Lincoln, Nebraska Forum October Fest Report

[CShaveRR]

Replying to myself:

Anyway, Willy, we were watching Channel 6, the NBC outlet in Omaha, Sunday morning.  Turns out that their weatherman, Mike Born, is a guy our older daughter went through school with--we watched him grow up!  If you ever wind up on TV, I hope you enunciate a little better than he does.  He also has the Nebraska pronunciation of Norfolk which drives Mookie, Pat, and me up a wall (I'm told there's a story behind the "Nor-fork" pronunciation, but it still grates).

Pat and I spent Sunday morning seeing some of the sights around Lincoln that we were interested in, including the Sunken Garden.  We got together with M/D and the Blysards for dinner, then went back to the train-watching spot.  It was almost totally dead!  We got to meet Craig, someone who visits the crossing a lot while M/D/M are there (that's Mookie, Driver, and Millie).  So, since nothing seemed to want to come by us, we joined everyone over at Mookie's house for cookies and drinks until bedtime.  I think Ed and Aimee left for home earlier than we did, and we have only gotten about halfway home.  But we got to Iowa City (near here) on the way out after having left in mid-afternoon, so we should have no problem doing our errands tomorrow (including Rochelle!) and getting home while it's still daylight.  We had no rain today, but we have our umbrellas and jackets with us for the birthday weather tomorrow.

Joe and Stacey, a belated happy anniversary wish from Pat and me.  Matt should be getting a postcard from everybody later this week.

Happy 16th, Willy!  I wish we could "gift" you with a trip to Chicago, but we'll let your parents decide when the time is good for all of you.

[blhanel]

I'm a little jealous of Brian's Avatar, so I'll use it to say hi to everyone. Obviously we aren't home yet, and won't be before tomorrow night. I had a promise to keep, and if I'm lucky we'll be able to squeeze in a trip to Rochelle as well.  Then we'll go home via Illinois 38 (which was the Lincoln Highway for a lot of the way).

I am more impressed with the spot my sister uses than I was the first time we visited it--the action was nonstop, and I saw a lot of cars that I'd never see around home.  She and Driver were most hospitable to everyone who was there--Brian didn't even need the tin shoes (Pat and I had seen some ceramic boots somewhere that made us think of him).  Ed and Aimee are very delightful people, and I'm glad to have made their acquaintance.  Of course, I'd met Brian, Charlie, and Colorado Pat before.  It was also a real pleasure to meet Willy and his parents (Willy's everything you said he was, SJ!).

Well, supper's here, courtesy of Hanels--will write more later.  Have I got a tale for you, Willy!

Carl (not Brian)

[blhanel]

Wish you could've been there, Chris.  I really enjoyed talking to MC and Ed, and learning a few things about the condition of the track where we were watching the action.  BNSF is going to have some serious problems there if they don't do some maintenance.

[CopCarSS]

Wow! Looks like you guys had a great time. Sorry I couldn't join you. Did get to participate in a mini-meeting though. Caught up with Chad and his dad up in Cheyenne. Alas! the weather was a little less than spectacular for taking pictures (but I never let that stop me!). Should have some shots up this afternoon or tomorrow at the latest.

[Modelcar]

....Brian {Ia}:

Just made a copy of your posted group photo and wrote the names on it.  Came out very good.  Sounds like all had a good time and I suppose Ed and company will make it back down to the "swamp" as he calls it sometime today.  Looking on my atlas it looks like Ed had roughly 800 mi. of running his hot rod each way.

[blhanel]

Congrats, ericsp, and thanks!  I did manage to solve my problem using another method, but I'll remember that for next time...

[ericsp]

BTW, does anyone know the exact syntax for substituting another word for a link so that I can fix my previous post?

Replace xyz with url.

[xyz="link address"]Whatever text you want[/xyz]

I see this is my 3,000th post. I still have a few thousand more posts until I make it to SP's SD40T-2s' number series.

[blhanel]

....Brian {Ia}:

A bit of trivia....You mention of rt. 30...That national highway passed through my little home town in Pennsylvania {Stoystown}....as main st. until 1937 when it was bypassed around ouside of town to eliminate several nasty curves a one lane bridge and some other features that needed attention.

