Second Annual Frisco Convention Registration is Open - INFO UPDATE!

Re: Second Annual Frisco Convention Registration is Open - 7-31 update

Hello Frisco Fans Everywhere,

We will be looking for you this September 11 and 12 in Kansas City for the Second Annual Frisco Convention. We have a lot in store for you including

1. A strong list of clinics and presenters.
2. Slides, slides and more slides !!!!!
3. A HO scale operating session on the Frisco Northern Division (Limited to the first 15 preregistrants)
4. A non-rail excursion to some great KC area shopping areas. There is no registration fee for this activity and driving to the shopping areas will be with your vehicles. Please bring your spouse and make a weekend of it!
5. A train ride in Belton on the old Frisco High Line (extra fare)

HOTEL

Our price of $72/night double or single is good through AUGUST 27. After August 28 the rate will go to $80 for a single King and $88 for 2 double beds. In order to get our meeting space free, we need to get as many Frisco fans possible to book rooms to avoid any penalty.

 

Re: Second Annual Frisco Convention Registration is Open - 7-31 update

We are five weeks out, and counting them down, 'til THE Convention -

My name is Bob McKeighan - live just a stone's throw from the Frisco, in Lenexa, Kansas - location of the upcoming 2nd Annual Frisco Convention. As a matter of fact, how lucky could I get? I live three blocks south of the hotel! I think you'll like the facilities.

In general, I believe you'll really enjoy this opportunity - if you're thinking about attending, or have already registered to attend. This is a great venue, which you probably know, as the Frisco had a large presence in the Kansas City area. The weekend is full of activities, as you've probably looked at the attached schedule.

As a member of the Convention Planning Team, my task has been to organize the clinics for that Saturday. There is also an attached clinic schedule at the bottom of Mike's post that details the times and topics.

This year's clinics are diversified, with a good variety of "How To's" and presentations. If you have considered attending this year, I hope these clinics will sway you toward registration.

The first two clinics will deal with the prototype Frisco. The Frisco "Highline" has had a lot of recent post activity on this web-site, for a lot of reasons. If you decide to take the train ride, on Sunday in Belton, you'll be traveling down a portion of this very piece of the Frisco. Also in this opening time slot, a presentation on "show trains" should be interesting, as well. Many of us in this area recall the Ringling Bros. trains parked down in the West Bottoms of K.C.

From the prototype, at 10:00, we'll have clinics on operating sessions, another hot topic, and decoder installation - a popular topic in the model railroading world, as well. After lunch, at 1:00 p.m., we'll continue the modeling topics of Frisco F-7A conversion and how to take a layout from concept to an operating reality.

Finally, at 2:00, our Website Manager, Mike Corley, will give a presentation of the evolution of Frisco.org and facilitate a discussion about its future and answer any questions you might have. Mike is anxious to hear your input!

I hope that our selection of clinics will be of interest to you, and hopefully you will register your attendance at the convention. In my past experiences, yours most likely too, the activities and events at model train conventions and meets are fun, especially if there are presentations that will enrich our experience as train freaks!

If you are teetering on whether, or not, to attend, I sincerely hope that you can be swayed to be there. As I reflect on my First Annual Frisco Convention, last year in Pittsburg, it was a lot of fun, a lot of new acquaintances, and something to look forward to again this year.

Hope to see you there!

Bob McKeighan
Lenexa, KS

 

Re: Second Annual Frisco Convention Registration is Open - 7-31 update

We're looking forward to seeing you Terry! Thank you for the endorsement of the clinics. It's great to see folks who are excited about this event!

There is a lot of other fun stuff, besides the clinics too. This will be a lot of fun. On the eve of the convention, it will kind of be like when I was a little kid: "what, go to sleep on Christmas Eve - no way!"

How about everyone else out in the great Frisco nation? Can we count on you to highball to Lenexa in September?

 

Re: Second Annual Frisco Convention Registration is Open - 7-31 update

Operating Session On The Frisco Northern Division

One of the activities that we have planned for the Second Annual Frisco Convention is an operating session on The Frisco Northern Division. The operating session will be limited to the first 15 registrants who indicate they want to operate. The session will be on Friday September 10 at 7 pm at my house (7165 Mize Road, Shawnee, KS 66227).

My normal crew size is 8 so this will be a bigger crowd with my intention being to expose operations to as many newcomers as possible. I want everyone to get a feel for the wireless command control system (Digitrax), the car card forwarding system, the phone system, etc. We will have to divide the work up some among the crew members but I think everyone will be accomodating. I will have some experienced local operators here (Keith Robinson, Mark Davidson, etc) on hand to answer questions and keep things rolling.

