VanRail 2025 and Beyond

VanRail, that biannual international operating extravaganza, took place on September 12-14. This year, I opened Pembroke as a “Preview layout.” It is still premature to say Pembroke is ready to host operating sessions, especially the freshly-ballasted bits. I felt I could be ready by 2027, and so I thought I would offer it for preview.

Given the logistics of getting to the north shore, I expected only a handful of people to make the trip. I was delighted to welcome an even 10 into the layout, including some locals who had been helping with Michael Batten’s operating session. Squeezed between the end of an operating session and dinner, the layout was only open for 90 minutes, and the first guests didn’t arrive until quarter past the hour.

When the first guests arrived, I pretended I was not troubleshooting, but just dropping off the combine in the run-around. I continued down to the water tower, filling with water, and turning the engine. Well, with all the chatter in the room, by the time I had pushed the combine back into the platform, an hour had gone by, and I asked Jim Providenza if he would like to run the train to Golden Lake.

I was surprised by the alacrity with which he sprang to the opportunity, and even more surprised when Seth Neumann offered to be his conductor. So, I handed them their clearance and the order annulling 52, and they scratched in the register and drove down to Golden Lake. The train derailed at the newly ballasted turnouts, of course (I’ve since determined there was a high joint bar, and glue in the guard rail flangeways), but they made it to Golden Lake and signed the register.

I always have the guest book out, and I enjoy having a record of those who have visited the layout. But the train registers, they are the true treasures!

Every time I open the layout for others to see, I am inspired. In the lead up to the open house, there is always a flurry of activity to finish the latest project, or at least make the layout presentable. After the guests leave, I return to the layout with renewed enthusiasm, buoyed by all the kind compliments. I only invite polite people.

So, buoyed once more with compliments, what do I need to do to get on the list of operating layouts for VanRail 2027?

• Resolve more mechanical and electrical gremlins.
• At least two locomotives, ideally four in service. So, 622 needs to be finished, and 10 needs to get repaired.
• Passenger cars to make up trains 51 and 52.
• A scheme to forward freight, and enough cars to warrant an extra train.
• The steam throttle and DCCex completed, or an alternative throttle.

That all needs to be in place before May 2027 so I can host at the Railway Modellers’ Meet, which is a prerequisite for VanRail. That’s a big list: I’d better get busy!