I am importing this post from another thread so it might receive more attention and comments. Please feel free in post your comments.
QUOTE: Originally posted by Bergie
(Why don’t we plan a Trains.com family reunion for this summer? Pick a centrally-located railroad event like Galesburg Railroad Days and get together. What do you think?)
Erik
Erik
Funny you should make a post about this. I have been thinking the same thing for about a month. Something else I was thinking about – a special Amtrak trip for the forum members. Some of the staff and as many of the members as possible. Possibly regional in scope or maybe even on a national level. Of course there would be costs involved but it is something to consider. Forum members could spend a day or more, whatever their schedule would allow, and meet other members, while enjoying a nice trip aboard one of the thread topics–Amtrak. There could be displays, souvenir sales, maybe even the railroads would sponsor a special even somewhere along the way. This could also be an annual event taking in a different part of the Amtrak system every year. I know it would take alot of planning but it is something that could happen. Many of the forum members know that AARPCO does this every year. Of course they use their own private cars while we would be using Amtrak’s cars. Forum members could be involved in the planning by telephone voice conference. There could even be a convention at some point in the trip. I am sure that other forums members will have some input on this idea. I know that not everyone would be able to do this every year but some might. And others might could do it once every 3 or 4 years. This is something to consider and work for. I am game to help anyway I can. Another thought would be to also consider using VIA and alternate between America and Canada. One year we visit the Amtrak system and the next year we visit the VIA system.
I’d prefer Chicagoland, for obvious reasons, and Rochelle has a history of hosting Trains events, so those are two possibilities. Anything in the Midwest would work (even as far east as Berea or Fostoria), as long as there were lots of trains.
Another suggestion, not necessarily related. Would it be possible to provide, on this forum, a set of identifying labels, or name tags, that would be unique to us, that could perhaps be worn on a routine day of railfanning (and help others recognize us)? Something we could print out on mailing labels of a given size and format. Just a thought.
I’d love to do this personally. It would be really great to meet all of you in person. However, the time of year is something very important to consider. Summer would probably be best, considering that there are those of us on here that have to go to school.
Like I said in the other “best posts” thread, I would try and make it to something like this if I can work it into our family vacation this summer.
My own preference would be to keep it simple…something like Bergie mentioned would be good: picking an already-established rr event and then planning around that. What you suggested sounds interesting, Jim, but it also sounds like it could be pretty expensive, and it would also require an awful lot of planning.
The other good thing about planning to meet up at an independent event is that if it’s a bust and only three people from the forums show up, there is still a good time to be had at the event.
In my opinion the thing to do is probably for someone to just pick a weekend and a place and whoever can make it can make it. I had to plan a similar get together (not train related) this past summer and I would not do it again – so and so doesn’t want to do it that weekend, that place is just a little too far for so and so, so and so is upset that their ideas didn’t get picked, blah blah blah, everyone was complaining. Of course that was a group of women, though. [:D]
I guess what I’m trying to say is that I like the idea but I think we should keep it simple – if loads of people turn up this year and it’s a huge success, then maybe the scope can be broader next year?
The train trip idea would be to have a “members only” special ran by Amtrak. The special could stop at a variety of places. The stop could be an hour long or more depending on the location. Members who could not afford to actually ride the special would have the opportunity to meet those riding on the special. Those riding the special might not be able to go the whole route but could choose a day or two or more depending on their particular circumstances. This would take a great deal of planning but it is something that is possible. A committee could be set up to make the plans with Bergie or another staffer in charge of the committee. A group of volunteers could phone conference (or do so in a chat room) together to make these plans. This group should include our neighbors to the north–Canada. There would also need to be a long range plan to involve Canada in the travels. One year the trip might follow the Texas Eagle route while the year after a route on Via. Then the third year back to the US and say the Coast Starlight route. Then again back to Canada for a different route on Via. A Convention could be held somewhere along the route . The key to making this happen and happen smoothly would be advanced planning.
Hopefully people will want to get involved in doing a trip/convention and will voice their opinion on such. ALL ABOARD [:D]
well jim maybe as part of the trip we could take amtrak it depends on their schedule.If I drive I can be more on time(unless there is some train action on the way)
stay safe
Joe
I am leaving in a minute for my trip to see the folks for Christmas. [:)] I will return in about a week.
Keep posting your thoughts and ideas here in this thread for a forum convention / train trip.
One thought being suggested is that this coming summer we do a convention at a location already established with an ongoing function. Then we can start planning a forum train trip for the following spring/summer. This would give people time to begin saving money for the trip and also time for the planning of the trip. I am game to help if I can. I hope you all are too.
I am looking forward to meeting many of you in the future. [:)]
Have a Great Holiday Season. Best Wishes, and STAY SAFE. [;)]
Interesting! Most people on here won’t even post a picture! How would they deal with meeting some of us face-to-face! I realize some of you work for railroads and don’t want your picture all over the world, but what about the rest of you! C’mon! The Mookie ventured out there and hasn’t received any hate mail yet for it! For some who can’t make a trip, this would be a good way to see who they are “talking” to!
Milk wouldn’t be the only thing we would be short of - would have to get bigger porch! And if you bring BBQ with the chocolate cake - who would notice if it was a little crowded. Driver would be confounded as always with “the forum”.
…Keeping it simple…Doing it at an established railroad point or function…Establishing name tags…Doing it in the summertime…and finding a centralized location to the bulk of Trains.com folks on here are some of my thoughts.
ok, I believe Modelcar is correct. For now we need to keep it simple. A trip would take some (actually a great deal) of planning. So if we do as Bergie has suggested and meet at Galesburg Railroad Days, how many of the forum members would actually show up for this event ? ? ? [?] [?] [?]
Sound off, please. If you would try to go let’s hear from you. [8D]
I have been trying to find a “good” Galesburg Railroad Days website but so far I haven’t been able to turn up anything worth linking to. So If anyone can find a good site for them please put a link here. It would be helpful info and appreciated. [:)]