Trainstock 14 at the NJ HiRailers 1/14/2023

OOOOO. K.   Let's see some more photos of the day's events and maybe a video or two of the trains.  Sorry I couldn't make it.

My son and I had a fantastic time.  The layout is mind boggling, the club members were super hospitable and, combined with the great food, it was a wonderful event.  My son even got to run his MTH 42 Genesis.  Thank you to the club for a wonderful day - no doubt a lot of work goes into it and it is much appreciated.  And we got to talk to so many nice people.  What a great day.

Here are a few

A few more

Thank you Highrailers for a great time as always!!! You are great ambassadors in this hobby!!!

Don. Sorry I missed you this year.

@DMASSO posted:

Don. Sorry I missed you this year.

See you at Springfield??

Yes.

I enjoyed this show immensely.I had a great time seeing everyone and enjoyed the additions added to the layout and the wonderful food provided by NJ HiRailers.It was a fun time for sure.

I want to say thank you to the NJ HiRailers. My son and I had a great time. It was our first time here. He was so excited to see all of the trains and layout. Everyone was so nice to us, and really made my son feel special. The layout was unbelievable. The food was excellent (We where one of the last in line and there was so much food still). Trains where great. Amazing people.

The topper was when we were ready to leave around 2:45, and I wanted to get my son a little something for our set. I wanted to pick up a nice box car or something small. We saw a nice flat car with trailer that a NJ HiRailer named Vinny was selling. I saw Vinny walking towards us and said my son is interested in this car here. Vinny took the tag off. Handed it to my son and said here you go. I went to give him money and he said. Take it, it's free. Wow!!! You couldn't of made my son any happier. Thank you so much. We got home he told mommy all about it with such a big smile on his face and put it on our layout for a spin.

Honestly couldn't asked for a better day!

Thank you all

Kevin and Everett

@kkrankall posted:

Kevin

That guys name is Vinny   He has a heart of gold  This picture of Everett says it all  Look at that smile

@bluelinec4 posted:

Kevin

That guys name is Vinny   He has a heart of gold  This picture of Everett says it all  Look at that smile

Thank you. Fixed. Amazing person.

Thank you for a great event.

@bluelinec4 posted:

A few more

Thanks for posting these, Ben! Saves me the trouble! Thanks for the in depth tour today. Joni and I greatly appreciated it, and to finally see this great club is an honor.
Thanks to all of the HiRailers who made this possible.  One can only imagine all the work necessary to pull off a party like this.
Special thanks to the Father and Son (I misssed their names but they are from North Jersey) who helped me pull the air shield off from under my car. It was hanging in the street and I couldn't reach the center screw to remove it, Young lad was small enough to scoot under my SUV and pull the last screw out so we could drive the three hours home safely. I owe these two, and if you read this, Stop by my tables at York, Silver hall B11-12 at the center aisle.   

I haven’t been there since 2018 but I can say they always do a great job. The food is always great but the layout is impressive and always changing. Thanks to the NJ Highrailers for what you do

Great time at Trainstock as always. Great camaraderie between the hirailers and all the other clubs.

364 Days and counting until Trainstock 2024

@CurtisH posted:

Yep I left at 11:50. IF an announcement was made I NEVER HEARD IT! As for the food OK I get it but my wife and I stood at the window for a while and NO ONE SAID ANYTHING! Also there was salad and pasta salad out along with a couple dirty foil pans. This left the impression we were too late. With all the NJ Hi Railers gathered at the food end you would think someone would have said it wasn't served till 12:30 or 1 o'clock. JUST SAYING!!! Like I said the layout was fantastic but just for a minute think about what I said.

You posted an event.  A great event too! SO people come. Nothing is said about food being delivered till 12:30 or later. If it was it was never heard. Hmm my suggestion either post it or say it when you are handed the meal ticket. JUST A SUGGESTION. I want people to walk away impressed. I am TRYING to help not condemn. I am reporting things that I saw and experienced. Why would you want 20 (actually way more) blocking access? Especially on a ramp. I have wanted to see this layout for years. When someone came by me I either backed up or at least acknowledged them by saying "let me take this picture and I will move".  NOTHING by most. Oh the one group said just kick them. Yea right I can see where that would have got me. Out on River road in a pothole!

