National Summer
Steamup – 2010
Small-scale live steaming, July 14-18
Lions Gate Hotel, McClellan, Calif.

What makes the National Summer Steamup (now in its 14th year) so special? Some would say the venue (the 6400-square-foot Grand Ballroom of Sacramento’s Lions Gate Hotel), while others would cite the unique mix of experienced live steamers from around the West and around the world.

But the real secret behind the National Summer Steamup, to be held July 14-18, is the tracks. New for this year is “Dwight’s Way,” the track built and formerly owned by Dwight Ennis of Milpitas. The Summer Steamup bought Dwight’s layout from him last year and has added a dual-gauge 32mm/45mm five-foot radius outer loop to supplement its 45mm inner loop, providing a combination of almost 100 feet of track on a 42-inch table.

As always, the event features the Pacific Coast Live Steamers’ dual-gauge 32mm/45mm track that has been used since 2001, which 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.

For the seventh year we will have the 45mm track popularly known as the “Paso Robles Track” (because that’s where it was originally built). Members of the PCLS took up a collection in 2003 and bought the track for use at the Summer Steamup. In 2005, this track was raised to about 40-inches off the ground and in 2006 we added a drawbridge. With 15-foot radius curves and almost 300 feet combined of rail, this is a magnificent layout.

Once again, Paul Brink of Rancho Cordova has said he’ll be bringing his three-loop layout, which includes two 45mm loops and one 32mm/45mm loop. This track has been rebuilt by Paul and Phil Huntingdale over the last few months and promises to provide a superior steaming experience.

And tracks are 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. The hobby’s leading practitioners will give you tips and tricks on how to be successful in small-scale live steam modeling. You will have access to the leading “gurus” of small-scale live steam if you attend.

Also Thursday through Saturday, suppliers of live steam equipment and accessories will be exhibiting products. Items specifically addressing live steam will be available for examination. Supplier representatives will be at the event, eager to answer your questions.

Every steamer who registers before July 1, will get a free Saturday night BBQ dinner, with chicken and beef, cole slaw, corn-on-the-cob, potato salad, steamers’ beans and a surprise dessert.

And don’t forget, we will have our traditional “swap table” — usually more than just one — where you can buy or sell live-steam items.

By attending the National Summer Steamup 2010, you will get five days of steaming, five days of camaraderie, five days of talking trains and five days of fun. There is probably no better way to spend a weekend in July. Register for the National Summer Steamup today.