Greetings from the land of the Midnight Sun!
I wanted to post a note to the CTT Forum on this historic day. At precisely 12:00 pm today Alaska Standard Time Bob Nelson (aka lionelsoni) and I conducted the first ever (at least to my limited knowledge of these things) CTT Alaska Forum Poster’s Convention!
Bob Nelson represented the Lower 48 delegation of the CTT Forum and I represented the Fairbanks Alaska Interior delegation. The meeting was conducted for a little over 2 hours and in various locations around the Fairbanks area. The meeting was called to order at the Cookie Jar Restaurant over lunch, then moved to various spots along the ARR train yard and then concluded at the (sort of) new ARR Depot!
Details and photos of this historic event will be posted in short order. Until further information is posted I would like to let all of the other members know that Bob was an excellent choice to represent the Lower 48. It was a real pleasure to have lunch with Bob here in Fairbanks. I can now say I have meet another CTT Forum member in person!
Best Regards from Alaska, more to follow!
Kevin T.
Kevin, I have never personally met Bob, but know from others who have and from the help he has given to so many on this forum, that he is a first class guy. Sounds like y’all had a great time. Look forward to the photos.
dennis
Kevin, Although we enjoyed Bob’s visit he didn’t take this yukky weather with him when he headed your direction. [:D]
Bob has been a great help to me and others. Never seen him refuse to help any one. Will give great advice to all. Great asset to CTT. Even helped Frankie [who does not post on CTT] by email.
BTW: makes great home made spaghetti.
As promised here is photographic evidence of the first CTT Forum Posters Alaska Convention.
Bob & I at the parking lot entrance to the Fairbanks ARR depot. Notice there is no snow in sight!
Closer shot at the depot entrance.
Bob Nelson outside the ticketing and passenger lobby of the new Fairbanks depot!
The local HO modeling club has a great working display being developed. Unfortunately it was not open when we stopped by. We did get a nice look through the windows.
Bob is standing next to the ARR 2008 rail print they sell each year, this year the print features one of the big ARR SD MAC pulling out of the Fairbanks depot!
In the above photo I am standing next to a retired ARR maintenance track car and I am holding a new addition to my ARR collection. It is a Lionel 16129 ARR tanker car that was given to me by Bob. His generous gift will be on display in my office after I make a new display case for it. The case will be made of Alaska Birch– of course!
It was a real pleasure for me to meet Bob, have lunch with him and take a quick tour of the ARR yard and depot. He is a gentlemen and great ambassador for our hobby and the CTT forum-ites. Bob returned to Fairbanks to attend the graduation ceremonies at his old high school where he was the class valedictorian of the school&#
Kevin and Bob, sounds like you both had a great time. The pictures are great too. Kevin, either you left the door open, or Bob brought some of the chill down here last night. Got cold enough to close the screens on the new door. A bit more enjoyable temps here. The past few days we have been around 90.
Take care,
Dennis
We did have a great time! I want to thank my gracious host, Kevin, again. The weather was beautiful, with the temperature in the sixties. Lunch and poking around the depot were enjoyable; but the real fun was getting to have a face-to-face chat.
The new depot is stunning! Here are some publicity pictures of it from the ARR site:
There is an intermodal yard next to the depot. It was interesting for me to see that in operation, since there is no such yard in or very near Austin.
I went to Fairbanks from San Diego, where I had been at a conference. However, I spent my last day there at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum running trains with Doug (dagrump) Wallace and a couple of other San Diego 3-railers. If you have the July, 2004, issue of CTT, dig it out to see their beautiful and well-built layout. I was able to cram a flatcar into my carry-on, to have something to run. We ran trains all day Friday; and Doug brought in a hearty lunch of Italian sausage sandwiches and salad.
Running trains at the San Diego Museum, participating in the graduation of the 50th class of MHS seniors, and hanging out with Kevin in Fairbanks–three great experiences in a few short days!