As many of you know I'll be getting married soon. It happens to be two months from now on May 31st. I had a sudden thought: Hand signed boxcars by all of the attendees. I'm expexting about 30 people to attend the wedding including 'plus ones'. What if I: Had 20ish cars pained up in flast wihite Placed cars on tables Placed red felt tip markers on each table Asked attendees to sigh the cars and leave it for me All attendees would know about my model railroading hobby. Running a train with all of the signed cars would be cool once a year to commemorate the day. Questions: What kind of cars should they be? Any particular brand / make of car? What have I overlooked? Am I crazy? Other thoughts? Thoughts? Questions? Suggestions?
I'm thinking reefers... http://www.fiferhobby.com/html/blma_n_scale_trinity_63_foot_m.html Already pretty much white all over...and would make a nice unit train on your anniversary ;-) JMO....
Instead of a crappy old photo booth like they have at most weddings,I think you should have a paintbooth,and give everybody a shot at airbrushing..
George - a Great! idea. Maybe I can get them white in Undec. I'd love a unit train of those cars. Anything to get some of those cars on my layout. Lou - < bemused grin > Um, er,: Image: People dressed in expensive cloths using spray paint. Um, No. Well, but, I like your thinking.
OK, here's my ideas: 50' White Boxcars, with various color fine-tip markers. When you recover from the honeymoon, seal them with "Dullcoat" (or whatever). Something you haven't considered is the locomotive to pull this train, and the caboose to carry the markers (NOT the fine-tips !!!). They should be something special, as well. As far as being crazy, well, I think you've answered question. You asked US, ya' know ??? :teeth:
The boxcar idea is awesome - or maybe flatcars and the guests could sign the decks. Sealing with Dullcoat is also an excellent idea. What about something for the guests? Could you or you and some friends whip up thirty cars with decals stating your names and the wedding date as gifts for the guests? It would beat the socks off the personalized golf tees my cousin gave out at her wedding.
Silver reefers or boxcars are my idea, but white is just as nice. Sealing is problematic--dullcote will dissolce the writing if applied too heavily. If guests are signing them with a sharpie type pen, that's plenty permanent.
Ah, hate to say it, but O scale undecs would allow them to record their best wishes, in addition to the signatures. But, you would need to set up a loop of track each year, not altogether a bad thing. When I help run the Trains at Northpark as a Ronald McDonald charity event, they allow personalized cars, for a donation to charity, and then when the buyers show up, we have to put them on the rails for them to photograph on the layout. You could go the other way and provide one personalized to each guest with their name as a wedding memento, as well. Sort of OT, but when my former roommate got engaged years ago, we set up an HO wedding ring train out from a tunnel to present the it to the fiancée. Fun at the time, but kind of sad memory, as he later died in the Payne Stewart plane crash.
Why not have them sign one side and write a brief wedding wish on the other? You'd have to use fine point Sharpies, but you can get those in a variety of colors to add color and fun to your train. The other idea is to grab a photo and paste a small cutout on the car they sign if you don't do wishes - then you have a signature and visual. Really neat idea - +1 on sending out a photo of the Wedding Memories train when you are done with it. Plus what a great justification for an expanded train room - you can add to the train on every wedding anniversary - anniversary car 1, anniversary car 2, anniversary car 3...and expand your layout to accomodate what is hopefully a very long train over time (and you'll want to expand it early just to show your faith and commitment to a long married life!). I think you hit upon an idea we can all use to get the space we really deserve for our hobby and a way to show our spouses our love for them has no limits (just like our train budgets). John
Other than white you might want to paint a few cars the color of the brides maids dresses if you are having any and other than white. My wedding was black and white and maybe you could bet a white sharpy to mark on black cars or something to this theme. I do like the ideas from above.
Personally, I would buy some undecorated (white or silver) Con-Cor 53' containers and run an Intermodal train. It will be cheaper and you can always exchange out the containers for real ones when you want prototypical. The containers will have smooth sides to write on. I would get a variety of colors of Sharpies.
you should give TWO cars to every guest to sign. when you're getting divorced in a few years each of you can keep one.... just kidding....
I'd use various color pens, some cultures consider signing your name in red as a sign of upcoming death.
I guess you're not gonna like my Tuxedo Coveralls idea either,then.... So,how about this?..89' auto part boxcars..About as big as they get in N..Could sign the whole side..
When my brother got married (my sister in law is also a model railroader) I painted and decaled a boxcar with their initials as the reporting marks and the road number as the date, I even printed up a box insert to make it look like an MTL special run. The whole wedding had a train theme, being held on a preserved steam railway with the groom arriving in the cab of a steam locomotive, the ceremony was held with two locos simmering pilot to pilot in the background and afterwards the couple left in their own one car train while the guests followed in the other train for a trip over the line with the wedding photos taken in front of the engines at the other end of the line while the reception was arranged in the station for when they returned.
I''ll just add congratulations and best wishes. If you get to incorporate traind on your wedding day, I'd say you're a lucky couple! Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Hmm, wonder what kind of message 'refrigerator cars' sends. Flat cars is a great idea. I will keep it in mind. Um, 30 cars @$15 ta $25, no, I think they are getting golf tees. Thanks for the info. Hope all is good in your world. Yes, I agree with 'O' scale but that won't be happening. I was a widower at 30 so, ya, I can relate to the tragedy. The locomotives will be Kato FP40s because that is what runs past our windows. The caboose? Hmmm. Probably a generic Atlas Trainman because I have a lot of them. 'Markers' for what? He asks innocently. Thanks! Hope I can make it happen.
Two superb! ideas! * One care per person - Excellent, Thanks! * A new car every year! Yippee! Expanding the train room? Um, er, I'm already taking over 40 square feet of the dining / living room and 3 shelves sooo, no, that won't happen. 'Her' dress will be plum purple so I'm told and it is likely my suit will be grey. Still, other colors will strongly be considered. Thanks! Thanks! I will definately be making a custom car or loco for the day - May 31st, 2014. We will be taking the 'Regional' to New York City. Any suggestions on what do to or see there? 89'ters would be great! well, er, cept for the 12" radious on the loops. Arrrrg! Good to know! Thanks! I'll be careful. < bemused grin > Um, I've been: Widowed, divorced and jilted. Which makes me Crazy, stupid or very very brave. In either case there will be no 2nd train. Containers are a good idea but I'd have to get a bunch of well cars. Hmmm. I'll consider it.
