... some practical things you'll need to know.

1. No snow. We promised it for three years now at every TRAIN convention where the white stuff has fallen. That's just the way it's gonna be.

2. Having said that, bring both shorts and a heavy coat--NC Piedmont in early November can be just about anything. Case in point: This week it was 82 in Charlotte on Tuesday; high this weekend will be in the 50s with a 15 mph breeze! It can be cold but there will be NO SNOW.

3. Traveling from the west or midwest by car? Keep in mind that I-40 and 77 are rife with construction work. Instead of going all the way to Charlotte, you can take US 70 from Statesville to Salisbury and it will bring you right to Jake Alexander Blvd. where the Holiday Inn is located. Turn right at the McDonald's and go 2.7 miles to the HI on the left.

4. Food of choice in this area is barbecue. In the southeast that means pork shoulders simmered on a slow fire for hours and marinated with either a tomato or vinegar-based sauce. Ask some of the locals to point you to the better ones. (We will be having Gary's BBQ from nearby China Grove one day for lunch, (yum!) so no need to make that trek.

5. What's nearby the Holiday Inn? Well, sad to say, it's on a highway strip, so it doesn't have the walking amenities that Scranton and Ogden offered. If you want to buy a new car, there's plenty of dealerships close by. Also close: Wal-Mart. A couple of steak houses. Want some home cooking (ie Southern Food?)--head on down to the eastern end of Jake Alexander Blvd--at the junction with Old Concord Road. Here you'll find the Farmhouse Restaurant in a really cool building. Some good food in downtown: LaCava, Italian and Las Palmas, Mexican (the chicken fajitas are delicious!). (You get a night on the town Friday, so check it out!)

6. Registration on Monday is 3-9 p.m. If you're taking the pre-conventino trip, you'll want to hit the sack early as the trip to GSMR leaves early... 6 a.m. sharp!

7. Drive time from Charlotte or GSO airports is about 1 hour. For those going to Raleigh, count on about 2 hours (depending on the time of day).

8. We'll have a group panorama picture on Saturday at 3:15 p.m. sharp at the museum, right in front of the roundhouse, thanks to Julie Johnson. Not sure yet on costs, but bring some change so you can pick one up.

9. Did I say there would be NO SNOW?

10. Holler me or John Bechtel up (shaymech@hotmail.com) if you have questions and we'll do our best to accommodate you.



http://nctrans.org
Wrinnbo@aol.com

Apart from the gents from Oz, who else am I picking up at Douglas Field?

Dave

irondave@bellsouth.net