Altoona N Scale Weekend

Inkaneer Jul 31, 2019

  1. Inkaneer

    Inkaneer TrainBoard Member

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    The Altoona N Scale Weekend event is scheduled for this weekend Aug 3-4, 2019. Always a good time and usually a place where some good deals can be had. Lots of layouts and some venders also. This will be its fifteenth year. So if you are near Altoona, PA this weekend stop in. More information here:

    https://www.n-scaleweekend.com/about-the-show
     
  2. Sepp K

    Sepp K TrainBoard Member

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    See you out there.
     
  3. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    Will be there! And as the unofficial photographer I'll have tons of pictures for everyone who couldn't make it when I return.
     
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  4. SecretWeapon

    SecretWeapon Passed away January 23, 2024 In Memoriam

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    i'll be there friday until monday. i'll have a table where i'll be selling n scale stuff & some car & truck models. it'll be near NNJ-N TRAK's T-Trak layout. monday is horseshoe curve day.
     
    MK likes this.
  5. Rich_S

    Rich_S TrainBoard Member

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    Because of my work schedule, I can only attend Saturday.

    Mike can you please make an announcement again this year for the group photos. It was fun last year meeting folks when we gathered for the group photo and being able to place a face with a forum name.
     
  6. Donstaff

    Donstaff TrainBoard Member

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    THE ORIGINAL PenNscalers' layout will miss this year's N Scale Weekend for the first time in several years, but some of our members will be there and look forward to seeing our old friends.
     
  7. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    That is my plan Rich. Two group photos on Saturday. TRW Ahats some time during the day and all attendees just before the pig roast.

    Just listen for my announcements. :)
     
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  8. Inkaneer

    Inkaneer TrainBoard Member

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    Don't know about now with NS running but back in the day when Conrail ran the curve Mondays were known as 'Dead Mondays'. The reason being that most industries worked a Monday through Friday work week so very little traffic over the weekend. Also the shippers and the yards didn't want off road cars sitting over the weekend collecting demurrage. Best times to see lots of action on the curve was Thursday or Friday.
     
  9. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    I was at the curve two years ago on a Saturday afternoon (I snuck out of the show for a little bit) and there were tons of traffic. Like every 10-15 minutes and even an Amtrak.
     
  10. SecretWeapon

    SecretWeapon Passed away January 23, 2024 In Memoriam

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    I watch youtube of a live feed everyday from the curve. monday's have been busy.
     
  11. Inkaneer

    Inkaneer TrainBoard Member

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    So be it.
     
  12. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    If you go, stand back. NS has derailed two trains on Horseshoe Curve recently, one on 07/05 and another on 07/26. :eek: Thankfully there were no injuries and nothing was spilled at either incident. NS's Top21 operating plan has introduced some enormously long trains and rumor has it that empties and loads were not distributed within these trains with respect to train dynamics. With the Curve just less than 1/2 mile long on a 1.8% grade on a 9-1/2 Deg. curve, there're a lot of forces at work wanting to lift cars off the rail. I was told that neither train was running DPU.
     
  13. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    Real life string lining! :D
     
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  14. umtrr-author

    umtrr-author TrainBoard Member

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    Oh, well, maybe next year...
     
  15. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    Funny story. After setup on Friday, a bunch of us (almost 30) went track side next to the Railroaders Museum. There is a giant parking lot right along the tracks to and from the curve. We ordered pizza, wings and drinks and some brought cigars and just watched NS trains coming from both directions until it got dark.

    The first train was going to the curve at a slow speed. When the lead locomotive passed us, the engineer stuck his head out the window, motioned with his thumb pointing to the back of his train and yelled at us really loud "No center beams!".

    OMG! We all burst out in laughter. Great sense of humor! :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
     
  16. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    That's hilarious MK! Thank you for that. :D
     
  17. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    Just returned from Altoona. Tons of show pics, some rail fanning pics and a visit to the Altoona Model Railroad club (the place is jaw dropping!)

    I should have all 150+ pics on my website by end of day tomorrow. Stay tuned!
     
  18. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    Finally got them all uploaded and sorted out.

    2019 N-Scale Weekend, Altoona, PA Photos

    A couple of notes and personal opinions:
    • The show was very good and there were more vendors this year than ever. I heard 93 as the number used.[/li]
    • Rail fanning was awesome. After setup on Friday a bunch of us (almost 30) drove over to the parking lot next to the Railroaders Museum which is right next to the rails running to and from Horseshoe Curve. We ordered 15(?) pizzas (I personally ate 6 slices :D ), wings and drinks and some even brought cigars. We sat there until dark to watch the trains.
    • If you don't have time to view all the photos, I highly recommend that you look at the ones of the Altoona Model Railroad Club. The upstairs, which houses their HO and O scales, has builder's plates all over the wall. And some of the railroadiania collected over the years are just amazing.
    • There were bargains galore if you pay attention. I think more so this year than last.
    • Sorry I didn't manage to take a group photo this year. We went directly to the raffle when the show closed and everyone disbursed to the Pig Roast right afterwards.
    • Mike Phillips did another fine job again this year. Thanks Mike!
     
    Last edited: Aug 6, 2019
  19. SecretWeapon

    SecretWeapon Passed away January 23, 2024 In Memoriam

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    nice job Mike, nice photos
     
    Hardcoaler likes this.
  20. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    Agreed! It's been many years since I've been to Altoona and didn't recognize the walkway over the mainline. After a visit to Bing Maps I see that it connects the Railroader's Museum to the Amtrak station. I'm assuming they left the sides open for easy photography. My favorite hangout was on the 17th St. bridge near ALTO Tower. Does anyone know if ALTO is still in place or has it been moved and preserved?
     

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