More features than ever are in the works for the National Summer Steamup 2012, now in its 16th year, scheduled for July 18-22 in McClellan, Calif.

The event, which brings together more than 100 live steamers from all around the country, is an action-packed five days that highlight hundreds of feet of track, multiple layouts, workshop/clinics, a live-steam dealers room and a Saturday evening BBQ dinner (free for those who register in advance).

As part of your registration fee you will have access to clinics and workshops to be held Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Topics in recent years have included the building of a small-scale live-steam track at Fort Bragg’s Skunk Railroad, the construction of the G1MRA 4F Project Loco, scratch-building a Fairlie loco, scratch-building coaches, the history of small-scale live steam, silver-solder brazing and a discussion on lubrication. In its second year will be the Ron Brown Memorial Enthusiasm Award, a perpetual plaque given by Steam Events LLC and Steam in the Garden magazine. Brown was the founder and editor of Steam in the Garden, who passed away last fall. The most enthusiast live steamer — as voted by those in attendance at the Summer Steamup — will get the award on Saturday night.

In its eighth year, we will have the 45mm track built in Paso Robles, Calif. The Pacific Coast Live Steamers took up a collection in 2003 and bought the track for use at the Summer Steamup. In 2005, this track was raised to about 40-inches off the ground and in 2006 we added a drawbridge.

Also featured is the PCLS dual-gauge 32mm/45mm track, which has been used since 2001 at the National Summer Steamup. The track is elevated at a comfortable 42-inches off the floor, is 110 feet long and has 10-foot radius curves.

In its third year is “Dwight’s Way,” the track built and formerly owned by Dwight Ennis of Milpitas. The Summer Steamup bought Dwight’s layout from him in 2009 and has added a dual-gauge 32mm/45mm five-foot radius outer loop to supplement its 45mm inner loop, providing a combination of almost 100 feet of track on a 42-inch table.

Other 45mm and 32mm live steam tracks are also expected, providing steamers with access to wall-to-wall live steam. Tracks will be available 18 hours a day: Wednesday, 6 p.m. through Sunday, noon.

Also as part of your registration fee is access to fuel and distilled water (what’s live steam without distilled water?). Organizers bring butane, iso-butane and denatured alcohol (a.k.a., methylated spirits or meths). Coal-firers need to bring their own bismuth.

For 90 minutes every afternoon, suppliers of live steam equipment and accessories will be exhibiting products, including locomotives and rail. Supplier representatives will be at the event, eager to answer your questions.

Every steamer who registers before July 1, will get a free Saturday night BBQ dinner, with hamburgers, hot dogs, cole slaw, corn-on-the-cob, potato salad, steamers’ beans and a surprise dessert.

And don’t forget, we will have our traditional “swap table” — usually more than just one — where you can buy or sell live-steam items.

By attending the National Summer Steamup 2012, you will get five days of steaming, five days of camaraderie, five days of talking trains and five days of fun. There is probably no better way to spend a weekend in July. Register for the National Summer Steamup today.