QUOTE: Originally posted by cwclark but the cause of the unfriendliness is the layout itself....some of the guys on the throttles where so busy trying their best to keep up with the trains running that they really didn't have time to sit and chat with the guests...you know how that is...walk away from the train and a disaster is in the making....I found this so true ..the guys running the trains were really trying to keep up with them that the slightest distraction would be the makings of a derailment or a car separating from the train...can't really blame them there....chuck
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
QUOTE: Originally posted by Paul3 I'm a 12-year veteran of my club and 30 years old, and in our collective defense, for every "grumpy old member", there is an irresponsible visitor (or two) in their history. I've seen some pretty weird things done at my club by visitors: 1) A new brass SP Daylight (at least $500) by Key Imports was having a little trouble leaving the yard with a new train (wheels spinning, etc.). A "helpful" older visitor decided to increase the loco's traction by pressing down on the boiler with his finger, effectively pinning it to the track. I mean, he pressed so hard the wheels stopped turning, for pete's sake. 2) A young (under 10) visitor knocked over a brass electric ($700) that was parked in a yard onto the next track. That's ok, kids want to touch, and we understand when it happens. What was kinda crazy was the reaction afterwards. The father of the kid was right there, and he immediately grabbed the loco (wince), set if quickly upright (but not on the rail), grabbed the kid, and disappeared into the crowd. Of course, this was my engine it happened to, and I was watching the whole thing from our dispatcher's viewpoint. Let me tell you, my heart was in my throat until I saw that no damage had been done. [:)] 3) But what is much more unbelieveable is when the kids are touching things right under the noses of their parents or grandparents, and the adults say nothing (or even encourage them!). Ripping out trees, derailing cars and locos, etc. 4) At our old club location, we had low ceilings. And yet, every year, some father would hoist their kid on their shoulders and run their little noggins into a light fixture. Sigh. 5) But my favorite visitor story of all time was actually not during an Open House. We were at the club during a pretty nice day, so we had the doors open. We're in a park, so there are a lot of joggers and dogwalkers around. Well, there was only a couple of us in the building, all at one end. I had to go fetch something or other from the far end where our lockers are, and I see this 10-12 year old girl leaving the building out one of the open doors. I found this rather strange (most people who walk in say "Hello" or something, or at least introduce themselves). She obviously wasn't stealing anything, so I thought nothing of it...until I got into our locker room/model shop. There was a puddle (not a pile, thank goodness) of you-know-what in the corner of the room! She had obviously come in looking for a bathroom (which we do have), and couldn't find it (it's at the far end where we were). So she decided to relieve herself on the concrete floor, instead of going around the back of the building, into the woods, anyplace but in the middle of a concrete floor. Paul A. Cutler III ***************** Weather Or No Go New Haven *****************
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
QUOTE: Originally posted by rolleiman at least the couple I've visited, are good ole boy networks and there has to be a death to create an opening.. Probably not that extreeme but it's the impression I got.. Jeff
Take a Ride on the Reading with the: Reading Company Technical & Historical Society http://www.readingrailroad.org/