Reprinted from The Bobber, September 2006 issue, with grateful permission from Mike Westren:
Alberta Free-mo 2006 Meet, Big Valley ... ... ...
The weekend of 12/13 August 2006 saw the third running of this HO "free form modular" gathering in the Big Valley Agriplex. South Bank short Lines was represented by Ross McLeod and John Wrinch on the Sunday and Al Hough and Mike Westren both days. We have two reports for you in BOBBER:-
Impressions of a Free-Mo First-Timer by Al Hough
Background:
Back in April, I attended the Vernon Spring meet, and the Free-mo group from Chilliwack had a small, but very nice modular display at the show. I was quite intrigued with the whole concept, being a veteran of many train show layout setups over the years. Conversations with Mike and John, and their enthusiasm about the Big Valley event last year convinced me I should check this out. Carol and I decided to combine the Big Valley event with a visit to her sister and family in Alliance, there being a new grandchild, their son's new house, etc. to see.
Mike and I have taken much ribbing about the mud debacle in Winnipeg in May 2005, so I wondered if we brought the RV "rain magnets" together again this year if nature would respond. Well, I am happy to report that my half of the magnetic field is working just fine. Carol's sister's family farm is 3 miles off the pavement, and the rain arrived. By the time I got back to the highway on Friday morning, the Suburban and the trailer were covered in mud up to the windows. When we got to Stettler, I considered the carwash, but the "rain magnet" seemed to be working again, as some ominous clouds were rolling in. We had just turned south on the road to Big Valley and it began to RAIN. This was among the heaviest downpours I have ever driven in. (radio reports later said 3 inches in 20 minutes!) The parking lot at the Agriplex in Big Valley has pronounced slope and the pool of water at the bottom grew by the minute. The memories of Winnipeg came flooding back. (Sorry, I couldn't resist that one!) Mike arrived about 40 minutes later, having navigated his ark through similar conditions for a much longer distance. Big surprise when we got out, the mud on my vehicles was nearly gone! We were invited to park alongside the Agriplex and hook up to their power.
The Free-mo Meet:
My first impressions were mixed: wow, this layout was BIG. Starting on the far side at the penalty box, it went around the end boards, down the other side to the blue line, then curved back, splitting into a branch line and a mainline balloon return. The question was: would it run? Powerstations, boosters, all those connecting cables, the wireless tower. The programming table looked like something on Startrek! For me, a DC neaderthal, this was both unnerving and fascinating at the same time. The Digitrax gurus finally found the defective cable and we were invited to put our motive power and rolling stock on the rails. Mike had brought the Denali star, a very classy streamliner, and was kind enough to allow me to run it while he photographed it on the scenic sections. This was my first experience with DCC and it was like learning to swim after the boat tipped over. There were probably 10 trains running, so you really had to watch both ahead and behind your train. Saturday was very much like a real railway; bottlenecks, waiting in sidings, and really adhering to the rule book regarding operations. A most enjoyable day, all round.
The slide/video evening was entertaining; I always like to watch what others see along the right of way and their photo techniques. Great desserts left over from the BBQ! Sunday was very different, as Mike brought out the Port of Tillamook Bay SD9's and a typical freight consist. Early on, before too many other trains were about, a couple of young chaps ran a 108 car unit coal train. That was impressive. Again, I was privileged to engineer while Mike took photos. Operations were very smooth on Sunday, as there was now a yardmaster at each yard, who very capably managed the traffic flow. A round trip still took close to an hour, but everyone was very cordial, and the system only crashed once! Mike and I put quite a few scale miles on those SD9's, which ran superbly all day. One of the Big Valley crew lent us a wireless throttle, which really added a new dimension to both mainline operation and switching in the yard.
Overall impressions:
Thanks to Mike, it was a great weekend. I think I will try to give that old Tenshodo Geep a heart transplant before next year!
A monster layout and we are invited to play? This is Mike Westren's take on the Alberta Free-mo 2006 Meet in greater metropolitan Big Valley.
When we say this aggregation of modules was big, we mean big, huge, enormous in fact! The previous year, 2005 was big when a total of 210 feet worth of modules came together; this year an astounding 350 feet of modules, giving over 600 feet of running main line, were connected up. I had never seen such a large modular layout, I've obviously missed out on some of the major collections which go on show at NMRA conventions in the United States, but nonetheless, this was impressive. And apparently neither had anyone else in Canada before, as this apparently set a new Canadian modular record, to be confirmed. I really don't care whether it set a record or not, it was simply amazing in its own right.
Where did all these modules come from? Obviously not all from the Calgary Free-mo Group, though it musters a sizeable layout on its own. Battle River Railway Modellers provided some, various individuals contributed others, and a whole cube van load was driven all the way from Chilliwack, BC. Once the modules had been unpacked, adjusted, leveled and tracks connected up, trains ran very well with remarkably few problems with derailments or involuntary uncoupling. Modules came in all shapes and sizes, and in varying stages of construction, from bare tracks to finely detailed. This has a good effect on the visiting public, as you hear comments like, "So that's how it's done," and "I could do that", and isn't that part of what we are about in this hobby? The accompanying illustrations show a couple of very nicely completed examples, remembering these all have to be able to pick up their beds and walk, so to speak. In addition to the Calgary Free-mo modules, some of which we've seen at SuperTrain and Heritage Park Railway Days, mention has to be made of the spectacular scene that was staged by the group travelling over from BC's Lower Mainland. The Chilliwack gang presented a simply huge yard with an enormous storage capacity. And if you dared to approach this section without permission from their very professional traffic control, guess where your train went and never came out! An exquisite working roundhouse and locomotive facility just capped off this group's work.
South Bank was well represented all weekend with "The Alaska" operating all day Saturday, and a Port of Tillamook Bay shortline freight on Sunday. John Wrinch was there with a very good looking "Canadian" stainless consist. A couple of our "Friends of South Bank South" from High River were along to 'supervise' Ross McLeod as he ran a CPR heavyweight passenger train.
Visiting trains and guest operators themselves were made so very welcome as Al Hough has indicated earlier. The hosts worked incredibly hard, in fact most of the night as well as the days, to put on this event, and it is for these reasons I personally have been enthusiastically promoting their efforts. Hereby you can take notice that the two 'mud wallowing South Bank RVers' will be keeping you reminded of the 2007 meet: we proudly wear our South Bank shirts at Big Valley!