THE ABTO GAZETTE May, 2017 Volume 24 Number 5 Mailing address: P.O. Box 50428, Mesa, AZ. 85208 Visit at: www.azbigtrains.org

Pam & Craig Morris Railroad Photo taken by James Riddle

IN THIS ISSUE President’s Message Calendar of Events May Meeting Information Tucson Round A Bout Photos Rail Fans Trip Photos

THE ABTO GAZETTE ABTO President’s Message May, 2017

Greetings from the 11,300+ ft Matterhorn in . This is a little late but we’ve been out of the . First, we had a successful start to the month with the Spring Open Houses, and the Annual Auction and BBQ. On the 19 th me and 22 old and new friends left Phoenix for Frankfurt, . We got off the airplane and “walked over” to the German ICE Train to , Germany and then to the hotel. Then after a slight pause we walked to the Miniatur Wunderland, the largest train layout in the world. We then returned to the hotel for our welcome dinner. The most spectacular meal I have ever had. End of the first day. Day 2. Breakfast (everyday). Load on bus for a guided tour of the ICE Technical base in Hamburg, then on to Wernigerode. A ride on the steam powered railroad to Brocken and back. Day 3. On to Potsdam, Germany by motor coach. Check in to hotel. Dinner and to bed. Day 4. Potsdam to Poznan, Poland. Breakfast and on to Znin, Poland historical Znin-Weneeja-Biskupin Narrow gauge (2’) to museum and castle. Back to Poznan and hotel dinner, leisure and bed. Day 5. Poznan to Krakow, Poland by motor coach and long trip. Arrive Krakow to tour Wielieczka Salt Mine, down 420 feet then climb back to surface. Proceed to enjoy a real Polish Folklore dinner. Check in to hotel. Day 6. Sightseeing Krakow. Got to Auschwitz/Birkenau Prison Camps. Very sobering. Day 7. Travel by motor coach to Brno. Lunch in Moravia, Czech Republic. After lunch, on to Vienna. Check into hotel. Proceed to Concert House for Strauss and Mozart concert incredible performance by just 13 musicians, fantastic. Back to hotel. Day 8. Tour Vienna with local expert guide. Afternoon visit to Strasshof Rail depot and museum. First Americans to visit! Celebration dinner at one of Vienna’s most unique restaurants. Day 9. Vienna to Innsbruck. High speed Railjet to Innsbruck. Arrive Innsbruck for 2 nights. Freetime in Inns- bruck. Day 10. Visit and ride Zillertal Steam Railway. The most beautiful German steam engine. First run for this engine this season. Visit Achenseebahn Depot and Maintenance Facility and ride on the Achensee Steam Cogwheel Railway. Return to Innsbruck. Day 11. Innsbruck, to Interlaken, Switzerland for 2 nights. Go to Interlaken train station to travel to Feld- kirch via Arlberg by railjet. Motorcoach to hotel. Day 12. Travel from Interlaken to Jungfrau (Matterhorn) via Grindelwald Railroad and Kleine Scheidedd Cog- wheel Railroad to summit. Day 13. Interlaken to Zweisimmen and Montreau on the MOB Line, Continue to Tasch. Then Tasch to Zermott for shopping and special group dinner. Return to Tasch. Day 14. Shuttle train from Tasch to Zermott and board the famous Glacier Express to Chur. Motor coach to . Checked into hotel Crowne Plaza and Farewell Dinner. Overnight Zurich. Day 15. Transfer by motor coach to Zurich airport for flight home by way of JFK. I would like to take time to THANK Rich Hull for designing this trip. His plan was flawless and his insight to deliver the perfect trip, in my 70+ years and my travels to more than 108 was unequaled. He did have excellent help pulling off this feat in a man named Bernhard Steiner. His knowledge of the industry and his Historical knowledge bears no match.

Ken Hawkins, Chief Engineer

CALENDAR OF EVENTS:

Wednesday, May 17 6:00pm Board Meeting at Medtronic Saturday, May 20 10:00am Membership Meeting at Banner/Cardon Wednesday, June 13 6:00pm Board Meeting at Medtronic Saturday, June 17 TBA Membership Meeting

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THE ABTO GAZETTE CONTENTS

President’s Message...………………………………2 Calendar of Events…...……………………………….2 New Members ………………………...…..………….3 Treasurer’s Report……..……………………………..3 Email Corrections…………………….………………..3 May Meeting Information...……………………...4 Swap Meets……………………………………………...4 Auction & Picnic Photos……...………....………..5 Rail Fans Trip………………………………..…….…….5 Tucson Turn Around Photos………...…...……..6 Rail Fan Trip Photos…………….……….…………..7

Email Corrections Darrell Granger [email protected] Russ Rose [email protected] Mary Smith [email protected] Tony Vacek [email protected]

