2022 in Northwestern Ohio
In September 2022 we returned to the Midwest and were hosted by Jeff and Jenni Paxton at their home in northwestern Ohio during the four-day weekend of Thursday, September 22nd through Sunday, September 25th. What a glorious event this was! Three railways -- Jeff's brand new permanent railway (pictured above), Mike Moore's smaller portable track, and Jim Sanders's portable in the garage -- enabled all twenty participants to pretty much run 'on demand'. Meanwhile family and friends filtered in and out all weekend long, which culminated in a catered dinner for nearly 80 folks on Saturday evening. What an opportunity to spread the message!
The first loco on Thursday afternoon was a Pearse Countess with Pickering coaches.
An Accucraft Dora bumped up to 7/8th's scale runs past the 1:1 hands of Jeff Paxton who is adjusting the clearance of one of his numerous gorgeous Bonsai plants.
An early Roundhouse Bertie which was lined by the late Geoff Munday
Bertie pulls a train consisting of the Jack Weldon coal wagon and the Joel Novis brake van. Meanwhile Tom Bowdler sets spikes on the new railway in the distance.
An I.P. Engineering Jane on Mike Moore's portable railway
Friday morning action: a John Shawe coal-fired Roundhouse Jack effuses the aroma of the 'real thing'.
Early Roundhouse meths-fired pot boiler Lady Anne pulls a string of tippers.
Delightful scratchbuilt tram engine modified from the Marc Horovitz SitG design.
...while a vintage MDC battery i.c. loco trundles by on an adjacent track.
Much-modified Jerry Hyde 'Hyde Out Mountain Shay' trundles past with a brace of tippers.
This loco is a clever hybrid of Brian Wilson, Roundhouse, and Trackside Details designs and parts.
An early Berkeley Locomotive Works Cricket from the original builder, Michael O'Rourke.
A Les Knoll design 2-8-0 using Roundhouse, Trackside Details, and home-made parts
Roundhouse Darjeeling ventures out onto the viaduct. Jeff built the viaduct using a core of foam with a masonry veneer.
Regner Konrad, upscaled to 7/8th's, heading out for the apple harvest
In the Paxton's garage a Mamod hauls some tippers on Jim Sanders's portable railway.
Roundhouse Jennie with a brace of 6-wheel carriages
This Roundhouse Double Fairlie was the cover loco on SitG No. 181.
Battery-powered 7/8th's i.c. loco and train 3D printed in resin
The park tourist train. Lots of imaginative modeling here; the loco is powered by a Regner Konrad.
A nicely detailed Tony Sant Finescale Hunslet
Jeff's grandson gets an assist from Grandpa in prepping his new Regner Wilma.
His first steamer!
Saturday morning action: A venerable Maxwell Hemmens Ogwin pulling a variety of early SM32 wagons
A splendid Talyllyn slate train
An overview of the sales, repairs, advice and harassment area
Perhaps the smallest loco running: a 3D filament printed Ruston LAT pulling three brass tippers
Gorgeous Roundhouse Lilla and train
By Saturday afternoon things were getting rather busy.
One of the oldest locos running: a venerable Merlin Hunslet looking as clean and fresh as it did decades ago.
Accucraft's first British design, the Excelsior.
Very unusual: A Stirling engine-powered Rocket pulling three 3D printed carriages
Dinner was being served for 80 under the yellow-striped tent...
...but that didn't stop the steaming.
A terrific end to a fabulous day