2012 Picnic at Willis Picnic Area in Bedford

Chef Marte (a.k.a. Marty Surdyk) tosses the ceremonial opening burger onto the grill. The first burger occurred at 12:03 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

The Akron Railroad Club held its annual summer picnic on Sunday, July 29, 2012, at the Willis Picnic Area of the Bedford Reserevation of the Cleveland Metroparks. Approximately 50 members and guests attend the event. Between 9:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. Norfolk Southern sent 25 trains past our location on the Cleveland Line. Alas, we did not spot any 30th anniversary heritage locomotives. It was the club’s first picnic at the Willis Picnic Area. We’ll be back next year.

Photographs by Craig Sanders

And the first burger was eaten by . . . Tim Krogg’s dog Rocky.

Dennis Taksar (left) and Dave Kachinko get into place to photograph an approaching NS train.

The photo line is in place to photograph the eastbound NS 416, a Power River coal train with two BNSF locomotives in the trailing position.

Ken Roby owns a surplus U.S. Army truck that he brought to the picnic. We used it as a photo prop and even a photographer’s platform. An eastbound NS train passes by as the photographers document it.

Rick Houck (left) and Marty Surdyk shoot the breeze. The weather for Sunday’s picnic was nearly ideal with low humidity and sunny skies.

There was plenty of socializing going on around the picnic tables. In the foreground are Dave Shepherd (left) and Bill Kubas. In the background are Paul Woodring (blue shirt) and J. Gary Dillon.

Roger Durfee (left) enjoys a light-hearted moment as Todd Dillon chomps down on a burger.

Steve McMullen and Amanda enjoy themselves. They brought their son, Skylar, with them as well.

There was food and fun for all ages at the 2012 Akron Railroad Club picnic.

Paul Havasi (left) and Marty Surdyk watch a passing westbound NS intermodal train.

Chef Marte serves up a burger to Matt Ward.