What a beautiful day we had Sunday for our first day of passenger operations. I've attached many photos and thank Ron Spicer & Jimmy Scott for helping with the photography.

 

Devin Lawson had the honor of firing up 535 as the first steamer of the season. Devin will be 15 this month and certainly has become the leader of the student members. 525, 400 and 13 made several trips during the day and we had fewer than 100 passengers but a good day. 928 with Steve Haack also made a trip late in the afternoon. Congratulations to all who's hard work all winter made Sunday happen.

 

Thanks to Barb, Paula, Gina & of course Carol Mosbacher for spending the day selling tickets and souvenirs. Wayne M., Ron & Sam Spicer & Kevin Harding got to enjoy the afternoon moving a truck load of coal into the bin. Thanks to Daryl Ball for delivering the coal on Saturday.

 

Today saw Scotty & Brennan mounting plates for the new gondola heralds. Scotty, Jimmy & Jim Keeton have the rolling stock in great shape for 2007. It's taken Jim & crew 3 years to get all the cars rebuilt & painted but it's well worth the effort. Hank & Lorance headed to Mohan to work on the turntable switch. Wind & Tabernacki were busy in the roundhouse when they were surprised by a visiting crew from KSDK TV for the Today in St. Louis (morning) show. This video will be shown in a couple of weeks. I will let everyone know when I have that info.

 

The Lego layout is scheduled at the WF&P starting Sunday the May 13th and will be there 2 or 3 weeks. We had the chance to visit the St. Louis Live-Steamers layout in Eureka a couple of weeks ago and they are very close to being done with the track work. Congratulations guys, it won't be long now before you are running trains.

 
Jim Strain