Still waiting for my airline tickets Allan. Bags are packed. It would be nice if you could send two tickets so Vicky could go. Looks like all the flight attendance are ready.
Don
Attachments
Images (1)
I plan to attend with Melgar, and another train friend on the Forum by the name of Ron.
Looking forward to meeting Don from Hawaii and all those gorgeous flight attendants. LOL.
Arnold
And unlike Trainstock, it is guaranteed not to snow. It will be a great party.
Gerry
bluelinec4 posted:The deadline to rsvp is the Saturday before. We just want to gauge how many are coming
If it's not to late to RSVP, I'd like to attend.
Been a few years since I've seen the layout, and this seems like a good excuse to drive up there right after York!
-Dave
Wendy and I are looking forward to being there. Fortunately, Wendy was able to get off work to accompany me. She won't be at the York Meet, but will be taking the train from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia to visit the youngest daughter, who recently transferred from Las Vegas to become Events Coordinator for a casino in Philadelphia. We'll be driving up from Philly on Sunday morning (thankfully, a somewhat shorter drive than driving over from York). It will certainly be nice to see so many OGR supporters gathered at the site of the truly superb Hi-Railers layout.
Dave45681 posted:bluelinec4 posted:The deadline to rsvp is the Saturday before. We just want to gauge how many are coming
If it's not to late to RSVP, I'd like to attend.
Been a few years since I've seen the layout, and this seems like a good excuse to drive up there right after York!
-Dave
No its not too late We will see you sunday
See y’all next Sunday
Steve Maier
T Minus 3 days and counting!
I'm in if anyone cares?Odd I though I posted that I am coming too.
We do care and we're glad you're coming.
Gerry
Well it's good to know that at least one person cares! Il bring some drinks... Since that seems to run out based on Trainstock attendance.
I'm so sorry but I could not make the party due to illness. Last Thursday night when I was leaveing work my legs gave out on me and I had to rest for about a half hour before I could pull myself up. My Doctor ordered an MRI for my lower back.
I feel okay right now but I did not wont to do all the driving back and forth. so I attached a picture of me in my official party outfit just to show you guys that my heart is with you.
Have Fun!
Attachments
Images (1)
I had to cancel our trip to the birthday bash. Friday night at York the wife fell in the tube. When that happened I had to make the decision to cancel because just in case something more then bruises and sore muscles showed up it was better to be back home. Hopefully my "good" buddy Bryan will supply me with some great pics.........Paul 2
I dialed into the cameras to check things out and I'm glad to see somany people made it. Of course I was not the only one useing it so everytime I gave a scan command a couple of more came in at the same time so I got out. 
.
congrats and hope everyone is safe and happy!! I missed another one! Urrggg!
Great event, icing on the cake to a long week. I had a blast, tired out from all the fun. Thanks Chris, Ben, Gerry, Chef Vinnie, and all the other NJ Hi-Railers for hosting this great event. Happy Birthday OGR. O have tons of pictures, a bunch of videos(except the one I accidentally shot while Ben was explaining the cameras in relation to the layout while the video was dead on the control panel). When I get some time I will post pictures and videos after I sort through all the other pictures from both Strasburg and York. Right now I'm finishing my cider and going to conk out for a bit.
gg1man posted:I'm so sorry but I could not make the party due to illness. Last Thursday night when I was leaveing work my legs gave out on me and I had to rest for about a half hour before I could pull myself up. My Doctor ordered an MRI for my lower back.
I feel okay right now but I did not wont to do all the driving back and forth. so I attached a picture of me in my official party outfit just to show you guys that my heart is with you.
Have Fun!
I'm so sorry to hear about your misfortune! I empathize as I have back issues myself. Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery!
-Greg
Quite a bash, and it's always cool to see the NJ-HR layout to check what's new. Of course, it's always nice to catch up with train friends as well. After three days at York and then going up to North Jersey, I'm done driving and walking for a spell. 
Yes, quite the weekend--visited Strasburg to take a shop tour on Friday and catch a ride behind 611. Hope I left enough in the tank for "the man" on Monday!
Thanks to all at OGR and the NJHRs for putting this together. I had a great time!
Just got back to Ohio from attending this great event. I want to echo everyone's comments on the appreciation for everyone involved in putting on this event. You can tell a ton of effort went into it. As for the layout this was the first time I have seen it in person and all I can say is WOW!!!!!!!!.
Yes, a great time for sure. It was nice to see everyone for this fun event. Thanks to OGR and the NJ High-Railers for putting this together.
The layout has had some great changes since I'd last been there a few years back.
Tuscan Jim, it was nice meeting you and chatting a bit. I hope you got to take in a lot of the layout after we split up. There is always something else to see for future visits!
-Dave
This was a terrific event and I had a great time. I'm very happy to have been able to attend and meet the OGR staff and the many NJ HiRailers who told me about their club and their immense layout - which is absolutely phenomenal! The only problem is that I saw so many outstanding engines in display/storage cases along the walls that I may not be able to stop myself from going out and buying more trains for myself...
