National Summer
Steamup – 2009
Small-scale live steaming, July 22-26
Lions Gate Hotel, McClellan, Calif.

What do you call dozens of Shay locomotives that are lashed together under live steam? Why not call it a ShayUp?

The ShayUp will be only one of many events that will highlight the 2009 National Summer Steamup. Also included will be a draw-bar pulling contest, workshops, door-prize drawing, swap tables and a Saturday night BBQ.

The 2009 National Summer Steam-up will be held at the Lions Gate Hotel in suburban Sacramento the fourth weekend in July. The deadline for both steamer and hotel registration is July 1.

These features join an action-packed four days that will highlight hundreds of feet of track, multiple layouts, workshops, a manufacturers and dealers room and a BBQ dinner, free for those who register by July 1.

In addition, every morning a steam-powered track-cleaning car (designed and built by Larry Bangham) will make the rounds, providing not only a needed service, but entertainment as well.

Join live steamers from around the world to enjoy 45mm (Gauge One) and 32mm (Gauge O) tracks in abundance amid the unbeatable climate and surroundings of Northern California.

Featuring the Pacific Coast Live Steamers’ dual-gauge 32mm/45mm layout that has been used since 2001 at the National Summer Steamup, the track is elevated at a comfortable 42-inches off the floor, is 110 feet long and has 10-foot radius curves. The rail and tie- strips were donated by Llagas Creek Railways.

We will also have the 45mm track built and formerly owned by the NTRAK Modular Railroading Society Inc. of Paso Robles, Calif. Members of the PCLS took up a collection in 2003 and bought the track for use at the Summer Steamup. In 2004, the PCLS added new legs to the layout, and it is now much higher and easier to use; we added a gate in 2006 that makes inner-loop access a breeze. In addition, other layouts will be there as well. Tracks will be available 18 hours a day: Wednesday, 6 p.m. through Sunday, noon.

As part of your registration fee you will have access to clinics and workshops to be held Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Clinic topics in recent years have included building turnouts, building Aster kits and model railroad photography.

Also Thursday through Saturday, suppliers of live steam equipment and accessories will be exhibiting products that just cannot be found at your local hobby shop. Locomotive makers, locomotive dealers and suppliers of rail will be there.

For every steamer who registers before July 1, we’ll be providing a free Saturday night BBQ dinner, with hamburgers, hot dogs, cole slaw, corn-on-the-cob, potato salad, steamers’ beans and a surprise dessert.

By attending the National Summer Steamup 2009, you will get four days of steaming, four days of camaraderie, four days of talking trains and four days of fun. There is probably no better way to spend a weekend in July. Register for the National Summer Steamup today.