I have included some photos of a recent operating session courtesy of Ron Williams of Springfield. It is going to be fun and I look forward to operating with you. The first photo shows Louis Griesemer at Rosedale blocking a southbound. The second pic is Mike Peters (katyslug) taking full advantage of the MKT trackage rights on the Frisco taking a southbound to Paola and on to Parsons. The third picture is Ray Wells getting an outbound transfer ready for one of the many connecting roads in KC. The fourth photo is Ron White classing cars at Ft Scott. Dan Batson is having way too much fun spotting cars at Wolfermans Grocery on the Hill. The last pic is Keith Robinson cutting his power at 19th St Yard in prep to tie up at the engine facility.

If you have not completed your registration and/or your hotel registration please do so as soon as possible. We plan on having morning and afternoon refreshments and will need to get the headcount to do that. If you want to make your hotel reservation on line, here is the link

https://resweb.passkey.com/Resweb.d...ce=2104&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=3316455

 

Re: Second Annual Frisco Convention Registration is Open - 7-31 update

Adding some additional photos courtesy of Matt Freix. This second section shows the north bound train 130 (Tulsa - KC) at Ft Scott, Fontana and Paola. We should have more scenery in place before you arrive on Sept 10.

Looking forward to seeing you at the convention so register today !!!!!

Please check this thread often for convention updates and photos.

 

Re: Second Annual Frisco Convention Registration is Open - 7-31 update

I'm looking forward to meeting everyone, and helping out at Rick's on Friday night - I think I am going to take a stab at dispatching. Unfortunately, I'll only be able to meet the folks that attend the operating session as we have guests in town over the weekend, and I won't be able to attend the other events.

I really hope everyone who can takes advantage of the chance to operate on this great (and huge!) layout. It's a very laid back atmosphere and fun for both the experienced, and novice operators.

Post some more of the pics Rick. I really liked some of the Lenexa shots!

-Matt Freix

 

Re: Second Annual Frisco Convention Registration is Open - 7-31 update

I have just verified that the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Red Unit (they have two railroad units, Red & Blue) will actually be playing the Sprint Center on the weekend of the Convention. It has been parked in years past in the old 19th Street yard which besides Union Station is the closest to downtown. For those interested they carry their own bus on the train to transport performers and workers back and forth.

I may be able to make some contacts and get us a tour or something in connection with dinner at Rosedale BBQ on Saturday night. There isn't alot to see inside the cars as they are all private sleepers except the pie car (diner) and possibly the train maintenence car which to the outsider are somewhat cool and worth getting into. What would be nice is to be able to get closer to the train than the RR detectives would normally allow. Maybe have one of the train personnel talk logistics to us.

If I can arrange this, what does everybody think?

Of course you would have to attend my clinic that morning to get a pass. Just Kidding!

 

Re: Second Annual Frisco Convention Registration is Open - 7-31 update

Non-Rail Activity - September 11, 2010

Ladies not attending the Second Annual Frisco Convention are cordially invited to join Elise Robinson, Sharon Davidson and myself for a day of shopping and fun in Atchison Kansas and the Plaza in Kansas City.

We will depart from the hotel at 9 am and will return by 9 pm. Please plan to meet at 8:30am at the Convention registration desk.

Here are our two destinations for the day.

1. Nell Hill's in Atchison Kansas. The Fall Special Event - Open House will be underway. You will find new seasonal accents and accessories for the home. Also, the historic home of Mary Carol Garrity the founder of Nell Hill's will be open for viewing. Please go to www.nellhills.com for more information. Additional shopping is available in the area. We will plan to eat lunch in Atchison.
2. Mid afternoon we will travel to the Country Club Plaza, Kansas City Missouri for shopping and dinner. For more information on the Plaza go to www.countryclubplaza.com

We plan to carpool to the locations. Elise and I will provide two autos for the day. If a third is needed, we would appreciate a volunteer from the group.

Please note that there is no charge for this activity. Each person is responsible for meals and shopping.

If you prefer only one of the locations you are welcome to drive separately.

My email is jomcclellan77@yahoo.com if you have any questions before the Convention. If you plan on attending please email me and provide your cell number by September 8.

Thanks and I look forward to seeing you in September rain or shine.

Jo McClellan
913-638-6518

 

Re: Second Annual Frisco Convention Registration is Open - 7-31 update

Okay, just a reminder it's OFFICIAL: The other fella' that had scheduled first to be OFF for Sept 17th has changed his plans so it's now MINE.

THUS...

I will be able to attend the operating session in addition to the festivities over the weekend.

NOW...

What do I need to do? Which of the pdf's below is the one I need to download in order to register?

LASTLY...

I'm thinking about bringing my V scale layout (i.e. my computer system) with me and setting up a display at the Frisco Folks Gathering... anybody think they would enjoy trying their hand at running a Frisco F unit via computer simulation?

(If you'd like to see what some pics of V scale Frisco F's... click the link below and scroll to the bottom of the thread to the pics I posted there!)

http://www.frisco.org/vb/showthread.php?t=2582

Andre Ming

 

Re: Second Annual Frisco Convention Registration is Open - 7-31 update

Andre,

Please tell you wife about the non-rail activity (a few posts earlier), she might be interested . . .