First Successful Op Session

Congratulations Bill!!  You are doing things right if you got a novice trained.

I hope you keep me in mind for future operating sessions.  I’m not far across the state line.   You have a very different layout theme than I have, but you need my coal and coke for your steel.  😄

@Mark Boyce thank you! And most definitely. I was planning on it! I know we have a number of OGR members in the vicinity (which I count as being within a 2 hour drive).

I haven't made an effort yet to see if there is a Tour De Rustbelt in the O-scale world where people open their layouts in the region here to the forum/O-scale world. I thing there is something similar called The Piedmont Pilgrimage but I'm basing that on a Youtube channel I found. It sounds like they have dates scheduled but it's more of a southern thing. Maybe somebody here knows a little more and can chime in. The recent revitalizing/redemption of Youngstown makes it a good stop for such a thing.

I'm hoping I can get some more friends involved. I think they would have been interested in running trains if I would have offered. The next step is to convince them to buy some equipment and then build a layout haha

Having relatives in the grater Cleveland, Ohio area, I would love to see some O scale layouts next time I am in Ohio.

Yes indeed!  My generation has bequeathed yours The Rustbelt!!  Halfway between Pittsburgh and Cleveland; you are right in the middle of it all!!

I have not heard of a round Robin group either.  Over in Westmoreland County they had annual all O gauge tours until the Pandemic cancelled last year’s May tour.  I don’t believe they even tried to set one up this year or I would have heard.  

Tour de Rustbelt is a catchy name.

@harley rider posted:

Having relatives in the grater Cleveland, Ohio area, I would love to see some O scale layouts next time I am in Ohio.

I would be happy to have you over if I got a layout built! Unless you're into 4x8 test layouts that have as many wires running over top of it as track

@Mark Boyce posted:

Yes indeed!  My generation has bequeathed yours The Rustbelt!!  Halfway between Pittsburgh and Cleveland; you are right in the middle of it all!!

I have not heard of a round Robin group either.  Over in Westmoreland County they had annual all O gauge tours until the Pandemic cancelled last year’s May tour.  I don’t believe they even tried to set one up this year or I would have heard.  

Tour de Rustbelt is a catchy name.

I call Youngstown the belt buckle of the Rustbelt. I just can't believe how different it is (in a positive way!) now compared to when I was a kid. I get a little teary eyed when I see what we accomplished. But this is a soap box topic for me. I love Youngstown and could ramble on for hours and hours about it haha so I'll quiet myself now.

I looked and the Piedmont Pilgrimage is an NMRA event in Atlanta. I'll see if the NMRA has anything before I reinvent the wheel. I believe the Piedmont Pilgrimage was virtual last year. I was unaware of the Westmoreland County event. I hope it comes back as things get better

Tour de Rustbelt! You heard it here first haha we'll see. I'm working on a historical tour of Youngstown and they might want Tour de Rustbelt for that. But anyway, I know things in Mahoning County are rapidly returning to normal as far as bars, stores, and museums, so I suspect there will be room for these events to form in the near future. I'm sure some of the remaining hobby shops in the region would be interested.

Good to hear Bill!  I've found that most folks are rather impressed with "our" hobby, especially when they don't know it exists.

BTW, pictures and /or video are always fun. No matter how basic a layout may be.

Bill,

You have done your research on the Piedmont Pilgrimage. I have been part of it for about 4 or 5 years now. I'm sure you are also aware that Eric Siegel is part of it as well, though he did not participate in the virtual tour this past year. I digress, you are correct that the event is sponsored by the NMRA. That simply helps with advertising and liability type issues. I have heard of other areas doing the "round robin" thing but am not sure if the NMRA is involved or not. I'm sure in some cases they are. I think you should get the ball rolling in your area. I think it would be great! Who knows I may come home to visit and stop by and see some rustbelt pikes. I just found out my college band director retired from YSU, so since he's gone I have to have some other reasons to come back to Y-town.

Dave

Bravo Bill!!!

Congratulations. 

And you'd better count me in on the ops sessions!

George

That’s awesome. I wish you had some video of your operating session.

Great post, it's always nice to have all the work appreciated, at least by someone!   Too bad you're a little too far for a casual visit, it would be fun.

@RickO posted:

Good to hear Bill!  I've found that most folks are rather impressed with "our" hobby, especially when they don't know it exists.

BTW, pictures and /or video are always fun. No matter how basic a layout may be.

@Brooklyn Corey posted:

That’s awesome. I wish you had some video of your operating session.

That has also been my experience. I look at my pile of a layout with semi-assembled (I mean theyre ROUGH) models and wires and spilled coal and think it's almost embarrassing but the people that I have seen it thing it's the greatest thing. And I will have to make a post for the test layout seeing as how I'm always badgering people to post pics haha you'll have to settle for smart phone captures though. I don't have a nice camera or a high end smart phone and the lighting on the layout is a Home Depot LED Shop light

@luvindemtrains posted:

Bill,

You have done your research on the Piedmont Pilgrimage. I have been part of it... have some other reasons to come back to Y-town.

Dave

Well it's good to hear I'm looking at the right stuff. I take it Piedmont Pilgrimage is multi scale? I actually like that. I appreciate the heck of the finesse of the smaller scales. I just happened to start in O and stayed with it. I cannot get the ball rolling right away. I've already got my hands in a number of other Y-town projects but I will put it on the list and contact some people that can probably help. If you're ever in Y-town, let me know. Wouldn't mind catching a pizza and talking Youngstown.

@G3750 posted:

And you'd better count me in on the ops sessions!

Absolutely! You know it.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Great post, it's always nice to have all the work appreciated, at least by someone!   Too bad you're a little too far for a casual visit, it would be fun.

Indeed! Hey, I always tell people, if you're ever travelling down interstate 80...I'm just a 10 minute detour off the highway haha

Bill, don’t hesitate to take photographs.  All of us have photographed messes and half done projects.  I think there is more to see what and how someone is doing what they are doing that way.

Ten minutes from I-80.  Millions of people go right past your front door.

@Mark Boyce posted:

Bill, don’t hesitate to take photographs.  All of us have photographed messes and half done projects.  I think there is more to see what and how someone is doing what they are doing that way.

Ten minutes from I-80.  Millions of people go right past your front door.

Will do! I could at least remove the blow torch, hot glue gun, and packing peanuts from the layout I suppose.

Isn't that a Doors song?

I can’t think of a Doors song with that

Found it. The Cars Hiss by My Window off LA Woman.

Great news about that first session with multiple operators.    Coordinating with others to move the freight is about the most fun you can have with trains as far as I'm concerned.  Keep up the good work!

@BillYo414 posted:

Found it. The Cars Hiss by My Window off LA Woman.

I looked it up.  I see what you mean

Thanks @Bob. It's definitely the type of operating I enjoy.