Yes, MRH will be there

Yes, MRH will be at TrainFest in force. Les, J-F, Barry, and I (Joe F.) will all be there, as will two of our volunteer regulars, George Nefstead and Jeff Youst. 

So yes, there with a full complement.

I'm also partnering with Testors to present my painting clinic (Sat at 4pm) and we will have the latest printing of our paint book for sale, too. Testors will have free Model Master paint samples at my clinic.

Update: Looks like Barry won't be there after all.

I'll try to come then, I will

I'll try to come then, I will have two sisters with though so may not be able to do as much as usual sadly.

Coming the "long" way

Left Monday on AMTK 365 from Michigan to CUS, then AMTK 7 to SPUD (MSP). Leaving in the morning on AMTK 8 with the Friends of the #261 CMStP&P Cedar Rapids Skytop back to CUS, then Thu-Fri in Aurora, IL at the Roundhouse, before a BNSF Metra Dinky back to CUS and a Hiawatha to MKE.

Got a two-day ticket to TrainFest Sat-Sun, then off to Indy (for work) the 14th on the Iowa Pacific Hoosier State. Gosh, I love trains... See you guys in Milwaukee!

If you meet a David Schmeding

If you meet a David Schmeding with the friends of the 261 tell him Keegan said hello. He is a relative so you may actually have met me a few years ago if you have been a part of the program a while.

I wish Jeff S was going...

...and he could do an in depth product review of ESU's new steam sound decoders like he does at the NTS during the summer! I really am anxious to learn more about what they can do, and what will be their original options for the different locomotive types.

Ken L.

Not this time...

I will definitely be in Orlando in August though. Already have my flight, hotel room, and convention registration.  

I can go chat with ESU

I would like your assessment

of how well they have "Fine tuned" the new steam sound decoder. 

What other features have they been able to add since when the very first prototype was put on display at RPM-Chicagoland.

Have they determined what Steam Locomotive Classes/Types they will offer and when will they be released for sale?

Those are the ones on the top of my list.

Ken L.

Steam sound LokSound Full Throttle

LokSound migration

In conversations at Trainfest yesterday with a few operations-focused acquaintances from Illinois and Michigan, I was rather impressed to see how many of them have already started, or are making plans to remove earlier-generation sound decoders and replace them with LokSound units.

One layout owner, with one of the larger layouts in the Great Lakes area, is already well into replacing in excess of a hundred decoders. Granted, he was one of the people who had Matt Herman over to demonstrate how he and some other career railroaders configured their existing decoders to mimic the prototype.

Joe,

can you give your opinion on what you thought of the new decoders as a "model railroader" and not as "Publisher" of a major (online) model rr magazine?!

I don't know about you, but when I heard all the different new sound features the draw hit the floor (i think they are still mopping up from all the drool I left in the exhibit room at Chicago last month!) ;->

Ken L.

August in Orlando

August in Orlando is suicidal !!  Super hot and muggy but I am planning to be there.

Orlando