There are a bunch of us who post every weekend on the Switcher Saturday thread. All are pretty interesting and knowledgeable...including Rich Murnane, Bob/CNJ3676 and Andy/SILVERLAKE. There are also some ex-fellow Bronx high schoolers that I'd like to meet some day like Joseph Frank, Peter C./Putnam Division, Jim Policastro and Alentown.
Tom
I'm at the Henning's Trains booth a good bit of the time, so if you're in the Orange Hall, swing by and say hello! 
bigdodgetrain posted:All OGR members have an open invitation to visit the San Diego 3-Railers in the San Diego Model Railroad Museum.
When visiting just mention you are an OGR forum member.
Hope to see you there!
Thank you BDT!
I have never been farther west than Dallas and hope my wife and I can travel a bit when I retire. Our youngest visited the SD RR Museum a few years ago with her college touring choir's West Coast trip. We have relatives in LA and S D is not far.
I want to meet this Loco Lawyer guy! 
ToledoEd posted:Is there a way through the Forum to connect with members living in your area, in my case Bristow, VA?
Ed,
I just advertise where I live in my signature and have my face as an aviator. Between the two I have met numerous Forum members in person including Andy Hummel who posted right above you.
Larry Sr. posted:Woodson
I was born in JC. Live in Erwin. It's about 16 miles from JC.
P 51 , if you get over give me a yell. We go to church in the big E. and always over in the area. Same to you Scott. I know you know Clinchfield country.
larry
Erwin-The final resting place for Murderous Mary
Scott Smith
I don't think many members will be visiting in East Tennessee .
Don't bet on that, Larry! I was in Pigeon Forge Memorial Day weekend! Rode the 192 up the mountain and back... twice!
Chris
LVHR
Leapinlarry - Larry Levin. I just sold him my TMCC crane and boom car and he has to be one of the nicest guys I've ever talked to. He has invited me to see his layout in Tennessee about five times since we started the deal and I was thinking earlier today that he's such a nice guy I almost feel compelled to take him up on his offer. I am one hundred per cent sure that the thought of visiting Tennessee has never before crossed my mind before. Now I'm nervous as heck that the crane operates perfectly for him even though I checked everything before I shipped it. Sure seems like a great guy. Thanks Larry. It's been a pleasure.
lehighline posted:I don't think many members will be visiting in East Tennessee .
Don't bet on that, Larry! I was in Pigeon Forge Memorial Day weekend! Rode the 192 up the mountain and back... twice!
Chris
LVHR
I'll be in Johnson City beginning of July and at Telco lake for the 4th. Been going to East Tennessee since 1977.
Eric Seigel!
WOODSON:
My forum name was formerly Multi-Gauge Art about the time you and your wife visited me at my depot home near Robbinsville, NC. We also visited a barbeque restaurant which had some fine live bluegrass music. And of course ran some trains. Glad you posted - it has been a while!
scott.smith posted:Larry Sr. posted:Woodson
I was born in JC. Live in Erwin. It's about 16 miles from JC.
P 51 , if you get over give me a yell. We go to church in the big E. and always over in the area. Same to you Scott. I know you know Clinchfield country.
larry
Erwin-The final resting place for Murderous Mary
Scott Smith
As a child I remember Clinchfield steam!! Yea, I'm that old.. I have stopped my times in Erwin to poke around the edges of the now CSX yard to take pictures. I've never had a problem there.. Had an engineer come out and ask me about my hobby and we talked for 45min or so!! I also know the Clinchfield coal country- west of the Clinch River!! My Grandfather built many of those old crooked roads in Dickinson County.. Most of my Dad's family worked in the coal fields or for the RR, after all coal was the 'only game in town'...
If you ever visit the Allentown ATMA train show (held twice a year), there's a great group of folks known to frequent the Hamilton Family Restaurant before-hand for breakfast. I can never get their by 6AM (the real early-birds 
) , but I've made it a couple of times around 7-ish. 
