By Paul J. Bottino

Author  Bio The Shoreline Garden Railroad Club conducted its first annual pulling contest. Come see how that did it and who were the bigger winners.

On Sunday March 11, at its monthly meeting, the Shoreline Garden Railroad Club conducted its first annual pulling contest. This was held at Bob and Dianne Johnson's layout where there are twenty-foot turns, and very long straight runs.

The pulling consist was made up of two Bachmann Peabody hoppers, and two Aristo 100 ton hoppers, each with a 5 lb diving weight inside. In addition, there were hoppers with 8 pounds of pellet gun shot, or fishing sinkers.

Overall there were 18 Aristo 100 ton hoppers, some with loads as described and some without. This was the standard minimum load. To this was added for the Big Boys, 5 Aristo Streamliner passenger cars without ball bearing wheels, and finally a 10 pound ALCO FB unit as dead weight. The total weight values reported are based on the loads plus the weights of the hoppers and other cars pulled.

The results were the following:

Barbara Moore's little battery powered "Clementine" won in the small and medium steam divisions (pulling an unbelievable 74.3 lbs.). Pictured is the Clementine resting after the hard pull.

Brad Moore's "Sumpter Valley" Mallet, with no weight added to the engine (pulled 134.5 lbs) in the large steam division.

Bob Johnson's stock (no added weight from factory specs) RS-3 pulled the 18 hoppers quite handily in the medium diesels.

However, Harry Holtgrewe won that class with his U-25B; here you see his Uboat, the added Peabody hoppers as well as Bob's spectacular waterfall.

Chris Petka won the MU division with his A-B-A "F Units" which pulled 159.5 lbs. Here it is resting before it's big pull.

---

Paul Bottino's single BNSF Dash-9 and Bob Johnson's single NS SD-45, sharing the same drive units, pulled everything in sight to tie the big diesel division. This was measured at 169.5 pounds.

---

Word on the street is that Bob will be looking for another NS SD-45 or two at ECLSTS so he can compete in the MU division! If he does, then Paul will add his Santa Fe SD45 for the competition. Then we will have to bring in more cars to pull or more weights. Just wait until next year.

As can be seen, we had great weather; a little cool, but sunny and clear. The Corned Beef and Cabbage was outstanding, (Thanks Dianne) and the fellowship was the best.

I thank Brad Moore and Florence Hoffman for some pictures, and Bob Johnson for major help with the writing, especially for the final results of the competition.

Top of Page