TRAINFEST 2005 Sneaking Up Fast

[kschmidt]

With the end of Daylight Savings Time this weekend thoughts turn to winter activities. One of them maybe checking out local train shows. One of the biggest is sneaking up fast and its held here in Milwaukee home of Kalmbach. TRAINFEST.

Trainfest boasts over 200,000 sq feet of displays, layouts and dealers. Sometimes some really good deals on model trains can be gotten at Trainfest. Also railroadiana is also available. Plus see operating layouts in every scale from G to Z.

Trainfest 2005 will be Saturday November 12th 9:00am to 5:30pm and Sunday November 13th 9:30am to 5:00pm at Wisconsin State Fair Park Exposition Building on the Wisconsin State Fair Park 84th Street and Greenfield Ave.

I will be there with my N-scale club the Milwaukee N Southeastern located in Cudahy, WI. Just wondering if any other members of the Forum planned on attending Trainfest.

With the addition of the MRIA (Model Railroad Industry Assoc - I think) there is alot to see.

Check out Trainfest 2005

Keith Schmidt

[ericmanke]

I'll be there on Saturday. Lookin to blow some time and cash.

Eric Manke

[Gluefinger]

I'll be working the CNWHS booth on the 12th

[Noah Hofrichter]

I'm thinking about going, but I'm not sure if I'll be there yet or not. If I do go, it'll be on the 12th. Problem is, I'm not sure if I will have a ride or not, and I'm not really sure if it is worth my time this year(I only want to see one or two vendors especially, and otherwise I really don't need to uselessly spend money, I've got enough projects on the workbench all ready).

Noah

[jwinter]

A bunch of us make it a tradition. We go to TrainFest, then on our way back home, we follow the CN line from DuPlainville to Fond du lac. Can't beat it. Take in some model railroads, check out the real railroads, and sprinkle in some BS along the way. It doesn't get any better than that.

[Anonymous]

Cant wait[:D][:D]

[jwinter]

After I posted our TrainFest tradition above, I read the thread about "If you are a railfan idiot?" With that in mind, I guess we qualify, or at least railfan nuts. But we don't care. We'll have fun anyways.

[kschmidt]

Sounds like a great tradition. I usually spend both days at Trainfest. Unfortunately end up spending too much money. Traditionally I start out the day with breakfast with friends near State Fair Park, used to be Mykinos but they closed. Last year went to Johnny V's Classic Cafe, good breakfast. Stop by the Milwaukee N Southeastern Model Railroad Club booth and say Hi.

Keith

[CG9602]

I'll be there that weekend. I've also made plans to take the train, too. Some 1:1 rail fanning combined with some smaller scale railfanning as well. :)

[ericmanke]

5 more days. I'll probably stop and see you Kschmidt. I just temporarily switched to N scale, and am possibly looking to join a club. I think the overall turnout will be very good this year, and if everyone only spends a fraction of what I am, the vendors should be happy.

Eric

[ericmanke]

12 Days to go, my bad. 5 more days until my B-day. I was getting ahead of myself.

Eric

[kschmidt]

Eric,

By all means stop and say Hi. Lets try and make that "temporary" switch to N-scale more permanent. The Milwaukee N Southeastern is the only N-scale club in the Milwaukee area with a permanent layout. I should be at or near the booth most of time both days.

I will also have to stop at the CNWHS booth on Nov 12th and say Hi to "Half of Kenosha's Teen Railfans". Maybe I will re-up my membership in the Historical society. Always been a big CNW fan.

Keith

[ericmanke]

I'll definately have to stop by. I have to stop by the CNWHS booth myself and see if I can con some back issues of the "Northwestern" out of some of these guys. This will be one of the few years where i actually have some dough to burn.

[dknelson]

Come on Noah H all your trains.com forum buddies are going to be there. Between the C&NWHS booth, the Milwaukee Road and Soo Line Historical Society booths, the WSOR booth if they have one this year again, the Kalmbach booth (our Janesville/Madison friend Kathi Kube??) and the Milwaukee N Southeastern layout you can talk and visit and not spend much money.
Dave Nelson

[Gluefinger]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kschmidt

I will also have to stop at the CNWHS booth on Nov 12th and say Hi to "Half of Kenosha's Teen Railfans". Maybe I will re-up my membership in the Historical society. Always been a big CNW fan.

Keith

Sounds good; just look for a loud Aloha shirt!

[kschmidt]

Chris,

I will look for the "loud Aloha" shirt at the CNWHS booth. Hopefully I will have some money left to pick-up a few things and maybe a membership.

