Our 2024 Chief Logan Modeler’s Meet: This year’s SACOM Modeler’s Meet at Chief Logan marked our 25th successful gathering of modelers and friends for some great times together. Springtime in West Virginia is always fine, and sharing it with forty similarly minded modelers and railfans is really the best of the best!
Chaired by Dave Wetterstroem, the two-day event featured professional presentations on a variety of topics… including researching the Virginian and C&O Winding Gulf, modeling C&O wayside signals, C&O connection locations, 2-8-0 Consolidation locomotives, passenger service, GP30 locomotives, an in-depth tour of Mike Burgett’s amazing model railroad in Michigan, and railroad and coal mine drone photography… in fact, this year’s group photo in the lodge was captured by Jim’s drone!
Speakers this year included Frank Bongiovanni, Mike Burgett, Jim Corbett, Jerry Doyle, Karen Parker and Jim Trivett; interesting model displays were provided by many of the attendees, some of whom journeyed from as far as Michigan and Texas for the event. Friday nights’ festivities ended with a pizza party for all, and Saturday night was punctuated by a 25th anniversary cake (we’ve been doing this now for a quarter-century!), as well as the traditional raffle of model railroad wares of all scales provided by various model manufacturers, vendors and personal doners.
Chief Logan State Park made available their C&O K4 2-8-4 steam locomotive No. 2755 for up-close inspection by our group, dining there at the lodge was superb as always, and the days were spent talking railroading, discussing modeling, and railfanning and touring the area of Southern West Virginia. And of course, the evenings featured the always-interesting presentations by a group of our members. On our way home, the SACOM layout building in St. Albans was open to the public, providing the further chance for modeling and fellowship.
Thanks to all who helped put this together, especially Chairman Dave Wetterstroem, and thanks to our great presenters, as well as all who attended. It’s always great to get together with friends here, and we look forward to seeing you all at next year’s event, which is already firmed up and scheduled: Same venue, Chief Logan State Park Lodge, March 28-29, 2025. See you there!