2012 Frisco Convention Location?

Re: 2012 Frisco Convention Location ??

Fort Smith or Springdale sounds good to me. I wouldn't have to drive that much at all. I think Fort Smith would be a good choice. You could see The Fort Smith Trolley Museum(Home of Frisco 4003), Ride the Arkansas & Missouri Railroad(This would be my like 125th trip or so) and we could have the swap meet in the Convention Center, which is near the tracks and at the end of the trolley line. I don't think there would be as much to do in Springdale since there is not really any rail museums up there besides the depot museum at A&M.
Ship it on the Frisco!!!


Murphy Jenkins

 

Re: 2012 Frisco Convention Location ??

For me personally it's gotta be Tulsa or Springdale. Tulsa was the consensus at the convention yesterday, but that opion reflects mostly Missouri people so Tulsa would be closest to them, and me. Springdale is roughly the same distance for me.

But here is the bottom line for my attendance next year, it's gotta be on the 4th of August in either Tulsa or Springdale

Ethan

 

Re: 2012 Frisco Convention Location ??

I see the suggestions so far are for a place close to where , the suggestion makers live. I was looking at the layouts in the gallery section and I think we should go where we can have the largest operating session , and have people bring their operating model equiptment. I would like to see some of the very fine super detailed loco's and passenger consist run point to point in a finished scenery setting. This is a modelers and information organization and so far I have not seen a thousand foot of mainline with a thousand freight car and fourty trains run. I was a home modeler for thirty five years before joining the TWMRC and big trains are a big fun. Everyone would have a good time with fellow Frisco advocates and beening paired up in a crew would relieve some of the hesitation smaller operators always have about running on a big layout. Everyone that has ever come to the TWMRC has said it is at first size wise overwheming. It takes an hour to make one loop on the mailine. Whether it is a operating or free run [everyone goes in the same direction to avoid the cornfield with hi dollar brass] this happens on monday night so we do have lots of practice. This is just a different thought view to consider. We also have 1:1 Frisco stuff in the area for an all around experince. mktjames

 

Re: 2012 Frisco Convention Location ??

Agreed 100%: It will take WILLING (and CAPABLE) PERSONS to make the next Frisco Convention happen. In addition, it will help if there are several other positives, such as layouts to operate on.

As for Fort Smith:

Fort Smith no longer has an active modeling/rail enthusiast base that is capable of pulling off such an event. Further, there are zero layouts on which to operate.

During this year's convention, I learned that the Springdale area has an active an modeling/rail enthusiast base, as well as several layouts to view/etc within reasonable proximity. Further, I suspect that if the dollars are sufficient to prevent loss, the A&M will be up for anything that will provide revenue (Read: Charter or coach accomodation on a scheduled psgr train.) The unknown factor is whether there will be WILLING (and CAPABLE) PERSONS that can put together such an event.

However, layouts, Frisco location, etc, are (IMHO) secondary issues. WILLING (and CAPABLE) PERSONS is the main critera. It is very easy for me to sit at this keyboard and type my preferences and what I want to happen at "the next one"... but the WILLING (and CAPABLE) PERSONS factor MUST be met or there won't be a "next one".

Lastly, since there isn't any Frisco to be seen at any former Frisco locations, anyway, I would be happy to go just about anywhere within a 6 hour drive radius to enjoy the fellowship and presentations/etc.

Andre

 

Re: 2012 Frisco Convention Location ??

During last night's conversation, I thought Wichita was mentioned as a possibility, too. Is it still a candidate? It certainly has Frisco sites to see, but are there layouts to visit, and are there local members or recruits to organize such a project? If so, I hope it's still a choice.

 

Re: 2012 Frisco Convention Location ??

One thought about the Springdale area, Rogers, Arkansas has a Frisco Festival every spring which is themed upon the fact that the town is named for an early Frisco official and was layed out by the railroad. Would it be a good idea to see if the festival committee would like to add our event to their schedule. This would give you local people to make most all of the arrangements. They also hold train rides on the A&M in conjunction with the festival. Just an idea to kick around.

John Chambers

 

Re: 2012 Frisco Convention Location ??