If I was a member the one thing I would want was feedback on an outsiders experience. Not a club members, but an outsider or first timer. I am NOT trying to start and argument or saying the layout is anything but fabulous. Personally I would have loved to talk to someone about how is it wired? How long some things took, Maximum trains running. Membership Etc.. I would have made sure someone was asking " Any questions?".

I get what you are saying but you also need to hear what I am saying. I am trying to help not condemn. When someone throws up defenses first it implies to me they don't need me or my friends. Questions are usually the best answer for something that is said that I do not either agree with or understand why they said it.

I'm sorry you didn't enjoy your visit.  You're 2 of 100 I think who didn't have a great time. I personally made several announcements about food being out and lunch being later.  If you didn't understand it or hear it there were over 30 club members with club shirts and name tags on who would have been happy to answer any questions. Not to mention the great folks working the kitchen (and the esteemed Chef Vinny.) I intentionally don't run a train so I can mingle and I must have spoken to half the folks and to a person they expressed what a great time they were having and what a great crowd it was.  I'm also sorry there were other people in attendence who were enjoying themselves. I'll be sure to let everyone know next year to clear the way!

I have to add a few comments about the NJ HiRailers. These guys promote the hobby 1000% of the time. There is no other club/layout in the US except for Cornerfield in Ohio that has a place its size. It is plain HUGE with members that really go out of their way to promote their club, their layout, and our hobby.
I am president of OCSMR in Lakewood which is the brother/sister club with them and we are much smaller in size but we do exactly the same mission!
Chris, Ben, John, Vinny, Alex, Merrill, Erol, to name a few, these guys are top notch. If you have a negative comment about them and their club, look in the mirror. The NJ Hirailers put on open houses many times a year plus host the yearly Trainstock now at 15 years and counting. They really promote the hobby. And Vinny’s cooking tops it all!

In closing, I missed it today as my wife came down with a nasty cold. I’ll be up on a Wednesday to see all the changes from the prior year.
Thank you NJ Hirailers for another successful event, my fellow members were there today.

@bluelinec4 posted:

Curtis   Sorry people werent jumping out of your way .  There were alot of people there and it doesnt seem like a big deal to say excuse me.

if you drove 3 hours to get there by 11 why leave at 1200   I dont get it   Announcements were made 3 times that the food would be available at 12:30  Send me your address I'll return your giant admission fee

I lost my voice from talking to people about the layout  You should have asked

@CurtisH posted:

You fail to see my point. I was not dis satisfied with the layout. I really was not unhappy about having to say excuse me. But stop and think what I am saying. You have a beautiful layout. You are trying to Promote it and the hobby. For first timers seeing the layout is fantastic. But when you have people standing in the same spot for over twenty minutes blocking access it speaks volumes. If they were discussing something on the layout that is different but talking about what they or someone else collects or build or does? Really? When I have conversations like that I MOVE out of the way! In today's society it seems people only seem concerned about themselves. We have lost our manners! If I have to constantly keep asking for people to move who are NOT looking at the layout it is not worth me trying to enjoy it. Hence why we left! NOW YOU GET IT! It turned me off and it turned me off asking about associate membership. Is that what you want? If so you got it. As for returning my GIANT admission fee. I NEVER asked for it. Way to go push me further away! I am so impressed. A club is suppose to be welcoming and helping to promote themselves and the hobby. I get it bluelinec4, You don't care. Okay sorry I said anything at all. I am not trying to throw people under a bus but trying to be helpful. Sorry if I offended anyone!

Unfortunately I missed this year's gathering as I had to attend a funeral in the Bronx. But I feel compelled to say that the NJ HiRailers for many years have been the number one good will ambassadors and promoters of our hobby. 99.999% of the folks attending appreciate the hard work and the time spent by the members putting on such a huge event. It is a social event and most people attending look forward to seeing and talking to one another as much as they are there to see the layout. And in my opinion that's a great thing.