Keith

[jwinter]

Let's make it a big get-together and meet at the Kalmbach booth at 11am on Saturday. Since they sponsor this forum, it would to the logical place to meet. For those working booths, perhaps you can sneak away for a few minutes. I'll be wearing a CNWHS hat. If anyone from Kalmbach reads this, perhaps you could hand out stickers saying "I'm a Trains forum participant" or something like that. It would be intersting to see how many of us are there. [#welcome] John

[Gluefinger]

Allright sounds good- I'll try to be at the Kalmbach booth at 11:00 as you planned.

[zardoz]

&*%$#!@&

I have to work 7am to 7pm both weekend days.

@$^%#@!*

[Anonymous]

Coming up from Central Illinois on saturday. Looking forward to meeting everyone. Kalmbach booth at 11:00am it is. Long live the Rock!!!!!!
Scott

[ericmanke]

Zardoz, What do you do for a living that makes you work from 7-7 on both weekend days?
Sorry you won't be able to make it, but I'll spend enough cash for the both of us.[dinner]

[kschmidt]

Sounds like a plan, 11am at the Kalmbach booth for the big meeting of the minds. Hopefully I will have bought absolutely nothing by that time.

Keith

[zardoz]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ericmanke

Zardoz, What do you do for a living that makes you work from 7-7 on both weekend days?
Sorry you won't be able to make it, but I'll spend enough cash for the both of us.[dinner]

I work as a truck dispatcher. The downside to those hours is that it messes up the weekend; the upside is that I get 40 hours pay for the 24 hours on duty (an incentive to work such poopy hours), plus that means I'm off work from 7pm Sunday until 7am Saturday (lots of time to watch trains and other fun stuff).

So actually, the hours are quite nice (for a semi-retired engineer).

Good luck on the spending!

[Anonymous]

Zardoz,
i feel your pain. I work 7 pm -7am running a printing press here in central illinois and i do that 4 to 5 days a week depending on the work load. Trains take the back seat alot.
Scott

[dknelson]

I'll be there at the Kalmbach booth at 11 am Saturday wearing either my Milwaukee Road denim shirt or my C&NW sweatshirt. (Pants also of course ;) I suppose someone should warn the Kalmbach folks so they don't call the police or something.

Some sad news; John Tews who runs and organizes Trainfest suffered the death of his mother the other day. Although John can be difficult to get to know you have to feel sorry for him; it is hard enough to lose a close relative and make all those arrangements and stuff and simultaneously try to put on a show for thousands of people.
Dave Nelson

[kschmidt]

Greetings,

Well we have a meeting time and place set up. Now we have to see if our Forum Moderator Erik Bergstrom can make a "cameo" appearance. Hopefully Erik will be working the Kalmbach booth sometime during Trainfest. I would be nice if it would be during our little impromptu Forum gathering. So Erik if you are watching 11am on Saturday at the Kalmbach booth.

Sad news about John Tews, my thoughts and condelences to his family. I know John puts alot of time into Trainfest, and it always turns out to be a great show.

Keith

[Bergie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kschmidt

Greetings,

Well we have a meeting time and place set up. Now we have to see if our Forum Moderator Erik Bergstrom can make a "cameo" appearance. Hopefully Erik will be working the Kalmbach booth sometime during Trainfest. I would be nice if it would be during our little impromptu Forum gathering. So Erik if you are watching 11am on Saturday at the Kalmbach booth.

Keith

Sounds like I have no choice but to be at the Kalmbach booth at 11:00am on Saturday! [:D]

Here's an idea... everyone get one of those "Hello, my name is" stickers (or something similar) and write "Trains.com forum member (your username here)" so we can all recognize each other. What do you think?

See you there. Keep your eyes out for good BN books for me at you walk the floor! (Like I need another BN book.)

Erik (Bergie)

[traintownofcowee]

Sounds Cool!
But unfortunatley I'm stuck here in North Carolina.
Won't be able to make it.
For all of you who are going, talk about it here after words. O.K.

C U ALL L8TER!!!
[:)][8D][:D][banghead][X-)][|(][{(-_-)}][(-D][swg][:)]

[Anonymous]

ITS TOMOROW!!!!!-YEA!!!!!![:D][:D][:p]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by traintownofcowee

Sounds Cool!
But unfortunatley I'm stuck here in North Carolina.
Won't be able to make it.
For all of you who are going, talk about it here after words. O.K.

C U ALL L8TER!!!
[:)][8D][:D][banghead][X-)][|(][{(-_-)}][(-D][swg][:)]

Sorry to hear that[B)]