You could take Amtrak to Lancaster. It would be closer than any available airport.

Sounds good. I'm in and if someone is flying in I'd be willing to pick them up from the airport.

Sounds promising, although I can't put in for personal/daily vacation days more than 3 weeks in advance, and I'd better be on the phone at midnight to do it, or it will be gone that quick (since they only give one engineer at a time any personal/daily leave)!

I almost drove up there last Sunday, but really didn't want to go alone, and it was a rainy, crappy day. Glad I put it off. I was thinking the same thing about two trains running - all I ever get to see is "Notable" 90 run (which is a great and reliable engine), but I would really like to see something else. In looking at Strasburg's website, they limit the Noon shop tour to 25 per day. Sounds like a group of us might crowd out anyone else. Any chance of, say, getting a separate tour for the "advanced level" in preservation?

I've done the shop tour, so if I'm able to be there I'll likely skip that unless it is sparsely attended.

I'm lucky to have managed to catch all of the engines up there running over the years. Maybe someone from the railroad will see this and let us know which engines will be running that weekend.

Good point about the shop tour.

I think we have about 13 people interested so far. I will contact SRC and see what they say about our group.

This is a list of people thus far that have expresses interest in the 7/15 event.

Rob D.
Site Admin (Steam info)
Christian S
Kevin G
Nick
Randy H
Al P
Dan K
Josh B
Steve Z
Tom G
Paul W
Alan L

I am not sure who is bringing freinds, wives or children. I may have my daughter with me.

Have a great day!

Alan S. Levy

Although not a frequent contributor, I am a fanatical reader of RyPN and think it's the best rail preservation tool on the web. I too would like to meet some of the familiar faces on the board.

My $.02, perhaps if we get a big enough turnout, we could have a few informal discussions/workshops (RyPN Convention v1.1?) on the future of rail preservation.

As discussed many times on this forum, I think some of the biggest issues we face are (not necessarily in order of importance):

1. supplementing/replacing an aging core of predominantly volunteer workers
2. maintenance/replacement of equipment that ranges in age from a decade to more than 100 years
3. protecting/sheltering artifacts/equipment now and and for the foreseeable future
4. insurance costs

Thanks Alan for suggesting this event.

Mike Shirk
RCT&HS Webmaster

Mike,

You have some good ideas. The topics you mentioned all need to be addressed and discussed as preservation is getting harder not easier!

What I was thinking was keeping this first event rather light in nature as there will be wives, girlfriends, boyfriends & kids. As we all sit around shooting the breeze we could think of some important topics to be covered in a more formal setting at a later date. On the flip side if the conversation gets deep in to a topic that cannot be a bad thing!

It will be interesting to see how we all interact and what topics each of us find more important.

Positive communication is the key to our future. I feel the thing that helps the preservation efforts in the UK move along is the cooperation between groups.

Keep the ideas coming and spread the word about the event.

-Alan

Hi Alan,

Just so you know, the reason I haven't replied to you so far is not lack of interest. It's the fact that I live in Colorado and can't travel out to Pennsylvania for your RyPN meet on 07/15/07.

You have a good idea, and if such a get together were to take place closer to me, I'd see about attending. Best of luck to you, and have a hoot !!!

you might want to go to Georgetown and see if anything is actually running...

In any event, between the Colorado RR Museum, D&S and C&TS, you have a bunch of place to choose from.

Hi Mike:

Most, if not all, of the topics you have listed have been featured as a workshop/seminar at the annual Association of Railway Museum (ARM) annual meetings. I've been to 8 or so ARM annual meetings in the last ten years and some of the topics you suggest have been covered more than once.

One of the highlights of the ARM meetings is the ARM Parts Committee meetings. This is the meat in the sandwich, so to speak. If you don't do anything else attend this meeting. You'll meet the "movers and shakers" in the rail preservation "community" and the contacts you'll make will pay dividends far into the future.

If your preservation group is not a member of ARM it should join. ARM also has an individual membership at a very reasonable rate. Visit the ARM website for more info: http://www.railwaymuseums.org

Thanks!

You will have to give me a couple more days, Sammy - drop in maybe Tuesday if you have a mind to.

dave

Sorry guys. I won't be able to make it per say. I'll be at the museum "across the street" working that day. If you want to go through there as well you could probably get a group rate if you book in advance and may also be able to arrange a behind the scenes tour for those who are regulars. Nick

It looks like we are a GO for Sunday 7/15. I have asked the NOAA to provide a sunny yet not too hot day!

I think we should gather by the ticket booth at Strasburg at around 11. We buy tickets for the shop tour and/or train ride.

I will bring some name tags so we can tell who's who.

I estimate about 20 people depending on friends, childrens, mates etc...

I will be away from 7/2 thru 7/8 (trains in Panama & Ecuador with Mr. Gears) so I will handle the remaining details when I return.

Think of a good spot for a group photo!

Best Regards!

-Alan L.

Looking forward to next Sunday- have a good week everyone.

Joshua