Lake Shore Live Steamers.com

Located at

Penitentiary Glen
8668 Kirtland-Chardon Rd
Kirtland, Ohio 44094

Dave Mroczynski with Trev Smith clearing the signal for the Branch Line as they head eastbound towards the station. Adam Pakeltis along with grandpa Bob Pakeltis sit in the train on a siding at the station watching the traffic pass through the station.

Some of the activity up on the steaming bays as the guys check out their engines or in the case of the steamer, raising a head of steam. Trev gives a wave to the photographer as he approaches the station eastbound almost opposite our water tower with Dave riding behind him.

Gracie Pekarek at the controls of grandpa Ken Brook's electric Steeple cab as she passes by in front of the station. Ken Vendlinger just passing by High Creek on his way to Horrendous with his electric powered switcher.

As I waited for the block to clear with the clubs GP38, Gracie approached and cleared the block signal on their way through Horrendous. I caught Rick Nagy with the GP38 as he passed through Horrendous bound for Zip Junction and points west.

Ron Trenhiaile riding in the conductors car ahead of that good looking Nickel Plate Road caboose scratch-built by Bill Deptowicz. Ken as he comes down the mainline grade after having passed the Branch Line crossing at Filmore.

A panned shot through the woods of Dave and Trev as they traverse downgrade from Filmore on their way to pass over Patty's Rock Bridge. Took a hike down to the bottom of the gorge and the trees down there trying to grow on bed rock had most of their roots above grade.

We hadn't had much rain lately so the falls didn't have much water action as the water just trickled down the face of the rocks. Even the water that ponded wasn't that deep amongst fallen trees that will slowly decay and go back into the soil.

Climbing back up all those steps from the gorge you could see the trees how they were striving to exist amongst the bed rock with most of the roots exposed. Ferns and moss grew wherever it could find soil or compost even if it had to be between the exposed roots.

The gnarly roots exposed by the weather as the tree hung onto the side of the stone embankment striving for life. As Rick sat with the GP38 waiting for the signal to clear on the Fern Reverse Track, Ken came down grade in the opposite direction that we normally take from Glory Branch and will soon cross Cheat Bridge.

Dick Clark with his SW1500 with Edith Hacker riding behind him as they head westbound on the Branch Line by Hemlock. Ken with his passengers as he is on the final approach westbound into the station.

As Rick climbs the grade from Patty's Rock Bridge, we see Richard with his train waiting to acquire the signal after this block has been cleared by us and there's another train on the branchline that seems to be having a problem. As we pass by the branchline we see that Ron Trenhaile is helping Scott Hewis get the front truck of his engine back on track.

Almost halfway across Big Bend Bridge we pass Ryan Thomas with his grandpa Ken Brooks and his train running in the opposite direction. While waiting for the signal to clear at Hemlock, Ken arrives with his train and that's Katie and Tom Pappas riding behind him.

Some of the activity at the station as some of the guys are parking their trains and getting ready for the chicken dinner we are about to have. At the pavilion Dave Foster is checking the temperature of the chicken breasts that he is cooking.

Ron Trenhaile watches Ken Brooks and Dave Foster grill the last few pieces of chicken. That's one way to keep the bugs off the food, using these mini tents so we won't have extra meat with our food in the form of bugs.

Left to right, Anna Zorko, Amy Deptowicz and Judy Oscker helping Robbie Haines to set out the food on the serving table. Bill Besselman was kind enough to give the blessing before we sat down to partake of the meal.

Everyone seemed to be enjoying the good food as they sat with friends and enjoyed the conversations. Robbie Haines standing with her sister-in-law Karen Haines sitting across from her, coordinated all the food preparations so we can enjoy this meal.

Dave in the background with the Deptowicz family at this table as they finish enjoying a good meal. At the club meeting that was held after the cookout, Karl Losely announced that he had finished the track sweeper and had brought it and it was in his pickup truck needing to be unloaded.

Our new track ballast sweeper is battery powered and here Dick Clark, Ron Trenhaile and Paul Zorko watch as Karl Losely guides the machine onto the transfer table rails. Ron pulls the sweeper off the transfer table to our siding track as the members watch.

Overall it's a big unit that has a hefty weight and should do a very good job of sweeping the ballast off the top of the ties. The sweeper has a cylinder that controls the height of the brushes which can be adjusted from the handles and here Karl demonstrates the use of the unit.

these next two pictures show the track in the yard after passing over with ballast sweeper and then a close-up of the track. The unit works great and we should have a lot of fun using it and many thanks to Karl Losely for the welding and assembly in building the unit.