NOW HAVING BREAKFAST AT EAT'N PARK

Can't thank Patrick, Norm and Dave enough for a great time. Max arrived home and to his Mom exclaimed "BEST DAY EVER!"

 

A great group indeed. Nice to see so many 3-railers in the Pittsburgh area.

 

Unfortunately, Max now has big layout expansion ideas simmering. 

Today was great, I am still in awe!  There were quite a few folks that attended and I think Jimmy Sutter was the only person I had met previously.  Everyone was so nice it was like a big house party!  Thanks again to Norm for organizing an unforgetable time.  Patrick, what can I say!  Your house, layout, hospitality, level of energy and sense of humor is top notch!  Rick, those name tags were a great touch!  And Tom, thanks for driving me to Patrick's, I'd still be trying to figure how to find my way back!  Hope we can get together again, time to go run some trains on my tiny layout!

 

Thanks for a great day guys!

Stack

I concur with everyone's comments.  Thank you Patrick, Norm, and Dave.  It was great to meet everyone since I had never met any of you before.  I was impressed how friendly everyone was.  Thank you everyone for the nice conversation.  I enjoyed meeting everyone in attendance.

Now if I can just get the Ceiling Central in the family room finished and run some trains until our college girls finally leave the nest and I can confiscate one of their rooms.

What a great day! 

 

It was great seeing everyone!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Andy

Thank you Norm for setting up today's get together and Patrick hosting this great group at one of the best layouts I ever have seen.  This entire group is really down to earth and knowledgeable, making me the new guy feel right at home.  Patrick asked to see something different on his layout and I think the UP weed sprayer really fit the bill.  It seems not many have seen one of these running close up.  Answers to some questions: first cataloged in 2000 mrsp $379.95 as ps-1, shipped about 2 or 3 yrs later as ps-2, newer ones are in the 2009 catalog for $449.95, the orange one I remember was Amtrak.  Today I saw the new ZW-L in action, wow this thing is BIG & heavy 28 lbs, we should name it the BEAST, can rivel O'bama's car looks bullet proof & has the power to run just about any home layout. 

Again thanks everyone for a great day of railroading, this is why this is the World's Greatest Hobby, Patrick's layout and this group should be awarded "The Blue Comet Award". 

 

Jack   

Jack, that weed sprayer was neat!

 

Andy

Thanks again Patrick - your layout and hospitality was really appreciated.

 

And guys it was great meeting with you and hopefully we can do it again.

 

Jim Stack

Things went reasonably well today,for sure.  Patrick,you are a great host.  I think that Eat'n Park could have done a little better for us since we were scattered a bit.

My wife was at a function at the Lamp Lighter today and the ladies were treated quite well there.  If we are fortunate enough to visit any other layouts here in the eastern suberbs,perhaps they will be worth talking to for our breakfast or lunch.

Thanks again Patrick.  It sure was nice seeing all of yinz guys.

I'm sorry that Ron Blume could not arrange to bring Joe Flacco today--it would have been a real blast !

Well,back to Dr. Who.

 

Norm

Looks like everyone had a great day. Patrick, What a fantastic layout. I really need to get with you to take photos for my web site.

Thanks Norm for putting this together and Patrick for opening your doors to us and sharing your great layout.  Many years of train experience under one roof and it was good to meet some of the guys that are new in the hobby.  There was a nice mix of trains the guys brought to run and I now have some good ideas to help me finish my layout.  This is a great hobby.

Thanks again!

PRR JOE

Ditto to all the above comments. And Wow, what a day! Thanks to Norm, Dave and Rick for organizing.

Patrick, thanks again for your hospitality and sharing your awesome layout.

 

Thanks everyone for a great day.

 

Well what a day. Trains Food and Fun. Patrick always takes care of us when we visit. Had a Great time . Fun to meet new train Nuts. Jimmy Great to see you. Still miss your Shop.One thing we should have done is had a group Photo of this event. Show and Tell was very nice.  Thanks to everyone All of You Made this event Super.

I sure hope we do it again.

Thanks again Patrick, Norm And Dave.

Great pics everybody  **** Jack I thought you left the weed sprayer with us

No way Ben, that's my signature model.  Actually since I've been around a while still have a few other items even you or most others haven't seen.  If I ever get my benchwork finished I'll have everyone over to run them.

 

Jack   

 

 

i had a great time,sorry i couldnt run trains,,,had to work,someone has too ,hope to do it again

Patricks layout looks awesome

I'm 5 hours away, but I actually considered going to your event.  You STILLER guys DO know how to throw a party.  As for Flacco, he's a little short of coin these days, and could not afford the Pa Turnpike Tolls.  Besides, he's out trying to find someone to play with as guys are leaving for free agency at a record pace.  GREAT JOB GUYS...I am going to see patrick's layout someday!!! CONGRATS!!!

 

My wife had a Dr.s appointment the day her boss arranged a visit from the LOMBARDI TROPHY from Superbowl 47...everyone else got their picture with the trophy, so her coworkers did the next best thing...posed her namecard with the trophy...WHAT A GREAT PLACE TO WORK!!!

Ron. Looks lonely without the other 5.... Oh never mind you're in Baltimore I forgot. 

 

If you can get to Patrick's do so. Nice layout and hosts. 

Ummm...typical Stiller Fan...CANNOT COUNT!!!  Superbowl 35???  Your last trip to playoffs???  Cumon Marty...ya know I'm smarter!!! SIX beats TWO though...still sad I missed this party..great job guys!!!