I sincerely hope the opinion of the 0.001% in no way diminishes the enjoyment and satisfaction that the membership derives from putting on this great event.  

Skip,

That means you and me, 2 other ambassadors missed it today. Read my post just before yours.
Take care my friend and see you at the next show, Ted

Sighhh. I need to move back East or get my own jet plane or something. I truly miss this event and any visit to the NJ HiRailers. Lynley and I attended the first ten Trainstock events before we moved west. The layout is great, the food is great, but the hospitality and having the chance to hang out with a great bunch of guys and gals is priceless.

I couldn't make it to Trainstock today to see the amazing New Jersey Hirailers layout, but I've been there before, several times, over the past several years.

I regard this layout as a wonder of the world, and from the photos posted here, it appears to be getting better and better. Arnold

@Greg Houser, belated thanks for the comprehensive reply to my question about passenger trains running during Trainstock.  Regretfully I was unable to attend.  However, the wheels are turning to get a bus for our train club members to visit next time.

Based on some of the comments above, it appears that model train people include some very needy folks.

Over the years, I have been fortunate to have attended 3 TrainStocks. All have been memorable because the NJHRs hospitality is unparalleled!

Hope to attend in 2024!

Peter

Although I did advise Vinny that Don and I weren't able to attend, I wanted to express thanks to all of the NJ Hirailers for holding this event every year.  It's always a great kickoff to another year of "training" !  Disappointed that sometimes the details just get in the way...

Looks like a great day was enjoyed by all!  The NJHR layouts are always a treat to see, and every year there are new scenes and details to find, and old friends to catch up with!  Thanks guys!

I also noticed a new website for NJHR.  I don't know if that's been mentioned, but it's worth a visit!  New modern look and lots of great pictures.  I'm not sure who works on that, but they have done lots of work upgrading.  At our club (bmrailways.com), we added 24/7 webcams after seeing how they well they worked at NJHR (and thanks to a state grant).  Hoping they'll be back at the new NJHR website!

FWIW, if i drove 3 hours to see visit i would have wanted to take it all in.  Just a single lap is at least an hour, then there is the std gauge layout and the other room.  Wiring?  Take a walk up to the large overlook, the control panel rivals the starship enterprise.  Every time i have visited I've spent several hours.  It was a gathering, people talk, reconnect, meet new folks, its called working the room.  Want to know something, ask.  Its really hard to go un noticed at that club but like any social event it's a give and take situation. That being said there is a standard rule i have learned, praise on public, criticize in private.  This club welcomes feedback but a public forum seems like the wrong place for it.  Afterall the forum isnt facebook or twitter.

Thanks for the photos.  A remarkable layout and remarkable people.  Congratulations to all.

@necrails posted:

FWIW, if i drove 3 hours to see visit i would have wanted to take it all in.  Just a single lap is at least an hour, then there is the std gauge layout and the other room.  Wiring?  Take a walk up to the large overlook, the control panel rivals the starship enterprise.  Every time i have visited I've spent several hours.  It was a gathering, people talk, reconnect, meet new folks, its called working the room.  Want to know something, ask.  Its really hard to go un noticed at that club but like any social event it's a give and take situation. That being said there is a standard rule i have learned, praise on public, criticize in private.  This club welcomes feedback but a public forum seems like the wrong place for it.  Afterall the forum isnt facebook or twitter.

WELL SAID !!!!!

Here are the dirty trays

Baked Ziti      Sausage and Peppers       Spanish Rice

Eggplant Parmigiana          Chicken Marsala          Shells with Broccoli

And the backups   

All I can add is that there are always going to be some people who aren't happy. When you are trying to provide food and service to this large a number of people, things can't be perfect. So it is made up for by people who go out of there way to make up for it. The NJHR club has always done that.

I can't help but think that there are people who hog the spotlight or the space they are in. It's just human nature. There are others who have to orbit around them trying to get a piece of something they are after. It's like driving on the freeway. Every driver feels they are doing it right. Yet everyone can tell stories of how it wasn't a good time.

