It's always great to get back home, but this past week has been an absolutely unforgettable and enjoyable experience for me. I joined the Northwest Chapter NRHS a few years ago with this convention in mind. I had no idea how fantastic an experience it would be. I always wanted to give something back, other than money, to the people who really make this steam stuff happen. They put me to work, at registration table, at sales of memorabilia, at crowd control at the Brooklyn roundhouse tours. I loved it. It was so great to work around the two great steam engines, 4449 and 700, and not enjoy them looking through a camera lens, but just enjoying watching them. The fact that the guys actually pulled off the doubleheader of the 21st Century, with two 4-8-4's, was enough to satisfy everyone at the convention, but there were so many other events to add to the experience, the Port of Tillamook Bay excursion, the Lewis and Clark RDC excursion, the river cruise, the Mt. Rainier Scenic ...... Then there was the banquet, featuring Doyle McCormack and Steve Lee, together , speaking about the future of steam in the 21st Century. These guys missed their calling. When I came out of the banquet crying tears of laughter, I wondered if I had really seen Doyle and Steve, or Jay Leno and David Letterman. They were hilarious. Someone is going to market a video which will include this "speech". Buy it. Here are some views from "inside".
Here are a couple more pix. While we were conducting the roundhouse tours, the skies opened and dumped a lot of "Oregon Sunshine" on us. Right behind the two locos is the turntable. While each busload of convention-goers was there, the crews turned both of them on the turntable. Where else can you see this? There is one of the busses arriving. The PNWC chapter did good--schoolbusses in off season are a lot cheaper than luxury busses.
I have added a whole section to my website on this convention. If you want to read more and see more pictures, go to http://www.pioneer.net/~fitzrr/index79.html And I hope you enjoy the writeup.
So who was it that got into your picture? The one taking a photo, looking back your way? A adoring member of Jim's Fan Club? Boxcab E50
Ken, people in pictures are part of railfanning as far as I am concerned. I shot one of Al and Judy Hall at a table at the banquet, and just as I did, a waitress or some other girl with fantastic hair walked in front of me. Fortunately I realized it and took another. You ought to see the first one! Happened several times when I was trying to get specific shots for the groups, for use in newsletters.
Fitz, I may have seen you taking those shots. I was the one sitting in the engineer seat of the Mersk unit. I got a little tired of holding the onlookers back from the engines, so I was relieved and crawled into the cab to kick back and watch. Did you see me?
I probably did. I could see that there was someone in the Maersk unit, figured it was Skylar. Embarrassing--I was filming the 700 moving back to the TT for the last time, 4449 already had been put away. I heard a vehicle coming up on the gravel and turned around. It was Doyle, heading out to get ready for his appearance at the banquet. Here I was blocking his exit. I always seem to manage to endear myself to the real heroes there, the volunteers.
Ahh, dont sweat it, it guys like you who make it possible for us to continue with the reserection and operations of these amazing machines.