Great food, great company... then on to "the show" at 8AM just a few blocks away.
David
Tinplate Art posted:WOODSON:
My forum name was formerly Multi-Gauge Art about the time you and your wife visited me at my depot home near Robbinsville, NC. We also visited a barbeque restaurant which had some fine live bluegrass music. And of course ran some trains. Glad you posted - it has been a while!
You were a very gracious host!! And you gave me some local memorabilia which I cherish!! I hope you are well!! It's great to reconnect.. An unforgettable weekend!!! I also remember you being partial to Tinplate!!!
Larry Sr. posted:I don't think many members will be visiting in East Tennessee . But I'm here.
My daughter lives in Gray, I get down often.
Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!
A bunch of you know our small town. That's a pleasant surprise.
There is one other OGR member that lives here in Erwin that I have met . We have visited each others houses and talked trains. He has way more knowledge of trains and helped me get going with Legacy. He has a very nice layout and was a very helpful to me.
Larry
Larry,
I visited Erwin not long after the big CSX shutdown. Went to some antique shops there on Main St. Saw an "N&W" heart-shaped switch lock for sale (way out of my price range) and a lot of steam loco photos for sale. Quite a few of them were Clinchfield Challengers.
Since we live in NJ, we are surrounded by numerous train shows, NJ Highrailer events, modular clubs and even some hobby shops that carry train items. At these events and formerly at York, I have met some of the nicest people around including vendors and most of the OGR guys. We are always open to discuss trains, have visitors view the layout and make new friends. While it is not possible to know everyone here, I wish that the opportunity to meet all of the great layout artists that have graced these pages.
I'd like to meet myself one day, mainly just to see if I ever perfect that time machine I'm working on.
Jerry
One of me is too many, Jerry. I would probably bore myself out of my skull! lol
I would like to meet you though!
We will all meet Ace at his book signing. Once he writes one.
OGR Webmaster posted:challenger3980 posted:...I would like to see lee Willis come back...
Yes, so would I, especially because it is our fault that he left this forum.
Lee wanted to run an ad promoting his new book "Veranda Turbine." He had specific timing for the ad which he wanted us to meet, so it would coincide with the release of the book on Amazon. We blew it and ran the ad in the wrong issue, thus derailing his marketing campaign for the book! Lee got a bit upset with us (rightfully so) and stopped posting here because of our screw-up.
Looks like you may get your wish Rich , Looks like Lee has made a posting in the Real Trains forum. My bad , I did not notice the date when I first read the post , it is two years old . Sorry!!!!
Awwwwww Magneta!
Larry Sr. posted:Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!
A bunch of you know our small town. That's a pleasant surprise.
Yep, I have passed through there many times in my youth. My Dad clearly recalls seeing all the steam locomotives sitting in the yard there before the scrappers took them all...
Have met a few of you guys at York back in 2010 I think it was but was so new I didn't know hardly anyone!
Since then several of you have visited out layout here in Waynesville NC which is but 30 miles west of Asheville. Larry Sr, Terry Patterson, Michael Breen, George Lashly, and few others came through. Everyone is welcome and we have our monthly Open House this Sunday. Try to make it soon as it looks as if we may be closing down at the end of August...
Just one... GUNRUNNERJOHN.
Toledoed: There are several forum members living in this area: southern Fairfax County & PW County.
Problem with York, is that the TCA name tags don't have the wearer's forum name.
Maybe I'll go back to this classic look from my younger days (circa 1976) this October, but with a bow tie, of course.....
I bet I'll be easily spotted!
Peter
P-51
I was 6 yoa and living here in Erwin when that engine was retired in 1954 . It got here in 1947, the year before I was born,
At least from what I have read. I never saw it. But Grandpa was still working down in the yard. And my Dad was a brakeman at that time as well. Grandpa walked to that yard downtown every day for 25 years, and never owned a car in his life.
I have a Lionel scale Challenger new TMCC engine #673, never run it. I love looking at it .lol
Supposedly the real 673 was a used engine when it got here in 1943??? and retired in 1953. Both were made by American.
