HI,
I was wondering what the speed of the excursions will be, both the hour trips and all day trips? Yes I plan on chasing - I can't ride all of them! Any chance we can find out where the photo run will be? I would like to actually avoid that area - too many people.
Will there be other things to do in town? I think I remember a craft show at trainfest in Ohio and that might win back a few points with my wife!
I thought I read there would be short caboose trips with one of the tank engines, are these still planned?
If parking is a problem, is there a way that shuttle trains could be run to the event from parking areas?
Is there any info on the opening ceremony? Any chance of an octa-header!?!?!?
I can't wait for July!
Matt

Oooh, now that would be cool!

The speeds will be between 30-40 mph. Chasing will be easier than one might think. Anyone that has ever chased a 1225 trip will know. The Michigan State police follow the train with three police cars and 2 troopers on board the train in radio contact with the cars. They keep people from pacing and force you to leap frog. This works great for everyone chasing and give everyone an equal chance to get pictures not just the guy in front of the chase line. They will write tickets for anyone shooting video while driving! So far not one single accident.

We have nearly 4000 parking spots within a 3 block walk of the festival. Shuttle services will also be running.

The downtown is within a two block walk with lots of shops for the women in our lives. They have a great antique shop that is also a restaurant called "Treasures" There are at least 7 or 8 eateries close by and a "Beer and Blues Fest" on Saturday just two blocks down the road.

Caboose rides behind one of the tank engines will be running during the event.

As for opening ceremonies, you will just have to wait until we announce what we are doing.

FYI: the all-day trips are nearing sell-out. Don't miss out on your chance to ride behind one of Lima's finest!

Hope this helps,
Jason Johnson
http://www.trainfestival2009.com

Actually, for chasing 1225, I wouldn't suggest filming from a moving car period, whether you are driving or not! On the trips to Grayling in 2007, one person in our party was threatened with a ticket by the troopers because they were filming from the back seat, even though we were stuck several cars deep in the chase line with nowhere to go.

Despite a few overzealous officers, I must agree with Jason's comments though. The massive backlog of chasers caused by a few pacing the slow-moving train on higher-speed roads is generally absent when chasing 1225. The system works very well, and allows people to get ahead, get a shot and repeat as opposed to the "follow-the-smoke-trail-and-brake-lights" form of chasing that one often gets into with big steam and chase brigades.

Surely they wouldn't get too PO'd even if a person wanted video, albeit say... a 20-30 second shot? I would like to get some pacing video, though I would just get my shot and be done with it. It would surprise me if the police got too strict as far as that goes. Other than that, I'll echo Jason's and Kevin's sentiments, that does sound like a great system, considering the magnitude of the event and the hundreds of chasers expected. Equal opportunity works!

As far as where the photo runbys will be, my best guess would be Ithaca. I've seen a few YouTube videos of runbys with the 1225 there. But that is just my gut feeling.

The anticipation of this event is killing me.

That's a great arrangement with the State Police. "Crazy Railfan Driving" has been a pet peeve of mine for years. I guess its been building ever since I was stuck behind someone pacing at about 17 mph for several miles on my way to re-crew a train and then being nearly run off the road by someone doing about 60 in a 45 zone, while filming - over the same weekend!

I wonder if any other organizations have tried coordinating with law enforcement. I'm tempted to do this myself with some events I'm working on in Scranton.

Please dont risk your life or innocent peoples live by filming while driving, even for a bit.

Even a few seconds is enough to get someone injured or killed. Back in High School, I was driving down a road, and saw a hot girl on the sidewalk. I gave her my attention, and a couple seconds later I realized I was in someones yard heading straight for a tree. I sideswiped a telephone pole, and then hit the tree head on at 55mph. The car spun about 4 times in the guys yard before coming to a stop. Needless to say it was totalled.

If you want to film while moving, have someone else drive while you shoot.

That was actually my point. But I saw mention of an above post saying there was potential to get ticket even when you're filming from a passenger's side or backseat of a car, unless I misinterpreted that.

In that case, I personally don't think you would have a problem as long as the driver is driving safely.

The officers that worked our past trips were very friendly, and were not out to ruin everyones fun; they just made sure people were driving safely and not causing traffic hazards.

There was one guy who followed us on our Grayling trip for several miles (I think more like 15-20mi), dangling out the window the entire time filming the train and not watching where he was driving. After the officers got him, from what I understand, he is well known by the railroads as being a 'train stalker'.

As long as you are being safe and following the law, I would think you would be fine.

A couple readers have asked where to find accommodations during TrainFestival 2009. Owosso's one hotel was reserved some months back, likewise probably the motels along I-69 and M-52. There should be lots of rooms in the motels along I-75/US-23 on the west side of Flint (convenient to the Huckleberry, too!), although the room-discounting web sites indicate the rates are creeping up. These are probably the most convenient to Owosso, although I-75's interchange with M-21 may be under construction - use I-69 instead. (But don't miss the culm pile on the south side of M-21. Betcha didn't know Michigan had coal mines.)

There are more motels near 1225's ancestral college-town home of East Lansing, but these are a bit less convenient than Flint. The segment of US-127 between I-96 and I-496, which gives access to several motels, will be down to one lane all summer.

For tourists with a taste for fried chicken or sauerbraten, the tourist town of Frankenmuth will have lots of room, about 20 miles more distant than Flint.

And remember to allow time to visit the Henry Ford on your way back east. How often to you get to foam over consecutive Lima order numbers on the same trip?

Aarne H. Frobom
Been Down So Long It Looks like Flint to Me

And if your return trip home takes you through the west side of the state, dont forget to check out 1225's sister 1223 here in Grand Haven. Its just a static display, but still is somewhat neat. There is a coaling tower, two cabeese, and a boxcar, along with a wigwag.

Hmm, I wonder how many steam locomotives will be operating in the State of Michigan that Trainfest weekend.

No, you did not misinterpret that. Our group was simply warned that the 2nd time would result in such--for being stuck with nowhere to go. I'll put it down to an over-zealous officer however. Having not chased towards Alma, I don't know what sort of pacing opportunities are even afforded on that route. That said, I've been in the midst of a "pace line" where the train couldn't even be seen for the trees, so....

King Road outside of Carland seems to be the only place for a decent pace (and maybe a bit on Route 127 outside of Ithaca?).

Just remeber to have the four ways blinking. and be safe.

Len.