MAD CITY Train Show FORUM Gathering 2008 ??

Greetings,

I know we have tried this at TRAINFEST with mixed results. The MAD CITY Train Show is coming up February 16-17, 2008 in Madison, WI at the Alliant Energy Center. I know that several members of this FORUM live in the area and will most likely be in attendance. Several Milwaukee area members will be making the pilgrimage out the “peoples republic of Madison” also for show on Saturday.

I will be acting as an ambassador of the World’s Greatest Hobby at the show from 12noon to 1pm at the WGH booth so maybe we can get together and say “HI” to each other at sometime. I’m open to suggestions

Hopefully the “white death” or bitter cold won’t affect the show next weekend. So that there isn’t a line of model railroaders and railfans stranded on I-94 for 12 hours without food, water or trains.

Keith

I’ll definately be there. What’s “WGH” and where will that booth be?

I’m not quite certain, but my guess is that WGH stands for “WORLDS GREATEST HOBBY”. Am I correct?

I would guess “World’s Greatest Hobby”.

EDIT: Edged out by a nose by Jim!

ProRail will have its third annual exhibit and Talgo Train layout upstairs on the Mezzanine next to the guys with the car ferry model with that fog horn. We have two tables of literature about the Amtrak travel experience and passenger train advocacy. This is the third year that we also have a train layout.

Emulating the experience of the prototype in the late 1960s, Rapido Trains is way late with their TurboTrain model and I won’t have one to exhibit.

But the Talgo Train model has a scratch-built operating version of the prototype TurboTrain “wishbone arm” guided axle suspension in the consist. I put this HO-scale test article of a working axle-guiding linkage into the Talgo consist in anticipation of getting the TurboTrain. The Rapido TurboTrain and the Electrotren Talgo models otherwise cheat and use centering springs.

I will also have a calculating stop watch so you can clock the speed of the model and see the difference between 79 MPH and 110 MPH in HO scale.

If you come see us, ask about the “wishbone arm TurboTrain suspension” or mention the Trains Forum.

Can’t promise anything for the Mad City show, but I hope to be there. Definatly going to Snow Train that day, so I’ll be out and about…

Phil

Yes WGH is the “Worlds Greatest Hobby” booth. I’m not sure where the booth is in the show hall. I’m still trying to figure out how to get into the show. The gentleman from Kalmbach said I need to enter the west entrance near the loading dock and there is table for exhibitors. Can someone more familiar with the Energy Center help me out a bit with where the park if I’m coming off John Nolan Drive, if thats the best way.

There should be plenty of snow for the “Snow Train” at Mid Continent. I also heard Madison set a new one year record for snowfall. It is currently snowing here in Miwaukee thanks to the big snowmaking machine to our east. Probably got a new 5-6 inches on the ground.

Keith

I’ve been there the past couple years all weekend with my club (the Southern Wisconsin Sandhouse Crew), and I’ll be doing that again this year. I’d certainly be up to trying to attend a forum gathering. For me meeting closer to 12:30 or 1pm would probably work best as I have another gathering (different forum) to be at around noon, but like I said, I’ll be there all weekend, so it doesn’t really matter much to me.

Keith, as far as getting in the show, I’m guessing you’ll be coming around the beltline from Milwaukee. While you can get off at John Nolen, the best way I’ve found is to get off at the Rimrock Road exit. Turn right (north) onto Rimrock, and then if I remember right, you’ll want your first left onto Rusk Ave. Follow that road a short ways until you see signs to turn right into the parking lot entrance. If you miss Rusk Road or if they won’t let you turn in there (sometimes they do that), you can also enter the parking lot a little further along by the “main” Alliant Energy Center Sign. There will be lots of signs directing you to parking, and you shouldn’t have much trouble.

Once in the parking lot, you want to go to the west side of the building (not the east side, as the doors over there aren’t open for set-up). The main show entrance is near the middle of the building north-to-south. There are usually a few large signs that say “Model Railroad show and sale entrance” or something like that. If you’ll be there on Friday, just inside the door will be a table where you can pick up your exhibitor badge if who you’ll be displaying with put your name in for one. It basically just gets you free entrance to the show. I’m not sure where you get exhibitor badges on Saturday morning (the table might still be there, but I’m not sure), though I assume the folks at the ticket booths will know.

Hopefully that helped more than it confused…

Noah

So…12:30/1:00, but where? WGH booth?

Sounds like the following may meet/be there:
-kschmidt
-CNW 6000
-blhanel
-Paul Milenkovic
-Noah Hofrichter
-MFJ

Missing anyone?

Is this going to be on Saturday or Sunday?

Saturday from my understanding.

I will be there on Saturday.

Noah, thanks for the directions. I should be able to find the west side doors now. Hopefully it won’t be bitter cold or snowing.

Looks like quite a few members will be at the show. I know engine1385 will also be there.

Keith

Saturday’s weather is looking to be quiet, so if I don’t screw anything up tomorrow (note the date) I should be able to get there!

Thanks for the reminder Keith … with these cold temperatures I may need more than my Forum Member T shirt. Think I’ll save that for Galesburg Railroad Days!

Dave Nelson (a/k/a engine1385@aol.com)

Don’t plan on it, but I will probably make it there.

Phil

I’ll be heading there on Saturday. B.Erdmann is also comming on Saturday too.

The list of attendees seems to be growing. It sounds like the “white death” will be waiting until Sunday to attack. In Milwaukee they are predicting 8-12" of snow starting possibly as sleet and rain, then changing to snow.

Hopefully the snow won’t affect the Madison Show to much. It is an excellent show. Stop by the World’s Greatest Hobby booth between 12n and 1pm and Say HI

Keith

Excellent folks! I’ll bring a tripod and my camera so we can get a ‘group mugshot’ if anyone’s interested.

Probable MCTS Attendees:
-kschmidt
-CNW 6000
-blhanel
-Paul Milenkovic
-Noah Hofrichter
-MFJ
-WCfan
-B. Erdmann
-dknelson
-wgnrr (maybe)
-Trynn_Allen2

See you folks there!

Time to hit the road here- see you all in a bit!

It was an enjoyable day in Madison yesterday, and the Mad City RR Show was obviously a CROWD-pleaser- Pizza Hut couldn’t keep up at their booth, and it took me half-an-hour to drive the last half-mile through the highway exit to the parking lot! Of the members listed in a previous post, I think we had about seven available for the picture, which CNW 6000 should be posting later.

It was great meeting everyone, hopefully we’ll meet again.