Gordon French at GGLS

[Harlock]

So I go to the Golden Gate Live Steamers meet today. Which turns out to be real small because they weren't even sure they were having it. I meet a couple of people who have been following my chloe progress on the Allen group, including one who had a chloe there so that was good to check out.

And then there's this guy running on the high track with a little green british locomotive, and I'm thinking 'dang that engine looks familiar...' and the owner mutters something about coming 400 miles to be there.

Later on after I come home I get out a picture I took of him and compare it with some photos on my server and....it's Gordon French from Oregon!

Sadly, I did not recognize him or I could have aksed him where he's been recently.

Anyway...here's pictures: www.mojaveserver.info/gallery/main.php/v/harlock/GGLSfall07/

Compare: www.mojaveserver.info/gallery/main.php/v/harlock/GGLSfall07/_MG_6032-01.jpg.html

To Gordon's own photos:
www.mojaveserver.info/gallery/main.php/v/gordon/G_5716.JPG.html
and:
www.mojaveserver.info/gallery/main.php/v/gordon/trainpix.JPG.html

--Mike

[patyoung]

Hello Mike,

I was there during the weekend and am sorry I didn't have a
chance to meet you. I got there around 2 pm saturday and
you were right, it was pretty small. There was maybe 5 or
6 locomotives and some thought it was due to a conflict with
a steam festival in the north bay area. But I did have the
pleasure to meet Gordon French and his wife Jean (sp). He
was showing photos just a few years ago where all the 3 1/2"
gauge steaming tracks were being used. Now we see just
4 or 5 high track locomotives per year.

But sunday was a different story. It was combined with a public
open house and other members brought down their locomotives
to run before the club tracks were closed down for some months
for track expansion. Every 7 1/2" steaming bay was used and
some were steaming up at the round house. We had two
locomotives running on the 3/4" scale high track. We also had a
stationary steam tent on the side that showed the first step
towards a permanent exhibit. Great finish for those who were
disappointed on saturday.

Pat Young