A New England train meet in September

Farmers market and restaurants are of course food related. The Massachusetts powers that be probably won’t have a train show that high on the priority list.   We’ll see. 

I don' see how this will work. There will likely be handling of trains and packaging, people crowded around tables. As a 74-year-old with diabetes, I'd be really paranoid about going to something like this. Meanwhile, NJ just halted reopening, and Broadway halted reopening until January.

Better safe than dead!

New  Jersey has NOT halted re-opening. The governor pulled back opening indoor dining at 25% capacity for a later date. July 2 has the casinos re-opening at 25% and museums/libraries opening which is the next step in our club being reopened. It is still up to each town on how to proceed.

I think it is a great idea to have open air outdoors train shows. So you wear a mask if someobe comes to your tables.

Better trying something different than being an indoor prisoner!

Thank you Ted 

Be smart - wear a mask - keep some distance 

And as a 74 year old with health issues please Do NOT attend 

If you have it, I will come

Having opened the subject and as meet coordinator, I should respond to some of the obvious problems that have been mentioned.

First in regard to face coverings (including but not limited to masks).  In this area, the norm is to have a face covering on or available for use when close anyone else.  In contrast to news I see about other parts of the country, here it is not a question.

We will be displaying sensitivity to health issues by having a bottle of sanitizer available for every table and masks available for those few who might not have one.

I'm planning the space arrangement with 10 feet between tables.  For one user with a chronic disease, I promised he could be on the edge of the pavilion and on the upwind side if it's a breezy day.  We're also encouraging popup canopies.

We're already looking forward to seeing some of our older members, some of us in our young eighties.

Keep the comments coming.  Your helping me to think about how best to run this event.

I thank everyone for the civil discourse on this topic. All of our opinions need to be considered with the understanding there will not be a consensus.

It is hard to predict pandemic conditions in two weeks - much less a few months from now. 

My objective through the first of next year is to minimize to the extent possible my risk factors. I will miss going to the NETCA, and other train meets this year. I will miss being with throngs of people swaying to the music of my favorite bands. Like you I will miss (insert your favorite activity being impacted).

I'm impressed at the conversations taking place to reduce the risk at train meets. Outside is probably the smartest. Masks of course and perhaps asking people not to handle items for inspection will help (I love picking up pieces to view condition - I'd need to tie my hands to my belt).

Whatever you decide, stay safe and have some fun as we use our hobby as a safe refuge. 

All the best,

Paul

@Railrunnin posted:

I thank everyone for the civil discourse on this topic. All of our opinions need to be considered with the understanding there will not be a consensus.

It is hard to predict pandemic conditions in two weeks - much less a few months from now. 

My objective through the first of next year is to minimize to the extent possible my risk factors. I will miss going to the NETCA, and other train meets this year. I will miss being with throngs of people swaying to the music of my favorite bands. Like you I will miss (insert your favorite activity being impacted).

I'm impressed at the conversations taking place to reduce the risk at train meets. Outside is probably the smartest. Masks of course and perhaps asking people not to handle items for inspection will help (I love picking up pieces to view condition - I'd need to tie my hands to my belt).

Whatever you decide, stay safe and have some fun as we use our hobby as a safe refuge. 

All the best,

Paul

 

As I mentioned yesterday, this discussion is helpful in planning for the meet.  I'm thinking of having two sanitary supply posts, one at the entrance table and the other in the middle of the area.  We'll have hand wipes, sanitizer spray and surgical gloves.  We'll also have bottles of sanitizer around on the tables.  We'll make it easy to find and use gloves and to dispose of them.  Those gloves, the kind your doctor uses for examination, are barely noticeable when you get used to them.

I'd like to order about a 5 mph breeze, but the weather brewery's cooperation is much in doubt.  :-)

The unanswered question is whether or not local/state authorities will allow this. All the plans are moot until plans are approved.

Don't count your train shows before they're hatched!

If the outdoor flea markets like Columbus and Collingswood can operate, there should be no reason as to why an outdoor train meet at a local Elks lodge can happen where we normally have the indoor meet there.

As for the outdoor flea markets currently operating in NJ, you need to have a mask on while walking through the tables.

Having an outdoor train meet can be decided by the local governing body.

Still sounds like an excellent idea of trying an outdoor meet unless you need to be locked up in your house till next year. The idea in New England sounds excellent. Thank you to the New England folks, (except for your NFL team). 

Regards, Ted, a NY Jets fan! Lol!

@Ted Bertiger posted:

If the outdoor flea markets like Columbus and Collingswood can operate, there should be no reason as to why an outdoor train meet at a local Elks lodge can happen where we normally have the indoor meet there.

As for the outdoor flea markets currently operating in NJ, you need to have a mask on while walking through the tables.

Having an outdoor train meet can be decided by the local governing body.

Still sounds like an excellent idea of trying an outdoor meet unless you need to be locked up in your house till next year. The idea in New England sounds excellent. Thank you to the New England folks, (except for your NFL team). 

Regards, Ted, a NY Jets fan! Lol!

Never mind the NFL.  I'm a non-fan of all sports I can think of except croquet.

@mlaughlinnyc posted:

The New England Chapter of TCA will have a meet on Sunday, September 27th.  It's going to be outdoors in a 60 x 110 open air pavilion at the Elks lodge in Hudson, MA.  We'll have plenty of space between tables and we'll encourage bringing popup canopies.  There hasn't been a train show in eastern New England for months and cancellations are still coming in.  I think our show will be a rare event this fall.

The only wild card is whether there will be any MA state limitations on outdoor meetings.  Given that farmers markets are wide open and sidewalks are being set aside for store displays and restaurant tables, I don't foresee a problem.  Face coverings near others have become the normal social custom in New England.

See NETCA.ORG for further announcements.

Malcolm Laughlin,   Meet Coordinator

Sounds like you guys are thinking it through. It sounds like you are doing things I would do, separating the tables, making sure there is space so people are not cheek by jowl, the sanitizer is a great idea. I think having it outside makes sense, outdoor transmission is a lot less than indoor and if you are distancing (put it this way, a crowded beach might be better than a crowded bar, but they are both risky) you should be fine. 

My suggestions (and you may already be doing these things):

1)Have prominent signs with the rules over the site, maybe as you enter it, and even at all the tables, it makes a difference in my experience, it reminds people to wear masks, distance, etc. Also, obviously, require vendors and people working the show to wear masks (I am fortunate, I live in an area where people have been incredibly good with distancing, masks, etc)

2)Have a supply of masks and gloves available, in case someone forgets, or as happens with the gloves and paper masks, the ones  someone has self destruct

3)If possible (and this is more complicated), figure out a way to allow all vendors to use credit cards.  I don't know if it would be possible as organizer to arrange through Square or something the ability to do credit card transactions for vendors who otherwise wouldn't as a service, I have been at things like group yard sales and charity flea markets that did this. Even wearing gloves lot of people feel more confident with cards because you can sanitize them with hand sanitizer unlike cash, might increase confidence (it does have a number of questions, like paying the transaction fees, making sure vendors get their money)

4)Also, what are you planning to do with restrooms (never thought I would reach the age where that becomes a major issue to me!), are you going to have porta potties, and have you thought about how to keep them sanitized? (I don't have a clue), or are you going to forgo restrooms?