Volume 48 Number 12 - September 2021

[Julian Evison]

We currently have about 40 members in the US and another 10 in Canada. All we need to get an area group going for North America is for someone to contact me (chairman@009society.com) and say they are willing to be the focal point for it. We can then email all the relevent members individually and ask if they are interested in taking part. If so, they should contact the focal point and they can take it from there.

The Scottish area group has proven that the template of monthly Zoom meetings works well, though there is the additional consideration of time zones. No two of our recognised area groups work exactly the same, so to a large extent it is a matter of getting started and seeing what works for the group.

Any takers to act as focal point and get started?

Julian

[Jeff Schumaker]

Would it be possible for you to post an overhead view of the layout?

Jeff S.

Jeff here is an overhead view of the Alviso Salt Works Layout.  You can see the tidal marsh, pump works with its siding, and the salt loading area.   Mike Laine
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Thanks, Mike. I wondered where the 2nd turnout was. The overhead shot shows it.

Is that a fence running along the bottom of the layout?

Jeff S.

[Michael Laine]

Yes, the second siding isn't really apparent in the photos.  It was mentioned in the article text:
"A second turnout leads off the layout to future salt water evaporation ponds and a refinery complex."
Operationally it is used to stash the flat car or one of the locos if needed.  Someday it might be the gateway to a layout extension or fiddle yard.  Mike

[Michael Laine]

Jeff - it isn't a fence that runs across the back of the layout, but a wooden flume.  There was not much information on the use of wooden flumes in salt harvesting, but they do appear in a few historic photos.  I believe they were probably used to transport brine to various evaporation ponds.  In addition, I believe I identified the archaeological remains of others on my field exploration of the area.  I thought it would be interesting to include one and it forms a bit of a scenery transition between the layout and the backdrop.  Mike Laine

[Michael Laine]

Julian - There is some discussion here in the San Francisco Bay Area about forming a local group or one that may include a few of the surrounding states due to low member density.  We hope it might serve as a channel to report on their activities and encourage others.  We would also like to promote local meets to familiarize attendees about narrow gauge modeling in general and the potential of small portable layouts - which are quite rare in these parts. 

We'll see how it goes.  Mike Laine

[Julian Evison]

Julian - There is some discussion here in the San Francisco Bay Area about forming a local group or one that may include a few of the surrounding states due to low member density.  We hope it might serve as a channel to report on their activities and encourage others.  We would also like to promote local meets to familiarize attendees about narrow gauge modeling in general and the potential of small portable layouts - which are quite rare in these parts. 

We'll see how it goes.  Mike Laine

MIke - that sounds promising. If you would like us to email members in a selection of states (we have Zip codes), please let me know. To be a 'recognised area group' of the Society the main requirement is thet you have at least three Society members. Having non-members and narrow gauge modellers in other scales participate is also usual.

Julian