John may be onto something here. Here is the website for the 2011 Convention which was held the last weekend in August. There would definitely be plenty to do for the ladies and some may choose to bring their kids. My only concern is that this would have to be carefully coordinated and maybe we would choose to have it in Bentonville, Springdale, or Fayetteville and use the festival as an added attraction for possibly Sunday. Here is the link: http://friscofestival.com/

 

Re: 2012 Frisco Convention Location ??

John, FriscoFest in Rogers was the last weekend in August. The A&M runs a shuttle Rogers-Springdale all day Saturday. The local NRHS chapter has a G scale setup to give out Junior Engineer certificates to kids (little tent on the street. The Sugar Creek club put up some layouts in the Museum annex. There is music and a car show and other stuff. The Frisco gathering would be lost in the crowd, although it is entertaining, just not very railroady.
The layouts are mostly at north end of the two-couty area, in Bella Vista. My N scale in Bentonville is the only Frisco operations layout. Others (HO)could be available for tours and probably ops if enough people signed up. The NRHS guys would probably contribute some presentations whether the meeting space was Fayetteville, Springdale or Rogers. They would also probably contribute some, even attend, if it was in Fort Smith.
If the meeting venues are spacious enough, we could get some cross-attendance at any site.
Also, agree to the willing/able. I came home with the notion to talk to some folks and see if there's a couple of others willing. I'd have to get some positive feedback before I'd raise my hand. So who has their hand up?

 

Re: 2012 Frisco Convention Location ??

That would actually be a very bad day for some of us. That is the last day of the National Train Show in Conjunction with
the NMRA convention in Grand Rapids,MI.

Though, I will say for me that August works better than September. Despite having a free place to stay, I wasn't able to go
to Springfield because the travel time wouldn't have allowed driving, and the cost wouldn't have allowed flying.

Personally, I could manage a trip to Tulsa, Fort Smith, or Fort Worth relatively easily.

Paul

 

Re: 2012 Frisco Convention Location ??

I voted for Ft. Worth. Texans are prone to do stuff like this! However, as long as Frisco Folks can get together and enjoy the tails of the rails on the best of the Fallen Flag carriers that is what it is all about!

Into the Future: When the Age of Rust...I mean Museum of the American Railroad...gets moved to Frisco I assume there will be a convention that will write history? Fair Park really pulled a fast one on the museum with the tresspassing lawsuit. Remember, these are the braindeads that scrapped T&P #638 in the 50s. It most probably exchanged whistle sounds with Frisco steam in Ft. Worth back in the good old days!

A pity T&P #610 won´t join the Frisco´s steam power at the new museum site. It just doesn´t belong in the East Texas Piney Woods!

A Frisco black and yellow Geep would sure be nice to keep the steam engines company as well as a caboose! Is Frisco.org going to be involved in any way with the museum to insure that the Frisco locomotives become an ambassador for our great railroad and the society?

Joe Toth

 

Re: 2012 Frisco Convention Location ??

 

Re: 2012 Frisco Convention Location ??

I voted for Ft. Smith, AR because I would sure like to ride the A&M from Ft. Smith north through the Windslow Tunnel, but Starting at Springdale and going south would be OK also. My first request for a Convention is Clinics, then to me is layout tours.

 

Re: 2012 Frisco Convention Location ??

Having started a new career and not being able to get away from work very easily. I would like to see preliminary proposals from each of the Cities that are considered in this poll. I have already placed my vote but might change my mind if I had a better idea of what might be in store for each location.
I sure wished I could have been to the one in Springfield and I would very much appreciate any pictures anyone would like to submit of the convention. Especially of the Springfield Underground tour.
I really missed seeing you guys. Being unable to attend any railroad activities over the last couple of years has been rough. I would really like to keep in touch better than I am able to. I appreciate all of you. I hope all is well with my Frisco family.
Sincerely
Bob Wintle

 

How about Birmingham or Memphis?

 

I am not sure if either of those locations was mentioned as a possibility but I for one would love to see a location for a Convention on that end of the system. If there is anyone or group from that area interested, would they please step up and make themselves known.