First Time to TrainStock Review for those that can't attend

@MainLine Steam posted:

Not sure where to post this.  When I reviewed going to York the first Time last Fall there is a Forum for that.  I did NOT want to add it to the existing TrainStock14 post because I didn't want it on the fourth page after people stating if they would attend or not.  I want it to be easy to access, for the reason I am about to state.

I am posting this review, to give an overview, for those that have never attended for distance reasons. I had about an hour and a quarter drive each way.  I use to live in the Midwest and didn't have the means to make this journey (I feel your pain).  I also know a lot of non-members of the OGR forum view these posts looking for information.

I want to start by thanking all the members that explained the layout to me.  I am terrible with names but some I talked to were Ben, Chris, Tim, Jim, Eric and Nathan, sorry I can't remember the rest.  I asked, some said they weren't on the forum, but if those that are can pass on my thanks, it would be appreciated.  You were all very gracious, and allowed me to come-up into the control area, where a few of the pictures were taken.

I am not a very good photographer, I used my cell phone, but just want to give you an overview of the layout and what attending was like.  Actually I have looked at some of the pictures posted on the TrainStock 14 thread and they are much better for details, but if you haven't been there, it would be hard to place them in the grand scope of things.

I had a FANTASTIC time.  The Layout is overwhelming in a good way.  It is so large that it is easy to overlook all the small details.  In talking to the club members it was pointed out that although it looks very complete it is always evolving.  They told me it was started just over 20 years ago.  As the layout has expanded it has gotten wider and has more levels so some of the details are obstructed be the newer construction.  One example is a street, that now has another full street of buildings in front of it.  I am including 15 pictures of the layout.  Many show a wide view, hope this will help put it in perspective.  I believe someone told me the room is about 250 feet long and the layout runs the majority of that so it is HUGE!  Also there is a 20 track staging yard under the layout with tracks that are 40 feet or more in length.  They can easily run very long trains. Something common on N Scale modular layouts at train shows but not so much in O.

I am going to cover some highlights shown in my photos.  BTW I took pictures of stuff I like.

The Refinery was a planning model constructed for a real refinery.  The club acquired it after the Refinery was built and it was no longer needed.

There are a two Harbor areas next to each other.  One is Coney Island and the Statue of Liberty with a Bascule Bridge over it.  The other is and Industrial Area feed by water coming through a Dam.

There are bridges and elevated railways of every description.

There are some crazy long straights.

There is a Suzy Q Diesel House with a Transfer table.  There is a Steam Roundhouse with Plenty of motive power sitting there.

My favorite Train of the day was a Cab-Forward (Fantasy Daylight Scheme) pulling a variety of TOFC (Piggy-Backs).

Enough on the layout, now my experience.

When I arrived it was very busy.  I am told about 100 Guest were there, plus I am estimating 50 Club members.  For the size of the building not really a problem, unless... I am an old man and it was a long drive. So after paying my $10 asked where the restroom was; "Other end of the building", my response "You're kidding", "Nope".  There was a post about people blocking the aisles.  I didn't have that problem, they parted like the "RED SEA".  Musta been the look of desperation. LOL  BTW the hidden challenge in my photos see if you can find the sign that says "Flushing Line".  It helps guide you to the bathroom.  Plus there was a Bat Signal on the wall on the far end (Thanks Tim).  "To the BatRoom Robin".  LOL

Anyhow I had planned this as an all day trip, so no hurry to "Getter Done".  I walked around the layout and decided to hold off on pictures until the crowd thinned out.  I helped to block the aisles, by visiting with other attendees.

They announced that the appetizers were being served, so that help to thin out the crowd.  I had seen pictures of previous TrainStocks so was holding off for the Hot Stuff.

Chris called things to order, prior to lunch.  A round of thanks to all the members that contributed to make this happen!  A moment of silence, for those members that had taken the final excursion.

Time to "dig in".  My one glitch of the day.  Green ticket holders could line up for chow.  What!  I don't have a ticket!  Went back to Check-in Table and said "I paid, but don't have a ticket."  "Oh, when you arrived we didn't have the ticket rolls yet".  I was given a Green ticket.