Welcome new members : SIGs and their Coordinators Tom & Karen Demand Luke Palermo 1/ Modules Daryll Smith & 3301 S. Goldfield Road 14707 W. Ashley Court Steve Lewis Apache Junction, AZ 85119 Surprise, AZ 85374 2/ Painting/Airbrushing Jim Gardner 480-984-1074 630-476-0994 3/ MTH 1/32 Scale Roy Towne 4/ Gandy Dancer Roger Crooks 5/ Cardon Children’s Medical HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY Center Bob Rauperstrauch & Don Halver 6/ Euro Trains David Kitchin 7/ Live Steam Stan Cornforth 8/ Model Building John Meyers

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THE ABTO GAZETTE

MAY MEMBERSHIP MEETING Saturday, May 20, 2017 Location : Banner/Cardon Medical Center 1400 South Dobson Road Rosati Education Center-Bldg 1432 Ocotillo Room Mesa, AZ. 85202 Schedule: 10:00am Food: Snacks & Beverages RSVP : David Kitchin [email protected] Home-480-895-2246 by Wednesday, May 17, 2017

2016/2017 Officers/Board of Directors HOSTS NEEDED: President: Ken Hawkins Hosts are needed for the June 623-640-6446-cell Membership Meetings. If inter- [email protected] ested in hosting, please contact Vice President: Dave Kitchin Ken Hawkins, President at: 480-895-2246 [email protected] [email protected] Cell: 623-640-6446 Secretary: Ginny Morris 610-256-1121-cell [email protected] SWAP MEETS & SHOWS Treasurer: Steve Lewis 605-660-6911-cell Saturday, May 13-WVRHS Model [email protected] Train Swap Meet-Glendale Christian Directors at Large Church, Glendale, AZ Colin Criswell 602-765-9585 [email protected] Friday, June 2 & Saturday, June 3- Daryll Smith 602-402-9458-cell [email protected] Gadsden-Pacific Model Train Show- Darrell Woolfolk 480-818-1715-cell Tucson Expo Center, Tucson, AZ [email protected] Saturday, August 12-Beat the Heat Model Train Show-Prescott, AZ Check www.ArizonaModelTrains.com for exact addresses, etc.

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THE ABTO GAZETTE ABTO Auction and BBQ Photos by James Ingram

Rail Fans Trip to Germany, Poland, Austria and Switzerland Due to being one of the members of the Rail Fans Trip, the publishing of the May Gazette had to be delayed. The trip was awesome and thanks to Rich Hull with organizing the trip and we had a great tour guide, Bernard who had great knowledge of all areas that we had visited. Also, our coach driver was very nice and always met the group on time even when he had to entail detours due to weather conditions or road construction. We rode steam trains, cog trains, narrow gauge trains, visiting a couple of train maintenance shops, visited the Miniature Wunderland, delicious meals, toured a salt mine, attended a concert, participated in dancing at vari- ous restaurants, had some surprises and various weather conditions. I got to spend time with friends and also made new friends. More information about the trip, please read the President’s Message. I had a great time. Some photos I had taken on the trip are on page 7. More photos will be published in the June Gazette. Ginny Morris

Dennis & Dana Busby Celebrated Bernard Steiner, Gary Martin, Rich Hull their 41st Wedding Anniversary

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THE ABTO GAZETTE Tucson Turn Around-Photos by Don Sorenson

Mahar’s Blackwell’s

Carmicheal and Pappas

Tucson RV Park

Rodeo Museum

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THE ABTO GAZETTE Rail Fans Trip

Wenecja Museum Brocken Railway & Vests for touring maintenance building

Miniatur Wunderland

Salt Mine Sharon Hull at Wenecja Museum

Special Reception at Folklore Restaurant-Red Carpet

Dancers at Folklore Restaurant including members Swans at picturesque Lake Lucerne, SUI

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Arizona Big Train Operators 1633 E. Lakeside Drive Unit 1 Gilbert, AZ 85234

ARIZONA BIG TRAIN OPERATORS OBJECTIVES ABTO MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION Membership in Arizona Big The renewal fee is $30.00 per year and the new Train Operators (ABTO) is open membership fee of $35.00 per year entitles you to anyone with an interest in to attend all meetings and events, to receive the gardening and the creation & monthly newsletter, and to have one name badge operation of large scale model railways. At our created for you. Additional badges may be pur- meetings, items of mutual interest associated chased for $7 each. with the hobby are discussed and demonstrated. Meetings are typically held at member’s homes, ABTO CONTRIBUTIONS where they have the opportunity to showcase Members are encouraged to contribute articles, their railway creations. General meetings are letters, illustrations and/or photographs related usually held on the third Saturday of the month. to garden railroading for inclusion in the news- ABTO BOARD MEETINGS letter and/or posting on the club web site.

Board meetings will be held on Wednesday prior Members who have hobby-related items for sale to the general meeting of each month. Board or trade may submit an advertisement for publi- meetings are open to members who are current cation and/or posting at no charge. Please limit on their dues and have an item for the agenda. each ad to a maximum of four lines. Accompany- If you plan to attend, call a Board member to ing photos will be considered for publication as confirm location, time and date space allows.

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