Skip to main content

Thank you NJ Hi-Railers for a great Trainstock 10! It was my first visit and will not be my last. For those interested in our new product announcement and did not attend, reach out to me via email and I will forward the information on to you. Response to my product release questionnaire qualifies you for a drawing for either $25 or $50 off our products.

Paula and myself extend our sincerest thanks to the guys, girls of the NJ Hirailers club and all the nice guests who attended this great event. Was finally able to pick up the make a wish calendar.  Vinnie and the kitchen staff really outdid themselves this year.  The food was outstanding, Italian style but better than any restaurant around.  The organist played that large theater organ well and this added a unique touch.  NJ Hirailers show is now the only train event featuring live music. Maybe that's what York needs.

Last edited by Dennis LaGrua

To all the NJHR team and friends that make this event a success, Thanks once again.

Ben I was meaning to ask what spurred the addition of the New York City skyline.  Also having grown up between 204th street and 205th street in the Bronx I always love seeing that uptown "D" train sign hanging under the control tower.

As always we had a great time! My favorites are still the rotary coal dump and the FOOD!, kudos to Chef Vinnie and company. I liked the new enhancement, the organ music. We were playing "Name That Tune" and singing along all through eating the great food. It was like a rain delay at Yankee stadium. It was also great to see many of the greats from the OGR train board. Lastly, a bigTHANKS to Ben and the NJ Hi-Railers, What a great show!

Hi again, folks.

I forgot to mention in yesterday's posts how much Kathie and I enjoyed the organ music. It was a great enhancement to an already fantastic experience at the NJ Hi-Railers. The organist played a variety of music--railroad songs, patriotic songs, show tunes, popular music, you name it, he probably played it--all from memory (no sheet music). Amazing. I don't know if the organ will be a permanent fixture there but it was a treat at Trainstock.

Thanks again to the NJ Hi-Railers and the ladies in the kitchen and selling hats and calendars, too.

Chris

 

Attachments

Images (1)
  • 100_4785

Thank you everybody for the kind words.  We really enjoy having everybody  Its alot of hard work to prepare but the result is worth it.  Was great to see OGR members.  

FYI- The organist's name is Sy Mendel  He and his wife are professional musicians.  His wife was the woman selling chances and calendars.  She suffered a stroke last year and has been recovering since.  Her doctors asked her to think of something that she would work the hardest at to make her recovery bearable.  Her answer was to play the violin as she once did.  She played for us at one of our meetings and is awesome at it.  Maybe next year we can get her to duet with Sy.    Sy belongs to the GArden State Organ society.  The society recovered the organ from a theater that was being demolished but had nowhere to put it.  When I was asked if we had any use for it I told them to bring it down.  It worked for other train layouts like Northlandz and Roadside America why not us.

 

Here are a few pics I snapped with my phone

Alex is a true Brooklynite with the Nathans hat

IMG_0822

It was tough getting Bob to smile when he was wearing a Giants hat

IMG_0823

IMG_0824

People were having such a great time they started throwing chairs around

IMG_0825

IMG_0826

IMG_0827

IMG_0828

It was nice meeting a new friend

IMG_0829

Erica liked the Canoli's so much I had to give her a triple shot of straight canoli cream

IMG_0831

Attachments

Images (9)
  • IMG_0822
  • IMG_0823
  • IMG_0824
  • IMG_0825
  • IMG_0826
  • IMG_0827
  • IMG_0828
  • IMG_0829
  • IMG_0831
Last edited by bluelinec4
ogaugeguy posted:
bigtruckpete posted:

Wow! Looks like a lot of new improvements. 

Sorry I couldn't be there I was too busy sheltering from an "in bound ballistic missle". 

So, you're vacationing in Hawaii?

Unfortunately not vacation. My aunt and uncle live on Maui and I came because my uncle had a heart attack. He passed after I got here asap. Thankfully he was alert and we spent four hours visiting. Now I'm helping my aunt sort everything out. 

MIKATT1 posted:

As always we had a great time! My favorites are still the rotary coal dump and the FOOD!, kudos to Chef Vinnie and company. I liked the new enhancement, the organ music. We were playing "Name That Tune" and singing along all through eating the great food. It was like a rain delay at Yankee stadium. It was also great to see many of the greats from the OGR train board. Lastly, a bigTHANKS to Ben and the NJ Hi-Railers, What a great show!

Hey Dave, it was great playing with you at the coal tipple. And great talking to you.

Gerry

bluelinec4 posted:
bigtruckpete posted:

Wow! Looks like a lot of new improvements. 

Sorry I couldn't be there I was too busy sheltering from an "in bound ballistic missle". 

I couldn't even imagine how bad it must have been to get that alert.

Ben, It was horrible. I'm here and my wife and small kids are at home. Talk about crazy. Cell phones were jammed and you couldn't get a call in or out. Land lines did work so I got back to the house and made a quick call to my wife and then tried to find a suitable shelter. Your best bet here is just a brick or concrete building. 

Later in the day I had some business at the municipal complex and I chatted with a fireman for awhile as we shared our stories of the day. To give you an idea of lack of shelter from that kind a threat...all they did was shelter in place. The guys at the local car wash all jumped in the oil change pit!! Crazy day!

bluelinec4 posted:

Oh  Forgot to mention the raffle

Kevin Quinn  the current president of METCA division of the TCA won the Hogwarts Bluetooth Set

Eddie M from Connecticut won the Lionel 342 / 345 Culvert loader unloader

One of our Long Island friends won the R&H beer car

 

Way to go Kevin !!! I try to recruit people for METCA, they were from Maryland so you don;t get them, and here you get the Hogwarts set. Excellent.

Eddie, you left when I did and I didn't see you carrying out the Culvert set. And I know you were carrying stuff. If you didn't take the culvert set and are going to be at the Big E, I would be glad to bring it up for you. Just send me an e-mail.

YES, EAGLES !!!!!!!

Gerry

Last edited by gmorlitz
Greg Houser posted:

I had a great time yesterday, so a heartfelt thank-you to all the club members!  It was a thrill to run my new Y3 on your awesome layout - sorry it got lost in the yard..lol

Getting to see the Eagles eek out a playoff win afterwards was the icing on the cake.  Just getting up and about now..lol

-Greg

 

The case of the missing Y3 was pretty funny.  One misplaced switch and POOF  no more Y3   I was sort of hoping you gave up looking  I really like that engine  LOL

gmorlitz posted:
Eddie, you left when I did and I didn't see you carrying out the Culvert set. And I know you were carrying stuff. If you didn't take the culvert set and are going to be at the Big E, I would be glad to bring it up for you. Just send me an e-mail.

Gerry

Thanks Gerry... I was about 10 minutes away (in beautiful downtown Paterson enjoying the tropical outdoor temps) when Ben called me!  We turned around and came back to get the set.... then left for a second time!

Great day guys.. thanks again! Thanks for the prize too!

I brought a friend (another Ed) who came to visit us from Buffalo.  He was impressed!!!   We were sitting with Marty when I introduced him.  Marty said "Buffalo?" then proceeded to tell us about everything in Buffalo!  Ed (the other Ed) felt right at home... that's what makes OGR guys & gals ( and NJHR guys & gals) special!

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the Big E and York in the spring!

Ed (the OGR one)

Last edited by eddiem
Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

Looks like it was more than a great time. Wish I could have made it. Suppose I'll have to make plans to do so in the future and be informed(mainly need to pay attention). Someone hit me over the head next time to be sure I get there.

It was pretty much fun.  You can come anytime you want.  Just shoot me an email

Add Reply

Post

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×