Visit to Bill's HO model train Open House on Saturday, October 6

Steve's dad told us that Bill was having an Open House.  His dad is working overseas for the next three years so he couldn't take Steve to see it.  Since Steve was with us for the weekend , I drove him over to see it.

I didn't tell Steve where we were going but he recognized Bill's street when we turned down it.

It made me happy to see how happy Bill and Steve were to see one another.

Steve noticed immediately that Bill had changed the layout.

This is part of the long train that circled the layout.  Bill said it had been circling the layout for hours without a problem.  Each circle was equal to a mile in HO scale.

Here is Bill's Control Center.

Bill has some little story scenes set up.

This is one.  Bill and some friends are on the railroad property watching the trains.  It is illegal to go onto railroad property but in this case it is all right because the owner, Bill, is one of the watchers.

Down the road, law enforcement is keeping a close eye on Bill and his friends.

Steve enjoyed talking about railroads with Bill and other railroad fans who stopped in to see the layout.

Bill has railroad posters and other memorabilia hung on the wall near the entrance.

Here is a closeup of a drawing by Bill which is displayed on the wall.

On the table in front of the wall is a paper and pen so visitors can sign in.  Bill has had over a hundred visitors this weekend.

There was also a model on the table that Steve recognized.  "My dad made that!"   Steve was talking about the space ship/engine.

"Yes", said Bill.  "Your dad gave it to me the day I went over and helped him take down his train layout  That was a sad day."

The layout was packed away in crates and is now in storage until Steve's dad has a place to set up a layout again.