Two years ago, LSOL.com journeyed to Vero Beach, Florida, to be part of the Florida Garden Railway Society’s monthly meeting at Harry Halbert’s home. You can read about that visit and Harry’s railroad at This Story
When we arrived there was again a small railroad crossing sign in the front yard and dozens of cars were parked in Harry’s driveway and the street in front of his house. Inside the house, there were about 40 members of the Society viewing the trains and eating.
As you can see, just as before, there were many more eating than viewing the trains. Perhaps Nancy’s delicious pork barbecue was the reason for that. We asked what the members usually do at these meetings. The answer; “We mainly eat and talk”.
Some things have changed on Harry’s railroad in the two years since our last visit.
And some things have remained the same.
Harry’s railroad is modeled after the Union Pacific and is built into one of the bedrooms in Harry and Nancy’s beautiful Florida home. When we were there in 2003, he had the basic bench work and track up and his trains were running.
He had aggressive plans and had purchased several kits that he intended to build, but his railroad was pretty Spartan.
Harry has accomplished a great deal in the intervening years.
On our first visit, Harry had an engine servicing area planned, but little in place. 
Now he has a Pola coaling tower located there and has built a water tank, turntable and roundhouse from Kamloops Junction. The oil storage tank is by Bridge Masters.
There is a speeder shed that he built from Ted Brewer's plans using Garden Texture scale lumber.
Harry built a second shed from a kit by J&J Models.
He used an old boxcar and a platform from Bridge Masters to create another storage shed with a loading dock.
He built a sand house, located between the turntable and the coaling tower, from another J&J Models kit.
The end-of-the-line bumpers Harry had constructed from Ted Brewer plans were still in place and were now stained for more realism.
He has also added a backdrop from the Back Drop Warehouse. All of these make a very interesting and well-developed engine servicing area.
There is a beautiful station that Harry built from a Kamloops Junction kit.
He has installed operating crossing gates from The Realroad next to this station. 
The gates were an item of special interest for many of the club members present.
When we were at Harry’s two years ago, he had cut passages through the bedroom walls into a closet to allow his trains to run through the closet. 
The rough passageways have been finished into tunnel portals.
The trains still run through the closet, and Harry still has his workshop set up in the closet. The workshop is more organized than two years ago.
He has added a perch,(the piece of wood clamped to the bench work) for his bird to keep him company while he works.
The bird was not available for comment or picture.
The real change in the railroad was the completion of the mining area.
Harry has built the Three Tipple Mine from Garden Texture.
He designed and scratch built the mine entrance with Garden Texture scale lumber.
The trestles in this area are from Bridge Masters.
Harry added scenery to his railroad with Woodland Scenic products. He said that he had cornered the market for trees in the local hobby shop, and they now special order the trees for him.
Harry’s railroad is a work in progress. Most of the walls and backdrops in the room are still white. Harry has begun to paint parts of these areas a sky blue and has added some clouds. This has been no simple task because Harry, in seeking a particular effect, has redone some sections. 
We were very impressed with the progress that Harry has made since our last visit.
We are counting on Harry to keep us up to date on his future progress through postings in the Discussion Workshops on LSOL.com. 
After the feasting had ended, the Florida Garden Railway Society members held an officers meeting and then an open membership meeting. Most of the time was spent discussing an exciting upcoming event that the club will be supporting. It is too early to discuss details, but the members will be volunteering to help build a Large Scale trains exhibit. They will also be manning the exhibit and giving demonstrations of some of the activities involved in building a garden railroad. 
Harry and Nancy’s dogs were very attentive during the membership meeting.
The Halberts are involved in a dachshund rescue program.
During the meeting, Harry shared some pictures of an event that some members of the Society had supported during the holidays. Members Jack Nutbrown, Eric Menger, Fred Bolt, Harry Mc Kees and Harry built a temporary Large Scale layout for the McKees Jungle Garden Holiday display. They set up the railroad in one week. Building the tables ahead of time, off-site, they put in about 150 hours the week before the exhibit opened. The event was so successful that next year the Gardens will be open for six nights instead of the usual three nights. 
At the end of the meeting, the Society had their usual drawing for gifts that included eight Large Scale on Line calendars donated by LSOL.com. These drawings provide money to the Society’s treasury. 
Once again Harry and Nancy were gracious hosts to the Florida Garden Railway Society and to LSOL.com. We look forward to watching Harry’s railroad continue to unfold his vision of a Union Pacific empire.
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