeting. There are several areas open for club members to adopt.
Finally, there have been several members interested in learning how to use the RailOp program we use for car forwarding on the LOST RR. If you are interested in being part of several sessions on how to use the program, either for your own railroad or for the club, please let me know.
We will have operating sessions on Sept. 13th at 9:00am in Hickory and Sept. 28th at 6:30pm (barn)
(More on the RailOP computer program s follows on pages 3 and 4.)