Food was Great - Chicken Parm, Pasta, Sausage and Peppers (my Favorite), Rice, Something Else, can't remember.  Asked for a lot they piled it high.  BTW was Wine, Beer, Soda and Bottled Water.  Ate and rotated out, there were way more hungry people than Seats.

Went and started photographing layout.  Everyone was eating or talking.  They eventually announced "seconds",  WTH it was a long drive, and I will walk it off circling the layout.

Later they announced desert.  If I had known, may not have gone for seconds.  Oh well next year.

Many ate and then left.  I continued to circle the layout, connect with new people and got to go upstairs to the control area.

Walked around and thanked some members.

ONE HECK of a GOOD Day.

Hope my review helps others.  Thanks to the Club Member for a great time!

Thanks for the great review.  It was great speaking to you and I'm glad you had a nice time.  The crowd was nice sized.  We ere very happy with the number of peple who attended and the smiles on everyone's faces.  Also glad you enjoyed the abundance of food.  Vinny and the kitchen helpers (Dina, Louise, Alex, John S., I know I'm forgetting some one) really go out of their way to make it happen.

Just quickly browsed the though the photos.

What do I think?

Fantastic, wonderful, awesome!

I’m kicking myself that I couldn’t juggle my schedule…….I make myself feel better by saying Jan 2024 will be here soon!

Peter

Jim

Glad you enjoyed yourself and it was nice talking to you  Thanks for the pics 

Arnold

When are you coming back?

Peter

Bummer that you couldnt make it this year   Doctors arent supposed to get sick.  Feel better

@bluelinec4 posted:

Arnold

When are you coming back?

January 2024

Great review - thanks for posting. 

Unfortunately for me, it's over 700 miles each way, and it's at the worst time of year weather-wise.  Going to roll the dice and get a plane ticket - hopefully in 2024.

Thanks for sharing @MainLine Steam Other than the one hater over on Ben's thread, this is what I expect it is like.

I thought 2023 was going to be my first visit, but....... No excuse being that I live on that big sandbar to the east.....

@Arnold D. Cribari-  I'm penciling it in on the 2024 calendar.  Maybe the SWSat crew can make a day of it

Bob

The main course

Baked Ziti        Sausage and Peppers     Spanish Rice

Eggplant Parm                       Chicken Marsala                    Shells with Broccoli

And the BAckups

Jim, before I moved to SC I had been to about 5 Trainstocks, travelling from Bob's sand bar.  Like you the trip could take about an hour and a half.  One time I was in a full white out blizzard crossing the Throgs Neck bridge contemplating turning around once I hit the Bronx only to be in bright sunshine before I ever did.

Chris, Ben, all the members, Vinny, Alex and all the kitchen volunteers are masters of hospitality.  They'll let you run your stuff if you bring it, their stuff if you don't, answer any questions you can come up, feed you until you can't eat any more, heck they may even let you see under the layout if you ask, I never did so i'm not sure about that.

As for the layout, it's so big and so detailed, that even without the continual remodeling and renovations one could certainly visit almost endlessly and find something new they hadn't seen before.  Combine that with the members display cases, the railroadiana in the room, the Tom Snyder layout and the Sorpranos layout(s), don't know if they had those on display across the hall this time, and the great people you will never grow tired of Trainstock.

Mallard 4468, I feel your pain.  I'm about the same distance away now and can only hope to attend another Trainstock.

Bob, you really need to get across those two bridges next January.  I've met Arnold and Mel one year, although I was a bit late and only saw them briefly, met Andy Silver Lake at another, before Arnold ever arranged a wonderful gathering at the now defunct Westchester train show.  Get Apples to meet you there next year.

Thanks for the replies and the likes.  Hope to meet ALL of you at TrainStock 15.  This may of been my first TrainStock but it won't be my last!

And yes, I was invited to take a look at the Staging Yard in person, but declined (I have bad knees), so settled for the video view at the control panel.

I also update my OP, Mentioning a couple of highlights I forgot last night.

Thanks for adding the video!  I wish I was skilled enough to put together something like that.  Oh well, we all have our strengths and weaknesses.

MainLine Steam - thank you for the review and I suspect that this will make my calendar for next year!  Your photos were impressive as well.