Dr. Jason Davis has announced this year's Symposium: Greetings fellow Railfans, Announcing the 6th annual Cotton Belt Railroad Symposium Friday & Saturday, September 23-24, 2011 Sam Rayburn Student Center Texas A&M University-Commerce Commerce, Texas This is a free education & outreach event held for the purpose of honoring and documenting the history of the St. Louis Southwestern and other railroads of the northeast Texas region. Members of the railroad "family" and anyone interested is welcomed to attend and participate. The event will be videotaped and extensively photographed for historical preservation. Friday - 5:00p-8:00p Casual show-&-tell/mix-&-mingle. Visit with new and old friends and view railroad artifacts and information. If you would like to display railroad artifacts, photos, etc., particularly related to the Cotton Belt, contact me to ensure we have ample display space available. Please note, this is NOT a "swap meet." Saturday - 8:19a-3:30p Formal programs, artifact displays, & lunchon. All activities are free of charge except for the luncheon. Luncheon ticket is not required for attendance in other symposium activities. Prior RSVP for Luncheon will be required. Meal cost is to be determined and will be announced once the menu is finalized. Details are forthcoming. The program is still being finalized. Thus far, confirmed participants, activities, and programs include: Book Signings - "Cotton Belt Engineer" - Edwin C. Cooper - "Commerce Pictorial History" - Cheryl Westhafer & Jim Conrad Arkansas Railroad Museum Cotton Belt Rail Historical Society Texas Midland Railroad - presentation by Cheryl Westhafer Blacklands Railroad Update - Wayne Defebaugh, president Panel Discussion ...much more in the works. This year's symposium is also scheduled to coincide with Commerce's signature annual event - the Bois d'Arc Bash. Events and activities all weekend long offering something for the entire family: parade, vendors, arts & crafts, golf tournament, games, live music & entertainment, car show, and much more. Hosted by the TAMU-C Department of Educational Leadership, James G. Gee Library, and the Commerce Public Library. Sponsored by the Blacklands Railroad. Visit our website: http://www.CottonBeltRoute.com/ NEW: Join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/groups/169986873071642 Save the dates and make plans to join us in Commerce for the 2011 Cotton Belt Symposium. See you soon! -Jason Symposium founder & co-host ~~~ Jason Lee Davis, Ph.D. KB5YBP 903-886-5598 903-886-5507 FAX Associate Professor & Coordinator, Educational Technology Program Department of Educational Leadership | Texas A&M University-Commerce Jason_Davis@tamu-commerce.edu jason@jdavis.us http://www.JDavis.us/ ~~~ 6th Annual Cotton Belt Railroad Symposium - September 23-24, 2011 @ TAMU-C http://www.CottonBeltRoute.com/ Honoring the Legacy of the St.L.S-W. RY. ~~~ <http://www.JDavis.us/>
Heck. Friday night at A&M? I might try to make this. Never been to one before. Sorry there is no model display. [edit] This is in Commerce, Texas, not College Station.
Yes Flash the event is at Texas A&M-Commerce. There is an inside joke in Jason's message to everyone. Last years Symposium was the 4th and this years is the 6th? We never used to count the first Symposium from November 30, 2006. It was the Symposium with no number, had 13 attendees and a big ice storm that messed up the works for everyone. So I guess we are counting the Inaugural event now, and just skiping the 5th Symposium number entirely. Ed in Kentucky
At the Cotton Belt Symposium Saturday September 24th my friend Gary Powell will be telling us about his quest to acquire and restore long caboose #2305. Another acquaintence Tony Wilson will be speaking on Cotton Belt business cars. Former Cotton Belt Engineer B. R. "Billy" Null is going to be there. Null started railroading with Cotton Belt in 1948 and still works for UP. Billy was at our first Symposium back in 2006 and the history just pours out of him whenever he starts storytelling. And I'll be signing books both Friday and Saturday. Maybe I'll meet a few of you there. Ed in Kentucky
The 8th Annual Cotton Belt Sympsoium will be Friday October 4th and Saturday October 5th in Commerce, Texas. More later when the presenters are announced.
