Prestige Rail Marketing is putting together plans for TrainFestival 2011. It will be a Midwest event. We are finalizing contracts with the host. We will be announcing the location of the 2011 event at this years event June 25-27, 2010 in Petersburg, WV http://www.wvrails2010.com

West Virginia Rails 2010 is coming together nicely and we are expecting very nice crowds. This event marks the first outing from home rails for two steam locomotives, Western Maryland 2-8-0 #743 and New Hope Valley 0-4-0 #17. Flagg Coal 0-4-0 #75 will also be there along with 6-8 vintage diesels. It will be a great time.

We are seeking suggestions of what fans would like to see at TrainFestival 2011. There are many great treasures out there and we want to hear from you on what can make the events better. Feel free to post here or this discussion is already going on in the Facebook Fan page for TrainFestival http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Philadelphia/Train-Festival/295722036793#!/pages/New-Philadelphia/Train-Festival/295722036793

Thanks for your input,

Jason Johnson
Prestige Rail Marketing

I know I would like seeing a model railroad. =]

Photographic "workshops."

Well advertised, open to anyone who wants to take part, photographic tutorials -which would include "instuctors" who could guide folks who want to learn through equipment and various techniques.

This would also open up an array of underwriting possibilities for the organizers.

Stephen

The one problem with facebook discussions is that they are limited to people who are in facebook.

But, since you opened the floor here... I would say close enough to operating midwestern steam that we have several museums who can roll their equipment over to the event. It probably should be in a town with both a UP line and a shortline/regional track, but neither so busy that special train ops get in the way of regular freight. And a town large enough that a small convention center or good lodging is available.

Rockford, Illinois might be a good choice. UP, CN and IC&E are there. A tourist railroad and gas powered trolley are in town. IRM is a short distance away.

I'll cross post my ideas, err, wish list from Facebook... brace yourselves, as some may be a little farfetched than others:

Nickel Plate 765 and PM 1225 reunited again. That is dependent on the fact if 1225 is ready next year, as everyone knows, she's undergoing her 1472 day inspection/15 year FRA rebuild.

CP 1293 (Age of Steam) and 2816.

Some Union Pacific stuff: 844, 3985, E units, the Centennial 6936.

If it's ready, NKP 587. (Yes, farfetched)

A cross country trip with the Santa Fe 3751, similar to what happened last year with the Daylight.

Some E and F units. Norfolk Southern, Canadian National, CP, Union Pacific and PRR (Juniata Terminal Co.) E units.

Farther & faster all day steam trips too. Maybe one powered by vintage diesels too? Pretty sure with lower ticket prices for diesel trips it would enable swifter ticket sales...

And if the event is in Illinois, something from the IRM?

Hope you enjoyed my wish list... and I also hope no one had any major heart attacks over it. ;)

I'll second the Illinois Railway Museum - space, tracks, access and trains! Bring 3751, we don't get to see her much outside of the LA area, if at all.

Then, in 2012, it could be in Sparks, NV with the V&T hosting several visiting 4-4-0's from the railroad museum along with other nearby visiting steam. Bring the Leviathan.

/Mitch

Just about the only bad thing I could say about the event last year was that unless the engines were moving around didn't get to "hear" them them that much. Might I suggest a daily Noon whistle salute and/or blowing them when the event opens and closes each day?

Joshua

how about at The Age of Steam Roundhouse? Might be a stretch for the Mid West. Have 765 and 763 together,587 if she's ready, and Doyle McCormack's 190. Be a nice show of NKP power.

How about a festival on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic? They are willing to do different things and bring steam in - 1293 in '07 and '08. Might be able to get different/additional large steam engines in if they're not too big (sure would be nice to see GTW 6325 or LS&I 33 running in Ohio again if they could be made operable in a year). I think there are weight issues with a couple of bridges around Akron. Would have to run the trains pull-pull, no turning facilities, but you did that at Dennison in '04. Steam has proven to be a big draw for the CVSR, and with two major metropolitan areas - Cleveland and Akron - should have no trouble drawing crowds. They also have the rolling stock to do it, or can get it from Age of Steam or Orrville. Single biggest problem is where you would put the fair grounds. Peninsula has a siding, but the place is already crowded on weekends with the shoppers/hikers, and parking is a HUGE problem. The only active rail yard is the CVSR Fitzwater maintenance facility, and it's really not a place you can bring lots of people. Any track you might need to build or ground you need to clear out would pretty much have to be outside the National Park. There are extra tracks in the old Valley Yard in Akron, but public access is pretty much non-existent.

If you had enough of a budget to add some trackage, there would be room under the "Y" bridge in Akron, South of the CVSR station, plus the lead to the old intermodal facility on Furnace St. still exists, but I think the trackage may be gone. With over 40 miles of mainline - all the way to Canton, it would certainly be possible to run a number of trips - the one hour shorty, and a longer "mainline" excursion (Maybe run the longer excursions to Canton and back). You might be able to spread some of the attractions out, like putting the flea market/smaller scales - up to live steam size - at Boston Mills where they do the "Day Out With Thomas" event. Now there's a place that has parking room. Just a few random thoughts.

Hmmmm

Kansas City?, Cedar Rapids? There's a certain operable Santa Fe 4-6-2 and Espee 2-8-2 I wouldn't mind seeing!

Dave Crosby

Paul,

I agree with you regarding CVSR. The real place to invest a few $$ would be to beef up the wye at Willow and Akron Jct although CSXT still uses the one at Willow.

It's a shame the park replaced that concrete box culvert at Ira Rd and allowed it to be less than Cooper E80. STill, the 1293 weighs less than the Alcos that CVSR runs today so it really isn't that bad. The park engineer has told me there are a couple of bridges that hover around Cooper E65 but that's not the end of the world either. The line should support most small to mid sized steamers though.

The lack of a traditional yard is an issue but PNL and Boston Mills would be two good places for special events. The lack of yard tracks is a bummer.

Rob Gardner

Everything that runs on the G&Q.

dave

I love all the ideas. They really do help as well as shed some light on other operations in the area to get involved. We are looking to try to get 10 steam locomotives together as well as quite a few historic and modern diesel locomotives.

What we are looking for are some additional attractions like the Buckingham Lining Bar Gang for shows during the event. We are open to anything RR related right now. I am sure there are some treasures out there that we are not aware of.

There was also a large semi-trailer with a large model train layout running around a few years ago. Does anyone have info on that mobile layout? I thought it was sponsored by Lionel or another manufacture.


Jason

Jason...

I am inclined to think it was Mike's Train House perhaps?

Dave

[I'M ONLY JOKING] <---Mandatory disclaimer
Perhaps you could have a razor blade making machine on site. Dump a vintage diesel in one end and get souvenir razorblades (handsomely packaged and with a certificate of authenticity) out the other end. Perhaps you could also have bobblehead dolls of famous steam locomotive restorers like Doyle and Steve Sandberg?