DC Area modelers - club interest?

[MidlandPacific]

I've noticed a lot of DC-area modelers on this forum, and I've been wondering whether there was (or is) any interest in a club. I know there's one that operates in Vienna, but beyond that, I don't know of any DC-area club that isn't modular. Is anyone out there interested in the possibility of forming a club to construct a good-sized model railroad?

[mecovey]

I hope somebody responds to your question - I'm going to be in the Baltimore/DC area the end of May and wondered if there are any MMRR clubs in DC to visit. I'm planning to go to the Baltimore Society of Model Engineers and the Sverna Park club. Any others I should check out?

[MidlandPacific]

No interest so far, unfortunately - but there's a great club layout in Vienna, VA that's worth seeing (you can follow the link below to the MER NMRA website).

http://home.comcast.net/~Potomac_NMRA/

[Adelie]

It's very tempting to jump in and say I'm interested. Then reality sets in. Unfortunately, between working and commuting 12+ hours a day, doing yardwork (not the kind with the switcher), being a general mule around the house and working on my own empire, I just don't see myself having the time. Probably the best I could come up with is a weekend day a month or a weeknight every month, and even that is dicey. Then throw in the fact that everybody in the DC area is very spread out geographically and it makes the logistics tough to work out.

It's just not something I feel like I can commit to right now. I suspect there are others out here in the area that have the same dilemma. Hope it works out, though, and I'll keep my eye on this thread.

[IRONROOSTER]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Adelie

It's very tempting to jump in and say I'm interested. Then reality sets in. Unfortunately, between working and commuting 12+ hours a day, doing yardwork (not the kind with the switcher), being a general mule around the house and working on my own empire, I just don't see myself having the time. Probably the best I could come up with is a weekend day a month or a weeknight every month, and even that is dicey. Then throw in the fact that everybody in the DC area is very spread out geographically and it makes the logistics tough to work out.

It's just not something I feel like I can commit to right now. I suspect there are others out here in the area that have the same dilemma. Hope it works out, though, and I'll keep my eye on this thread.

[#ditto]
Good Luck
Paul

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mecovey

I hope somebody responds to your question - I'm going to be in the Baltimore/DC area the end of May and wondered if there are any MMRR clubs in DC to visit. I'm planning to go to the Baltimore Society of Model Engineers and the Sverna Park club. Any others I should check out?

Be sure and go to the B & O museum in Baltimore - it is great

Bob

[mecovey]

Hi Bob,
Being a die hard Beano fan, the museum is the first place we're going. I saw the ad in (I think) MR about the grand re-opening and I mentioned casually to my wife that it would be neat to go. She readily agreed and booked the trip. What a deal...What a wife!

We're also planning to go through Altoona on the way (I live in Illinois) and see the museum there. We haven't been to the curve in about 15 years so we're looking forward to that too. Any hints on getting the most at Altoona?

[Anonymous]

Since I'm from TEXAS I have never been to Altoona, but it should be nice. I got to Baltimore one week before the grand openning and that "woman" wouldn't let me in no matter how hard I cried. I just hung on the fence and took pictures. There's an outside braced box car in the back lot that I'd sure liked to have gotten close to. I sure did a lot of heavy breathing on all of the windows that I could see through.

How about e-mailing me so we don't use forum space for personal communication.

[e-mail]

Have a good day
Bob

[Adelie]

Haven't been to Altoona in about 4 or 5 years (not since 9/11). I used to like climbing up on the ledges around Horseshoe Curve and sitting there with the camera watching Conrail trains go by. Doing that now might get one escorted away in custody and sent to Gitmo.

The "new" museum up there was pretty well done. I don't suspect Norfolk Southern has done anything to increase traffic around the curve (probably the opposite), so that might not be what it once was. The Brickyard was a good place to hang around, too. There are a couple of overpasses in Altoona that were pretty decent vantage points.

While you are there, be sure to go to Gallitzin and Cresson. You can watch westbounds emerge from the tunnels in Gallitzin, there is a street that crosses over the tracks immediately after they emerge (can't miss it, it is one of few steets in Gallitzin). All these places are within a few minutes drive of Altoona.

[mecovey]

Gallitzin is west of Altoona ? What's the best way to get there?

[Adelie]

Gallitzin is west of Altoona. The most direct route to it from Altoona is west on Rt. 22, probably one exit. Cresson is one or two more exits west on 22. Actually, 53 connects Cresson and Gallitzin, as well. From Altoona to Cresson is probably only 15 miles total.

The Railroaders Museum is sort of in the middle of Altoona, across the old PRR yards from downtown.

The other place you could go, if you have the time, is to Strasburg, which is just east of Lancaster. A little out of the way if you are heading to Baltimore. They have the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. Lancaster is probably 25 or so miles east of York, and Strasburg is about 10 or so miles southeast of Lancaster. You'd wind up north and slightly east of Baltimore. Strasburg also runs a steam train excursion a little ways into Amish country. You could easily do the museum and the steam train and make it down to Baltimore in a day, at a leisurely pace.