Hey people! so I took an Impromptu trip to visit my inlaws in Mobile alabama, from germany, (I loves me some space A military flights!) and have basiclly 2 weeks to kill, so any sugestions, must see layouts, shops etc?
USS Alabama I can't point you to any layouts or train related stuff, but I visit Mobile quite often to see my brother and sister-in-law... Definitely check out the USS Alabama Battleship and USS Drum Submarine. In addition there is a plethera of aircraft and military vehicles. Plan for a whole day... One caveat is that the last time I was there, it's not air conditioned in many parts of the ship and being summer, it can get pretty hot. Other than that, I would say Government Street has alot of old restored mansion type homes. You know the kind with the big white columns in front. Gulf Shores is a pretty nice beach and Dauphin Island has some nice places to swim as well. And no the oil hasn't ruined anything... You're only about 2.5 - 3hrs drive from New Orleans. If you or anyone you may be traveling with are into flowers and garden type stuff, Bellingrath Gardens and Home is absolutely stunning... As far as eats go the one fun place I can recommend is about an hour outside of town, called "Lamberts". It's a big country style restraunt famous for their "throwed rolls". They literally toss hot fresh baked rolls to you from across the restraunt. It's alot of fun and the food is great. There is also a pretty decent mom & pop seafood place called Wintzell's Oyster House (they serve more than oysters). Have fun! Don
I have no personal knowledge of any of these, or if any still exist, but these should give you a start. The Pensacola club sets up in the Fairhope, AL Elementary School cafeteria in conjunction with the annual street fair and train show each March. I don't know anything about the other two. http://www.trainjunkie.com/ http://blog.al.com/entertainment-press-register/2009/07/mobiles_model_train_club_is_a.html http://www.ecgrc.com/ There was a club next to Penney's in the Singing River Mall at Gautier, MS. I heard a rumor that the new mall owners had asked them to leave last year. Their website has photos dated this past November, but the site also indicates the layout is for sale. I assume it's at least worth a phone call. http://mgcmrc.org/index.html Hopefully somebody else with first-hand knowledge of clubs and layouts in the area can help you. Good Luck, and enjoy your visit. :tb-cool:
trains If you want to see trains you need to go to Birmingham. Mobile has some but Birmingham is a whole nother world. Check out the Frograil tours. They have them for Birmingham and Mobile. The Frograil Tour Guide They have made the Sloss steel plant a museum. Lots of history there, train and otherwise.
No meaning to thread jack, but I'll be in the Ft Walton area, Eglin AFB, for a week next month, seems that Pensacola is the area to go to and Ft Walton well isn't...
Don's comments are real good. Plus Ed's fish camp and Felix's fish camp both on the causeway are also good eating. Ed's is more casual and I like the food a little better than Felix's. As for layouts, there is a large Lionel layout in Foley, AL with a depot, a locomotive, caboose and boxcar. If you go to Foley, drive south from the depot until you get to Lambert's to eat lunch or supper. Lambert's is reasonable priced, but only take cash. They will throw you a roll. The Mississippi Gulf Coast Model Railroad club is in the mall in Gautier, MS. They are open from 1pm to 4pm on Sat's. They have a good sized N scale layout and a large HO layout. Neither layout is complete, but they usually have at least one of them running while they work. The Azalea City Model Railroad club is located in the shrine temple downtown. They are hard to catch there but try Friday afternoon or Sat afternoon. They have a large HO layout. I live in West Mobile and have a 32' x 32' N scale layout. I host operating sessions on the 2nd Sat of the month. There are a number of good and safe locations to watch CSX trains in the downtown area across from the convention center and cruise ship terminals. The Alabama State dock railway has a yard just north of downtown. The old GM&O station is a must see. It is now used for offices and a bus terminal. Give me a call at 251-634-5151 if you would like to see my layout or get more information. I can also give you information on watching trains in Montgomery, Birmingham, and Gadsden. Glenn
I forgot. Hobby Shops. None worth anything in Mobile. Pensacola has Trains by Johnson and Bobe's. I like Trains by Johnson better. Gulfport, MS has Orange Grove hobbies. Glenn
I can't comment on trains (N or 1:1) but I would very much suggest 1) a visit to the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola and 2) watch the Blue Angels do a practice flight if they are home - you get right on the flight line with NO crowds to deal with. Enjoy your visit with your family, even if it is the outlaws!
I dunno about that. I know with the Air Force, if you have no business on the flight line, and do not have a restricted area badge, you will be arrested if you go out there. I've seen it happen and I've called in people to the cops for it.
Ike - all legit. They do practice shows twice a week and you can walk out almost to the taxiway. They have bleachers and often an announcer. It's right behind the museum.
Hmmmm, I might have to try to figure out how to get to watch...they are so much better than the ThunderChickens
wow, didn't think of the Blue angles! might have to check that one out!! I have been to the USS Alabama, well at night, my wife is a UM Alumni, and we went to the "Battleship Bash" there one year. the biggest hurdel this time will be a set of wheels!!
What, I'm stationed at Nellis...and a fighter crew chief...they are the ThunderChickens...hell one of their guys came into our office today, and was telling us we could join to get out of the NCORP. But again, I don't wanna be a ThunderChicken
There is a reason why they are hurting for people. The wrench turners are already getting dragged all over the place constantly as it is. Why go to a job where they will be on the road even more and have even more of a spotlight on them... No thanks.
