I sit here in a daze, contemplating the next assignment for my newspaper, and reflect on the weekend at NCTM when 23,190 folks showed up in three days Friday-Sunday to play with Thomas the Tank Engine, an accompanying six coaches (that's 450 folks per train; 11 trains between 9:15 a.m. and 4:45 p.m.) from our fleet and one leased car and a diesel helper (our SR GP30 2601). Opposite that was our 2-8-0 604, six cabooses and one open sided coach--on Saturday, we managed 16.5 runs with it.

Among that bunch, I hope, are the next generation of donors, members, staff members, volunteers, photographers who'll keep railway preservation alive for a L-O-N-G time.

I'm tired but elated. One thing about it: Tommy Rocks!

(Oh, did I tell you that all of us at Spencer are doing this again next Frriday-Sunday?) Jim

Wrinnbo@aol.com

> Among that bunch, I hope, are the next
> generation of donors, members, staff
> members, volunteers, photographers who'll
> keep railway preservation alive for a
> L-O-N-G time.

Jim,

That is what many of us hope for! Long live Thomas!

Thank you for the information.

Brian Norden

bnorden@gateway.net

Congrats on the success of TTE. The influx of dollars and the influence it makes, will jumpstart the new generation of railfans/railroaders. Somebody is gonna have to replace us when we are gone, right?

Orange Empire Railway Museum has a Thomas Weekend scheduled next year I think. So any of you other West-Coaster's should consider gettin on board.
But be ready for the major amount of kids and their parents to show up.

Nuff said,
JB


btflco@aol.com

> Orange Empire Railway Museum has a Thomas
> Weekend scheduled next year I think. So any
> of you other West-Coaster's should consider
> gettin on board.
> But be ready for the major amount of kids
> and their parents to show up.

OERM is currently wrapping up arrangments to have a "Day out with Thomas" at its site. The Thomas marketing firm offered two sets of dates; the one in the Fall of 2002 will be used.


bnorden@gateway.net