Katy Dickinson

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http://blogs.sun.com/katysblog/date/20090613 Saturday June 13, 2009

HO Scale Train Track

My husband John Plocher loves trains of all sizes, from WP 668, our 1916 historic backyard caboose, to the HO-scale models at the Silicon Valley Lines (SVL) club where you can find him most Friday nights. John has twice been President of SVL and is now Board Secretary. On the live Operations nights at SVL (last Friday of each month), John often serves as Dispatcher. Recently, John has been hand laying a section of track near the main yard at Nowheres on the SVL layout.

The SVL club is of particular interest because of the high degree of its computerization. It is often on tours of the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA). The last two years, SVL has also been one of the invitation-only layouts toured by Bayrails. SVL operates trains using digital command control (DCC), which allows engineers to control locomotives independently on the same track.

The club is located near Virginia and South Third in San Jose, California, in the basement of a historic brick building occupied by Golden State Builders. Most of the basement is rented out for storage and is sectioned off with metal and plastic fencing, floor to ceiling. Look for the SVL signs...

Virginia & S Third, San Jose
Virginia and South Third in San Jose, California photo: copyright 2009 Katy Dickinson 		The Ramp to SVL
The Ramp to SVL Silicon Valley Lines photo: copyright 2009 Katy Dickinson 		SVL sign
SVL sign Silicon Valley Lines photo: copyright 2009 Katy Dickinson

SVL Nowheres yard
SVL Nowheres yard Silicon Valley Lines photo: copyright 2009 Katy Dickinson 		John's work in progress
John Plocher's work in progress, SVL Silicon Valley Lines photo: copyright 2009 Katy Dickinson 		SVL layout detail
SVL layout Silicon Valley Lines photo: copyright 2009 Katy Dickinson

Images Copyright 2009 Katy Dickinson

Posted at 09:39PM Jun 13, 2009 by katysblog in Caboose Project and Other Trains  | 

Sick Cockatiel

Our 15-year-old Cockatiel "Princess Birdie" has been very ill recently. She had a bacterial and fungal infection and spent several days in the For the Birds hospital:

      For the Birds
      Fern Van Sant DVM
      1136 South De Anza Blvd., Suite B
      San Jose, California 95129
      (408) 255-1739

Our family learned how to give medicine and nursing to a creature the size of my hand. She also has new perches for her cages (one in the kitchen and the other in my office) and new food. Birdie is now feeling much better.

Birdie Cockatiel with Paul Dickinson Goodman and John Plocher photo: copyright 2009 Katy Dickinson Birdie Cockatiel with John Plocher photo: copyright 2009 Katy Dickinson Birdie Cockatiel with Paul Dickinson Goodman photo: copyright 2009 Katy Dickinson

Images Copyright 2009 Katy Dickinson

Posted at 04:01PM Jun 13, 2009 by katysblog in Home & Family  |