I thank the club for being great ambassadors of this hobby. They try and put on a train show and feed and entertain masses of people. I struggle to run a couple of trains in the basement sometimes and I am amazed at what they pull off. We had a party of 40 people once, that I had to work my butt off to satisfy.

I'll miss the members that have passed on, that went out of their way to help my when I visited. It wasn't perfect, but they tried so hard, it impressed the heck out of me. May God bless this club. Protect them and guide them.

The missing food? Where was the food? Only a little salad.
Vinny and crew always satisfies 99.999% appetite.
And I missed the food for not attending.

I had time to reflect on this.

I can guarantee there were some that left Woodstock early!

They then complained to everyone that would listen (no internet in 1969) about the rain and mud and Couldn't get to use the limited Porta-Potties.

A perfect day, with perfect people, perfect trains, and perfect food. You cannot have a better time in the train hobby. I have been involved with trains for 71 years and there is no better way to enjoy trains than with these people. Thanks you, Ben, Vinnie, Dina, Louise, Alex and all the great folks at the HiRailers.

It looks like you all had a great time yesterday. One of these days I'll get back there again and attend my first Trainstock. I sort of forgot about the dates which is my fault and the fact I got sick this weekend. Ain't nothing worse than having a cold you can't shack, and keeping your behind home so you don't spread it.

My only visit to the HiRailers was at the OGR 50th Anniversary, and it was a fantastic visit. Being introduced to the HiRailers a little more formally than seeing name tags at York was a great experience. The club was very welcoming and the hospitality of everyone there during my only visit was first class.

Anyone of the HiRailers I talked with made me feel like I was among very great friends. Ben showed me how the layout works, everything involved in the controls and talked about some of the changes they had been working on or upcoming. Chris made everyone feel welcome as well as all the other members I interacted with.

To make people feel like they are at home, one of the fellows(or ladies) is definitely their goal. Anything short of that is something that is definitely not lacking at the HiRailers. I wish I could have made it, next time I think I'll write the date on my forehead so I see it in the mirror.

We miss Vinnie’s stuffed peppers!!!

To all the NJHR folks,

I finally retrieved the photos from the camera, so here's a sampling, primarily some of items that are new since last April for the COVID-delayed Trainstock 13, especially the craftsman buildings. Kathie and I, as always, had a marvelous day at Trainstock. I believe it's our 12th time (we missed the first couple). We look forward to it each year after the holidays and midway between the two York meets. The club members couldn't have been more cordial and welcoming--what great ambassadors of the hobby! We even got a tour of upstairs from Norbert--I hope I spelled that right--who pointed out many things about the layout we hadn't known beforehand, despite our many visits; you really get a different perspective on the layout from up there! The food was terrific and Vinny and all his kitchen helpers did their customary great job. And the organist playing while we're there adds a lot to the ambience, too.

Thank you to all the NJ Hi-Railers members for another fabulous day of trains, food and great people.

Chris (and Kathie, too)

Chris R, thanks for posting the new stuff.  I had seen some of those structures, like Raritan Valley Coal Co., in earlier pics and was going to ask if they were new or just some thing I had missed in the past.

Would ya get a load of these guys! No one nicer.  Where's that apron?

Poconotrain, my last Trainstock was 2019 when I traded the sandy southern shore of Lawn Guy Land for sunny shores of the Grand Strand.  We should make a run to Trainstock some time.

I had a great time!

I'd like to thank the NJHR for having us! Had a great time, and your layout is fantastic! Some of the pics I took are attached. It was my first time there, so I have no idea what's new and what's old. Loved the bridge being painted, and the emergency exit/phone light in the subway (wonder how many folks spot that)? Didn't get a pic of it, but seeing it there was great! Where'd you guys find O-scale PATH trains?

Oh, and the food was great (and plentiful), as I pointed out earlier to your lone nay-sayer...

Magicland, those are great pictures. Glad you got to Trainstock and enjoyed it. How were you able to get close enough to the layout to take the pictures?

Gerry

Sorry I wasn’t able to make it to Trainstock this year. NJ Hi-Railers are the best & the layout is awesome. If you ever have a question on how something was done on the layout the members will go out their way to explain in detail how it was done.

Keep up the great work guys.😀