ALRIGHT GENTLEMEN, THIS IS THE PLAN: ON FRIDAY JULY 26TH WE WILL MEET AT THE MEYERSDALE TRAIN STATION (AKA: THE MEYERSDALE HISTORICAL SOCIETY). THE TIME IS YET TO BE DETERMINED. BUT EARLY WOULD BE GOOD. AMTRAK RUNS THROUGH SAND PATCH AROUND 11AM OR SO. WE SHOULD BE THERE FOR THAT. AND THEN AGAIN IN THE EVENING AFTER 7PM. FOR SATURDAY, WE HAVE ANOTHER PLAN AND WE MUST DETERMINE IF WE WANT TO MAKE A SHORT TRIP OR A LONG TRIP. OF COURSE NOT EVERYONE HAS TO GO IF THEY DON'T WANT TO. BUT WE CAN REGROUP SATURDAY AGAIN IF WE FEEL LIKE IT. HOW'S THIS............. WE EITHER RIDE THE WESTERN MARYLAND OUT OF CUMBERLAND OR WE DRIVE TWO HOURS TO ROMNEY AND RIDE THE POTOMAC EAGLE. SOME OF YOU GUYS MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO EITHER ONE SUNDAY IF YOU STAY AROUND. I WILL BE ON THE ROAD EARLY SUNDAY MORNING HEADING HOME. I HAVE RIDDEN THE POTOMAC EAGLE BUT NOT THE WESTERN MARYLAND. I'VE SEEN THE STEAM ENGINE A FEW TIMES AND THE ENTIRE TRAIN BUT IT WOULD BE A FIRST FOR ME. LET ME SAY THE POTOMAC EAGLE IS MAGNIFICANT TOO. I BELIEVE THERE IS ONE TRAIN EACH DAY ON THE WEEKENDS. LET'S CHOOSE A TIME, RAIN OR SHINE. 7/26 FRIDAY, AT THE MEYERSDALE STATION. I MUST SAY THAT FRIDAY AND SATURDAY WOULD BE MY BEST DAYS AS I HAVE FAMILY SCATTERED AROUND THE AREA AND WILL BE VISITING THEM AS MUCH AS I CAN. MY EVENINGS WILL PROBABLY BE WITH FAMILY.
Well, odds are I'll be on that 11am Amtrak going through town, so don't look for me until after that... I've got a lot of ground to cover, so only plan on my presence for a morning or afternoon, or whatever.
That's great Brian! Thanks for the heads up. Will you be there that day or the day before? Meyersdale Station is still a good place to meet if you have transportation. If Jon tells us his plans too we'll be set. Most likely my cousins and Louie and I will ride the Western Maryland on Saturday. John and Mike can come along too if they have the time. I don't feel like driving all that far so Cumberland sounds good to me. But anyway, I hope Friday is still good. Sand Patch is waiting! My cousin Sandra this evening told me there have been a lot of railfans there lately! Between Pete, John and Mike we should have enough info on the area to last us a lifetime! Keep us informed guys! If anything changes let us know, and we still need a time to meet up.
JT and others, I'll be up for it all on whatever day... As for, shop times are slow and not awhole lot to do, hence the reason with alot of time on the computer.... JT, just let me know! Or well show up at the my house, I know you know exactly where its at!
sorry for the triple post! Someone delete this one as well! [ 30 June 2002, 05:05: Message edited by: 7600EM_1 ]
sorry for the triple post! Someone delete this! THANKS [ 30 June 2002, 05:04: Message edited by: 7600EM_1 ]
If she doesn't have to work you all will!!!! Shes been working some goofy hours at the nursing home the last month or so lately...So, I don't know if she'll have time off or if she'll have that weekend off. I'm not sure. If she does. You'll all get to meet her....
Okay guys, booked my Amtrak tickets today. I'll be riding #30 from Toledo to Cumberland on the 24th and #29 on the reverse trip on the 29th. Come hell or high water I'll be there!
Brian, I rode Amtrak into Cumberland coming from the other way a few years ago. I enjoyed every minute of it! OK, I'm lying. I enjoyed every SECOND of it!!!!!! You should have a lot more mountains to see than I did! Man, enjoy every moment of it and I sure wish I had more time or I would have taken the train too. (I still hope to ride Amtrak later this year!!!!!!!!!!) We'll see you in Meyersdale on Friday! At 9am! I can't believe that there should be 8 of us there, and 6 from TB!
Quite the gathering, eh, Johnny? I had a group of seven on my last big railfan trip, BNSF/Metra west of Chicago. We had a great time! I've fanned about the whole distance of this line from Meyersdale to Harpers Ferry, so I'm familair with it. I'm contemplating a MARC ride from Martinsburg to Harpers Ferry one day early the next week. We'll see how that works out.
I remember riding through Harpers Ferry and I remember seeing really really old buildings along the route. Some were in ruins I think. I thought of them being damaged in the Civil War and being untouched since then. I'd love to go there sometime not just to railfan, but to soak up all that incredible American History. Man, just by breathing the air there I'll bet my imagination can take me to another time. And yes Brian, I can't believe this is going to happen! I mean I can but it's so cool! Hope we have good weather! And lots of trains!
Guys, my friend Louie who you will meet belongs to the Allegheny and Western Model railroad Club out on Long Island. He invited me to go on a bus ride with the club to Steamtown. I was on a bus with 46 railfans. I never had so much fun in my life! I drove out to the club at 7am, and didn't get home until 12:30 the next morning! I couldn't imagine that people could trade friendly jabs at one another's layouts and modeling likes, and it would be so funny! What a great group of people!
So, here's my schedule... Sand Patch Thursday evening, Friday afternoon, and evening, and Saturday morning; meeting up with "the gang" Friday morning; Western Maryland Scenic Saturday afternoon; Cumberland yards Saturday evening and Sunday morning; Magnolia Cutoff Sunday evening and Monday morning... I'll be camping at either Mance or Manilla for the Sand Patch leg and at Magnolia to shoot the cutoff.
I may decide to take the long way home on Saturday with a swing up to Horseshoe Curve. I may find it interesting now that NS has taken over.
Whew. I went up there two summers ago (my 3rd visit) with my buddy Louie and my cousins. The station at Altoona was BUSTLING with movement!!!!! Switchers, Amtrak (including a private varnish and 23 trailers, some refrigerated!), freights.......I was mezmorized and had to be dragged into the Railroader's Memorial Museum! We came out and there was still movement! Horseshoe Curve and Gilitzin Tunnels brought at least 7 or 8 more trains within 3 more hours or so. I've been lucky as my family has told me several of their trips there produced zilch. I've chosen to stay local Saturday because I'm not up to a 200 mile trip. I drive all day in the City and just want to sit still as much as possible! Altoona is 2 hours from Meyersdale. I hope you post some pics for us!
One week! Is everybody ready? I reserved a ticket on the WMSR. Is anybody else riding on Saturday or will I be Mr. Alone? All I have left to do is change the oil in my truck and find a tripod for my video cam and I will be set.