Dr. Jason Davis has announced our 8th Cotton Belt Symposium. Announcing the 8th annual Cotton Belt Railroad Symposium Friday & Saturday, October 4-5, 2013 Sam Rayburn Student Center Texas A&M University-Commerce Commerce, Texas Friday, 5:00pm-8:00pm - Show & Tell Mixer and open Acoustic Music Jam Session Saturday, 8:45am-4:30pm | 8:19am registration - Symposium Programs This is a free, public event to share, document, preserve, and celebrate the legacy and experiences of the employees and families connected to the St. Louis Southwestern Railway and all Ark-La-Tex-oma railroads. All former and current railroad employees, family members, and any interested individuals are encouraged to attend. Join us this year as we write a new chapter in the book of Cotton Belt history. A highlight of the 2013 symposium will be the Texas A&M Transportation Institute's official ceremony for the induction of Harold J. McKenzie, former Cotton Belt Railroad President (1951-1969), into the Texas Transportation Hall of Honor. We are excited and honored to host this most historic event! Programs and activities include a presentation on the Cotton Belt's FT "Flat Top" Locomotives by Ed Cooper; a panel discussion featuring members of the railroad family; the Harold McKenzie induction ceremony; a luncheon* sponsored by BNSF Railway and featuring live musical entertainment; a NETEX/Blacklands Railroad update by Blacklands president, Wayne Defebaugh; the premiere screening of Steve Goen's newest video production featuring the Cotton Belt #819; a display of operating railroad motorcars provided by Railroad Partners, Inc., and an open house of the East Texas Model Railroad Club layout. Saturday's Luncheon meal is generously sponsored by BNSF Railway. Luncheon tickets must be requested by Tuesday, October 1, using our Online Luncheon RSVP form: http://faculty.tamuc.edu/jdavis1/CBS/luncheon.htm We extend our sincere appreciation to our current sponsors: BNSF Railway, Blacklands Railroad, Petra Strassberg & Jacqueline Book, CashAdvance.com, and JetStream Technologies. Sponsorships are still being accepted through September 20. See the Sponsorship Opportunities page on the event website or contact me for details. For additional details and to keep up with preparation and plans for the symposium visit our website: http://www.CottonBeltRoute.com/ and join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/groups/169986873071642 Save the dates and make plans to join us in Commerce for the 2013 Cotton Belt Symposium. See you in Commerce! -Jason Symposium founder & co-host The names and trademarks of Cotton Belt are registered trademarks of Union Pacific, used under license. Our thanks to Union Pacific Corporate Relations for authorizing their use for the Symposium. Email address change -- new: Jason.Davis@tamuc.edu old: Jason_Davis@tamu-commerce.edu ~~~ Jason Lee Davis, PhD KB5YBP Associate Professor of Technology Management | 903-468-8682 Department of Engineering & Technology | Texas A&M University-Commerce Jason.Davis@tamuc.edu | Jason@JDavis.us | http://www.JDavis.us/ ~~~ The Annual Cotton Belt Railroad Symposium @ TAMU-Commerce | Oct. 4-5, 2013. http://www.CottonBeltRoute.com/ Honoring the Legacy of the St.L.S-W. RY and area railroads. Cotton Belt Symposium on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/169986873071642
The 9th Annual Cotton Belt Symposium will be Friday October 3rd and Saturday October 4th in Commerce, Texas. More later when the presenters are announced. I do know that Tony Wilson will be presenting something, but no details on that at this time.
Will this event be held in the same place as last year? I couldn't attend last year, but there's a possibility I could attend this one.
The Symposium will be conducted at the Sam Rayburn Student Center Room #213 at Texas A&M University in Commerce. See http://faculty.tamuc.edu/jdavis/railroad/symposium/ for more information. The schedule of events has not been announced as of yet.
