Howdy folks, The Texas Western model railroad club, a 4400 square foot layout with HO standard, narrow, and dual gauge track with over 1000 cars and over 50 scheduled trains is a fun place to operate. The club uses ProTrak software for the most realistic operations possible. The track runs from New Orleans, to St Louis, to Fort Worth, to Denver and beyond. While it normally operates with Frisco, ATSF, D&RGW, MKT, and Mopac/T&P equipment in the 1944-1959 era, I thought it might be fun to put Frisco equipment everywhere and switch the yards, run the coast to coast trains, plus the local switching trains. Is there any interest in folks coming to Fort Worth for a Saturday and Sunday operating session? We could also work in visits to the railroad museums in Dallas, plus a visit to Discount Model Trains (the biggest train store I've visted outside of Caboose Hobbies). I'd love to have red and white, plus black and yellow on the rails heading all the trains. We'd run steam and diesel of all eras. Louis Griesemer and Charlie Dischinger have both run trains on the Texas Western. American $39 dollar flights to DFW are common, and we would provide shuttles to hotels and the club for those who didn't drive. There is a cheap hotel just a few blocks from the club. Maybe we could host next year's convention if there isn't any interest now. We'd try to host it when it was cool but warm, say October or December. What do you think? Best, Mike Corley http://www.twmrc.org
How many operators can you handle? I'm definitely interested, and I'm sure that we might be able to get a group together of Springfield and Kansas City folks at least.
Yessir! Just up the road from me. I'm in! I'd love it! I'd be running steam though (gasp!). Definitely subscribed to this. I may even be able to help out some.
Howdy, Thanks for the comments folks. Here is a list of the jobs during a typical session: Dispatcher Trainmaster/computer operator Fort Worth Yardmaster and two yard crew Houston Yardmaster Alamosa Yardmaster Pueblo Steel Mill Operator Fort Worth Stock Yard Operator Five at a time Road Crews for trains - engineer plus conductor Local switchers - four Narrow Gauge road crews - two Bottom line: 20+. some folks would be paired with a TWMRC person. Of course, there is some down time in the crew room kibitzing between runs. Have fun, mike
Every time I see a quote like this I almost fall out of my chair laughing. I live in Wichita, KS, a.k.a. "Air Capital of the World", and I just checked and a round-trip ticket on American is $799. I might add that is on a regional jet that I probably couldn't even board anyway with my health issues as our wonderful out-dated airport doesn't have jetways for these smaller jets. Down a flight of stairs and then back up a steeper one to get on the plane. Loads of fun if it's raining or snowing! Having said that, my best bet would be to drive to Oklahoma City and take the Heartland Flyer.
Mike et al, I'm definitely interested, and it's only a mere 7 hours drive from Corpus Christi. Keep posting details. Bradley A. Scott
Mktjames would be interested, I could run my Black Gold passenger train with my 1502 or my E8 racehorse. Wait I already live there and can do that , I will volunteer to help FriscoMike with the project. mktjames
Howdy, forget I said September or December or even January. Lets do it in August when it is warm...just kidding. ~mike
I would be interested out of KC. Might even be able to make it a business trip, as I think I am about ready to take Oklahoma back in to my territory (Lazy Texans). Kent in KC
I'm interested depending upon the date. December is usually packed so that one might be tough. January is better but it all depends on the date selected. Thanks for organizing Mike.
A Frisco weekend in Ft. Worth is an excellent idea. Perhaps also consider hosting the 2012 convention?? Ron Williams
Would love to get on Big Bird and do the Ft. Worth thing! I hate the long flights from Germany to D/FW but to meet Frisco Folks guess I could do it barring any short term health issues, etc. I switched boxcars in the D/FW area for SSW and ATSF from 1967-76 and spending time in Ft. Worth sure sounds better than doing time in Huntsville! Frisco and KCS (L&A) both used the ATSF East Dallas Yard and it was a joint agency so my railfanning around Carrollton as a kid and into the teens with the Frisco, Katy and Cotton Belt became an occupation after my military obligation. Am sure a lot of Frisco Folks share an interest with the other railroads that either ran in Frisco territory, be it Southeast...Southwest, so the more who could attend the better! Joe Toth The Trinity River Bottoms Boomer