Yep, US-30 is my favorite route through this state, as it closely parallels the UP Transcon in alot of places.  I'm still planning on posting a few more pics or links, but don't think I'll get it done tonight- had other things get in the way here.  BTW, does anyone know the exact syntax for substituting another word for a link so that I can fix my previous post?  I'd also like to know how to save the exact Mapquest map scale I was looking at when I copied that link...

[Modelcar]

....Brian {Ia}:

A bit of trivia....You mention of rt. 30...That national highway passed through my little home town in Pennsylvania {Stoystown}....as main st. until 1937 when it was bypassed around ouside of town to eliminate several nasty curves a one lane bridge and some other features that needed attention.

[Modelcar]

.....Brian {Ia}:

Thanks for posting the group photo....I have just now had a look at it and have not seen any others if there are some following....

 

[blhanel]

Mookie's spot is dead center, across the tracks from intersection of J St. and S. 1st St.

[Willy2]

Very nice pictures and report Willy,sounds like everyone had an enjoyable time.

Now,would somebody kindly "identify" ALL the "culprits" on the "Most Wanted Poster"?!!
(some are recognizable,some are not!!)

Front Row: Carl Shaver and Ed Blysard

Middle Row: From left to right: My mom, me, Carl's wife and Ed's wife.

Back Row: Mudchicken, The Driver, Brian, my dad and Mudchicken's wife.

Picture Taker: Mookie

[Willy2]

Looks like ya guys had alot of fun. Where exactly is "Mookie's Spot?" That looks good; so maybe I'll take a look at it next time I'm in the Lincoln area for railfanning.

It's at 1st and J. It is kind of tough to find so I would suggest a Mapquest before trying to find it.

[locomutt]

Very nice pictures and report Willy,sounds like everyone had an enjoyable time.

Now,would somebody kindly "identify" ALL the "culprits" on the "Most Wanted Poster"?!!
(some are recognizable,some are not!!)

[DrummingTrainfan]

Looks like ya guys had alot of fun. Where exactly is "Mookie's Spot?" That looks good; so maybe I'll take a look at it next time I'm in the Lincoln area for railfanning.

[cherokee woman]

So glad everyone had a great time, Willy!  That's a very nice picture of everyone!
And your other  pictures are really good shots. 

[Anonymous]

Very nice Photos. Glad everyone had lots of fun.

[JoeKoh]

thanks for the report and the picture.we saw a few trains of all sizes saturday.hope everyone makes it home safely.

stay safe

Joe

[blhanel]

I'll post some of my other shots garnered there as well as on the way (followed US-30 across Iowa going west, and got a few "snapshots" of UP action) when I get the time tomorrow- right now I'm alittle tired after all that driving.  But it was worth the trip!

[Willy2]

I didn't post the group photo that I had on my camera because for some reason I'm not even smiling. I don't know what exactly was wrong with me in that pic, but the one Brian posted is much better.

I also forgot to wish Pat Shaver and Aimee Blysard a happy birthday in my first post. Happy birthday, ladies! They share an October 10th birthday with me.

[blhanel]

I'll take care of that...



I enjoyed the gathering immensely as well.  And, since Mookie did the picture-taking for this shot, I think I escaped without a scratch!

[Modelcar]

....Willie2:

Good report....glad everyone made it to the destination safely and that everyone had a good time with the visit.

Wish you would have included a photo of your gang assembled.

[Willy2]

Today was really a neat day in every aspect. The folks who came to Lincoln were: Carl Shaver (CShaveRR) and his wife, Charlie (Mudchicken) and his wife, Ed Blysard and his wife, Brian (blhanel) and of course Mookie and the Driver. They all are the nicest people I have ever met.

 Ed gave me a whole bunch of cool stuff like old Southern Pacific timetables, railroad safety guides, safety cards, a pair of BNSF gloves and a railroad lantern. Mookie had BNSF mugs to hand out, Carl brought 2007 UP calendars and Brian brought everyone an enlarged copy of his avatar which has to be the best photo I've ever seen.

After eating lunch we all went to Mookie's train watching spot and saw 16 trains in two and a half hours. Some of the track in that area is in really bad condition and I think a derailment is probably in the future. Here are a couple of photos I took.

This last one is my favorite.

It was really an honor to meet everyone and I hope we can do this again sometime in the future!