MELGAR
Here are some shots from the party. I have to say it was a great time and I think it was enjoyed by all. Thanks to all the guests who donated raffle items.
And thanks to OGR for 50 terrific years
Attachments
Images (49)
Well, I expected to have a great time, but this event truly exceeded my expectations: great speakers, great food, great music (I could not believe they actually had an organ and organist), and, of course, the layout, IMO, is a Wonder of the World. Any of you folks who hasn't seen it, needs to see it.
Do yourself a favor and see it. Arnold
Always have a great time at the club with a great bunch of guys! Good seeing the whole OGR crew! Happy birthday here’s to another 50! 🎊🎈
Thanks for the pics Chris.
The twin towers city scene is great! Really stunning.
Even the Eagles getting thoroughly thrashed last night couldn't put a damper on the last 4 days between York and the OGR Birthday party. It's putting it mildly to say the hangover from the last 4 days is hitting me hard this morning. I had a great time meeting new friends and getting to see old friends again - can't put a price on the experience!
Yesterday was great getting to hear all the speakers and their stories on how they got into the hobby and on the history of OGR. The sentiment which echoed many times yesterday was how instrumental OGR has been providing a forum to connect hobbyists from all areas and walks of life. That was on display in full force over the course of the last 4 days! Yesterday, there were people from as far away as California and the Netherlands in attendance! It is a legacy everyone at the magazine from Myron Biggar to the entire current staff can be proud of.
My thanks to everyone for coming together yesterday to make it a truly wonderful event to be a part of!
In closing, the one future item I really looking forward to from Lionel: Lionel Ale!!! 
- Greg
Wish I didn't have to leave for a family event just as the speakers were hitting their stride. Congrats to OGR and to Chris Lord on his ascension to the presidency of NJ highrailers. Ben set the bar pretty high, you seem to have taken up the challenge. To a person club members were friendly, helpful, pointed out things to see, that's the difference between an average organization and a great one.
Thanks for the pics......sorry I missed it.
Peter
Hey all.......wished I could have made it. I even had a hotel reservation, that I had to cancel. Reason being that my daughter- in-law was/still is about to give birth to twin boys. So rather than be present at the 50th, I went straight home on Saturday, after a G R E A T York, and waited on "stand by".
Still waiting on the twins, ......but I WILL somehow bring my son & his boys to a TrainStock. The cooks' talents, (Vinnie) and his chicken marsalla (sp) are worth the trip. And the bread used in the sandwiches.......they say "it's in the water".
Thanks for all of the photos. We sure missed being there.
I was there is sperit!
It was a great event and great to hear the stories of the speakers. You see them from the prior posts. For me, it's interesting to think about the way our train world has changed. When I got back into it 25 years ago, engines were semi-scale, steamers smoked and diesels didn't, you controlled the trains using the ZW handles and there were two magazines which "pushed" information. Interactive information didn't exist other than person to person. Now, there are lots of scale engines; all of them smoke; engines and cars talk; command control is the thing and we get our information from 2 magazines AND the OGR Forum. A lot of people on this Forum also attend York, and OGR provides us the Grandstand summary of events (on the Forum if you cannot attend in person) and Thursday at Quaker State.
All these changes have enabled many of us (read the posts) to make friends from different geographic areas. IMO, OGR provides us with a lot that they don't get directly paid for, so I believe in supporting OGR because they provide me with benefits which I value.
As a member of the NJ Hi-Railers and a person who helped to organize this event, I would like to give a big shout out to Lionel, MTH, Atlas, METCA (TCA) and LOTS for providing speakers and the great raffle prizes they handed out. We truly appreciate their contributions.
Gerry
Was a fantastic day with lots of fun, train running, food, presentations and train conversation.
Here are more pictures of our speakers and guests.
Attachments
Images (14)
Arnold D. Cribari posted:T Minus 3 days and counting!
Hello Arnold, saw you at the event, wanted to stop anf chat as every time I got near you were quite busy. Maybe next time
Ron
RonH posted:Arnold D. Cribari posted:T Minus 3 days and counting!
Hello Arnold, saw you at the event, wanted to stop anf chat as every time I got near you were quite busy. Maybe next time
Ron
Looking forward to speaking to you too, Ron.
Everything was wonderful on Sunday, the trains, the food, the music, the people, but what I found most special was the people. Maybe the trains make us all joyful, interesting and fun to be around. Arnold
Never had a bad time visiting the New Jersey Hi-Railers. Every member is very welcoming and are the best hosts! When Vinnie is cooking, it's so good sometimes I forget about the trains!! I didn't win a raffle prize, but I did sample some of the delicious food and a few hot dogs!! Hot dogs and trains just go together!!
Happy Birthday to "O" Gauge Railroading Magazine. May they have continued success in the future!
And thank you, New Jersey Hi-Railers for hosting and providing another tremendous event!
One of the few times I actually did win a door prize, but I think almost anyone could have had one if they wanted it. They called out four or five numbers that weren't there before someone actually took one of the cars.
Hope you held on to your ticket, GRJ--I hear there's an audit pending!