Ron  When you get up here to see Patrick's layout I will be sure to have my Steeler train on the layout.  That way you can see all those custom cars first hand. 

Did not make any last. Did not have the train on the track. It may be a long time before its out. To many issues on that team.  

This hurts...but THOSE CARS ARE GREAT!!!  I will try next year...FOR REAL!!!  I drive tractor trailer to Pittsburgh once in awhile(in Ravens Jersey-one lady made me turn it inside out), so I can surely drive 5 hours to make some new friends!!!

I have been doing a lot of Heinz cars. Have a long Heinz train that I run at shows.

Ron all in good fun. You guys have that great roundhouse which I'd rather go see than any Stiller game. 

That is a nice Roundhouse. I have been there did it as a Day trip. Left home at 4am back home that eve at 9pm. Would like to do it again sometime. Real fun day trip.

I thought OURS was great UNTIL I saw the California Railroad Museum in Sacramento a couple summers ago(TCA CONVENTION).  The Museum is a tour on the LOTS/TTOS Convention this July 7-13 in Reno.  The B & O Museum is great, but suffers from NO Federal Funding, so a lot of equipment sits outside RUSTING AWAY!!!

Thanks to all who came!

 

As usual Patrick & his wife were the perfect hosts, and the men had a great time,

running their trains on Patrick H's incredible layout.  I got to tell ya the young boys made it very special for me, watching them around Patrick's layout brought back a lot of great boys club memories for me.

 

Breakfast was good however Eat'n Park kind of ruined our show and tell time,

Norm did everything possible to have all the OGR guys together at the same tables, unfortunately Eat'n Park did not cooperate as they promised him they would.  Still everything worked pretty well.  I really appreciate Norm taking on the reservation job, we are finding out its a little tougher than it looks, Norm had every right to be upset with Eat'n Park.  If we do this again some time, we will use a different place, and plan things out in longevity giving the business time to accommodate us.   I take full responsibility for the messing up of the show and tell portion of our breakfast get together, the guys really had some fantastic trains to show & talk about. 

 

Just a couple of those very special Trains & Cars.

 

 

 

 

For myself, I was like a little kid in a train store, OGR should be very proud of their

members, each and every one, a class individual. We had a great time meeting

and getting to know each other, especially in Patrick's beautiful home, playing with the trains. 

 

A Special thanks to Mike and Rick C who helped start the Breakfast train talk,

you guys are great.

 

 

A Very Special Thanks to those fathers that let their sons share their time with us.

 

 

 

 

 

 Ron,

 We want you to know we missed ya, and tell Joe Flacco, one Car & one Caboose on a Super Bowl train is a good start.  Add two cars to that Steelers Super Bowl Train pictured however.

 

PCRR/Dave 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Lamplighter is a great idea, should we do a get-together this far East of the 'Burgh again.  I have gone there many times since before I can even remember, and have been treated well every single time.  And the food has always been excellent, as well.  (Which is probably why they are still in business after 80+ years.)

 

Andy

Andy,

   I definitely agree we should take a good look at the lamplighter as a location to meet next time.  Everyone still says the food and service is excellent.

PCRR/Dave

 

Its on the national layout tour. It was definately a unique piece. Ran really nice too.

 

Thanks for nice comments Ben also.

 

 

After having a chance to take the whole day in, there was nothing dissappointing to me about it. Dosnt matter the venue where we ate ,its about getting together,didnt notice anything like what was mentioned at all.

One thing i did notice,and ill say it again, is that every single person there yesterday where  the  nicest people around and made it a much enjoyable and memorable  day and are welcome here anytime.

 

Thanks to all who showed up  brought their trains-and especially thanks for the kind words.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Lamp Lighter would be fine with me.

Ron,

What a great photo !  It will be a keepsake for years to come.  You're a good salesman,maybe you could parly that photo to a real visitation.  Good luck.

Try to come in the Fall and maybe we could swing some tickets--you never know how things will end up when you are in Steelers Country !

 

Norm

DOC is right.  How could we forget to get a group photo.  You know that this now means that we HAVE to do it again.  Just to get that photo if nothing else.  Maybe next time we can make it lunch?

 

So, till we meet again...Rick

OR.....'til we EAT again!  Tom in PGH

Great looking layout, Patrick.  Looks like I missed another chance to see your creation.  I'll be watching for another get together in hopes to participate.

Dave,
I'm not sure what was planned for the show and tell time at the restaurant, and
I'm sorry it didn't work out.  Please don't be hard on yourself that it didn't work.  I sat at a table just outside the big room, and got to know three great guys who I had never met.  We had excellent conversation and a good meal.  I would be happy to try a different location, and being from the far North, you Eastern guys know the best places.  I'm looking forward to another get together sometime in the future.  Two people asked me if it was worth the trip.  Most definitely!  Thanks!

Thanks to Norm for putting together the breakfast and I second the motion to try the Lamplight next if possible.  Throughly enjoyed meeting new train lovers and Jim Sutter (purchased my first engine from him, a MTH Railking Milwaukee Road Hiawatha in the fall of 2000).  Rick C good to know that your a fan of G scale.

 

Patrick, thank you for your hospitality and the opportunity to run our trains on that excellent layout.  My favorite part was the roundhouse, turntable and the ash pit.

 

Also that 110" large  screen (guess) ruinning N & W train info was icing on the cake.

 

Now I wonder which is better, the trains or a scenic layout?; think I'm leaning towards the layout.

Someone left an Orange Tinplate lampost at my house thats says Broadway on it.

That belongs to Mr. Bart Zuccelli.