Sam I sure hope something happens to stop you guys from having to close down.
Larry.
I'm in that group from southern Fairfax County & PW County. It would be nice to meet other forum members.
As I recall CC&O 673 was one of six Defense Department Engines during late wartime sent by the Agency to the D&RG and others but were never really used .The Clinchfield bought them while parked in Utah and ferried them under steam to Erwin in 1947. The Erwin Shop changed their drafting and firebox and single-stacked them for burning eastern coal. I have the MTH Model also.
My favorite CC&O Challenger is a model of the "Early Challengers" imported by Sunset.
Read Engineer Jim Goforth's book "When Steam Ran on the Clinchfield" for interesting railroading on the Applachain spine from KY to S.C. Also "Building The Clinchfield" by Goforth.
c.sam posted:Have met a few of you guys at York back in 2010 I think it was but was so new I didn't know hardly anyone!
Since then several of you have visited out layout here in Waynesville NC which is but 30 miles west of Asheville. Larry Sr, Terry Patterson, Michael Breen, George Lashly, and few others came through. Everyone is welcome and we have our monthly Open House this Sunday. Try to make it soon as it looks as if we may be closing down at the end of August...
That really sucks, closing you down.. Will there be other opportunities to visit before the shutdown?? I live in SC about 3 hours away.. Unfortunately, I can't make it this weekend..
This thread has gotten me thinking. How many people on this forum I've had good communications with since I first logged on here have I simply forgotten their names or hadn't seen postings from them lately that I'd normally would want to say 'Hi' to but wouldn't know if I met them somewhere?
RJR posted:
Toledoed: There are several forum members living in this area: southern Fairfax County & PW County.
Problem with York, is that the TCA name tags don't have the wearer's forum name.
I made this picture name tag with my OGR info. I wear it at York and other train meets/shows. Even though my forum name is actually my name!
How about OGR Forum members I have met
Chugman, beautiful layout genuinely great guy, an asset to the forum. Art really made our visit to Chicago a great one
Attictracks, great layout, so much fun, loved his 2 puppies
Big_Boy_4005, Very gracious host, incredible layout, Tammy is an absolute delight
Mill City, Gotta love Jon, I said "Gotta"
Len B, thanks for lunch
Hot Water beautiful layout, great stories, wonderful puppies Listening to jack tell his stories to my dad was like watching a kid with hes new toys on Christmas day. What a life
LeapinLarry Great guy, loads of fun and such a fun layout
CGWforever
Alan, sorry about screwing up the Erie Built deal
If there is anybody I forgot about, I apologize, my mind is like a steel trap, rusty and doesnt catch anything
Matt Makens posted:How about OGR Forum members I have met
Chugman
Attictracks
Big_Boy_4005
Mill City
Len B
So,,,,,I guess I'm chopped liver for inviting you and your dad to our house?
Larry,
Did you ever meet Ed Reutling? He lived up near Gray.
This year at York I met and talked with Gunrunner John, Alex, Andre, and Jim Barrett. In years past I met Rich from Korber models. Great putting faces to people on this forum, who you enjoy and whose abilities you respect and admire! Would love to meet Mark, the Menards guy and Cabinet Bob so we could compare our Menards collections! I love his suggestions and ideas involving Menards stuff which I have unabashedly stolen from him! Lol
Putnam Division posted:
Maybe I'll go back to this classic look from my younger days (circa 1976) this October, but with a bow tie, of course.....
I bet I'll be easily spotted!
Peter
Still have your leisure suit(s) ??? THAT would get peoples' attention as well.
(Please say, "no".)
Matt Makens posted:How about OGR Forum members I have met
Chugman
Attictracks
Big_Boy_4005
Mill City
Len B
Matt, you might want to edit your post before Leapin Larry and Patrick bust you too.
As for me, I've met well over a dozen, hosting some and meeting others in my travels. Not bad really, for never going near York. Visitors are always welcome.
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