One of our club members got to emailing with Bob Bartizek in Lebannon Ohio. We got an invitation to come and see his layout this past Saturday.
I think that "OGR" did a super, super job, with the January issue story of this layout. Never dreaming, that I would get to see something of this magnitude, that was in the Best Model Railroad Magazine known to man, the "OGR" that is!!
We met Bob, and his wife when 1st arriving, and Bob then escorted us to the "Train Room". When getting to the end of the stair case, I knew it was special, as there was a full size color Pennsylvania Railroad Insignia inserted into the wall to wall carpet on the floor.
Bob told us a great story of his past, and thru job relocation, how he and his family settled in Lebannon Ohio.
I know there are know doubt bigger layouts around the country than Bob's, but none any better, and most ain't close. I wouldn't have ever believed that a layout that large, could ever have been operated, using the old Lionel "TMCC" Control system.
We double headed A Mike, a Decapod, with long string of freight cars, and a 2-10-2 pusher, up a 3% grade, around the Horseshoe Curve. I know that Bob keeps all of his equipment in fine tune, but in, around, and out of site, then back into view, and up, and down hills, the old TMCC System did a super, super job, with "Narry" a derailment!!!
They do actual Railroad Operations a day or 2 each week, and then the Operations groups move to other layouts to run.
We discussed what our club's SOP has been in the past, at dinner on our way back home. That we need to start doing something similar. It would definitely make it much more interesting, other than putting an engine or 2 with a bunch of cars, letting them run around a layout, blowing the whistle and ringing the bell.
It nice to be invited out to see, what the rest of the world does!
Special thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Bartizek from members of the Appalachian Model Railroad Society (AMRS).............Brandy!
