Lake Shore Live Steamers.com

Located at

Penitentiary Glen
8668 Kirtland-Chardon Rd
Kirtland, Ohio 44094

The partially stripped of forms foundation for the railroad signal in front of the steaming bays that Bill Deptowicz has been working to install. In conjunction with our club run, the Boy Scouts were at the track learning about various aspects of real train operation working towards their railroad merit badge and Dick Clark is reviewing railroad signals with them.

Scout leaders and scouts in front of a display of the different scales in the model industry from "G" gauge down to "N" gauge. Here Wally Pausch goes over the different types of cars used on the railroad and typically the items they would haul.

A member of the scout entourage here relates his personal knowledge and experiences from the real world of railroading. Upon completion of their classes on railroading for their merit badge, the scouts were treated to a train ride.

A close-up view of the difference in the sizes of scale between "G" and "N" that was set up just for the scouts. Ken Vendlinger brought in a switching layout challenge and here a scout is attempting to shuttle cars.

Back at the station, Paul Emch gave a talk on safety to one of the classes. Dave Mroczynski had his scratch-built, electric-powered engine up on one of the steaming bays trouble-shooting the speed controller.

After George Metts worked on the speed controller, Dave moved the engine and its rider car out on the steaming bay turntable to test the unit out on the track with Wayne Boron lookng on. Judy Oscker with her brother Tom Harwedel from Texas and her cousin, Gary Deimling posing behind Paul Emch's NKP Railroad Hudson, which Gary particularly admired.

Another group of scouts on their complimentary ride after their classes for their railroad merit badge. Everyone has talked about the lily pond, so a few of the members took a walk into the woods and we found it.

A view of the pond is just a trickle as we look southeast. A view looking across the pond at Edith Hacker and Robbi Haines standing at the edge where the dam has been compromised.

A view looking northwest showing where the dam has failed thus letting the pond drain down. This is a view looking west across the dam at what water is still in retention -- no lily pads to be seen.

Judy, Robbi and Edith heading back from the lily pond area showing some of the terrain that drains down to the pond. On the way back we encountered some interesting forms of fungi.

A closer review of the ravine with a deadfall that has fallen across and is about 400+ feet parallel to the Big Bend Bridge to give you an idea of the terrain. Here are more of the fungi we found as we traversed the area on the way back.

Here we are approaching the second trail that's parallel to the trail along side the Big Bend Bridge that leads to the Gorge off to the right of this picture. Another color of fungi that sprouted up lookng very delicate -- almost like coral in the ocean.

And, another color and shape of fungi that Mother Nature created for our appreciation. Mike Harkleroad sitting astride Ted Nyland's interurban talks with one of the scouts near the station.

Ted with his American steam engine he built coming into the station with his wife, Marie, riding on his interurban car. Steve Zaken watches as Ken Brooks pulls into the station with his train with scouts aboard -- eighteen scouts earned their railroad merit badge today.

A nicely constructed unit of a box cab that Chris Cooper built and that is him at the controls as he comes into the station. Ted steaming out of the Covered Bridge as he heads for Zip Junction and looks down to check the gauges.

Ted and Marie coming into the station with a tender behind. Tom, Judy, and Robbi look on as the Deptowicz family (Ethan, Amy and John) on the Snoopy train arrive at the station to meet Bill Besselman.

A closeup of the Deptowicz's and the Snoopy train with Ethan giving the photographer his best enthusiastic smile. Judson Elliott in front of the station with the electric engine he is scratch building using drive units from Plum Cove with Steve, George and Dick looking on.