Frostbite 2007
9 December 2007
Boylston, Massachusetts
At our recent club meeting (6 Dec.) Norm Jones mentioned that this event was coming up several day hence. I had not heard of this outing before so I resolved to roll out of the sack early on the 9th and make my way up to Boylston.
The fire station, just up the road from where the event was to take place, was hosting a pancake breakfast this morning and I agreed to meet up with Norm and some other NEMES members there at 8:30 AM. That meant rolling out of bed at 6:00 to get underway in order to get up to Boylston on time. I left the house at about 6:50 and arrived at about 8:10. It helped that the event was in the general area of the Straw Hollow show which I had attended back in August so the area was not completely new to me.
Russ Steeves and Rich Hubbard arrived at the fire station and Norm rolled in a few moments later. The breakfast was great with pancakes, sausage, hot cocoa, coffee and orange juice.
Also present was Santa Claus
and a slew of kids! After the meal we headed down Route 70 a mile or so to
where the engine show was set up. Set up being a relative term. A
sizeable section of the front yard of the host's home served the purpose
nicely. Cars and trucks pulled in off the road, tail gates went down,
trunk lids went up and the displays were complete. I lasted about
and hour and a half before my toes and finger tips were complaining so I said my
goodbyes and headed home.
These two ladies joined us when their table next to us spilled over with
husbands and kids. They got an ear full of model engineering talk and were
given invitations to visit our club and several of the live steam meets next
summer which they think their kids will enjoy.
Rich Hubbard (L) and Russ Steeves.
This engine and D.C. generator (dynamo?) came as a unit from an old factory.
It took a while to get this fire going but once it was blazing it provided
welcome warmth.
Norm Jones' Engines
Tank Heater, very cool!
It takes a warm hand to keep a sterling engine running on a cold day!
I was told this engine was quite rare. I will have to wait for Norm to
update me on its pedigree
Some video clips to follow in the next few days.