First York forum gathering???

That's me......I think I brought donuts.......

Peter

Think I missed that one; attended second or third where a couple dozen folks descended upon Old County Buffet. 

Did I read that article correctly?   April York temperature in the 90s!!!!!!!!!!

Yup....it was brutal in the old Yellow Hall. I went to WalMart and bought shorts!

Peter

The old yellow hall was like a sauna, one meet to remember.

Rich's hair isn't as gray.  Must have been before he started moderating the forum.

LOL!

Marty, I don't care what color it is, as long as it's still there! So far, so good. 

I remember the Old Country Buffet gathering.  Jean & I decided after one time that the food was so bad that if the Forum gathering was held there we were not going to attend.  Maybe lots of other folks felt that way because it was quickly moved to Friday's where we took over the bar for a few sessions before outgrowing that area and being moved to the rear section.

I recall a picture that Peter posted on what I thought he described as the first forum gathering.  But..... he may have said the first grandstand forum gathering because that's where the picture was taken.

Couldn't have been more than 20 or so in the shot.

Was that the same year as the one above or was the grandstand the next York after the picture shown above?

- walt

Walt......I'll put that one up when I get home later..........a long time ago! 

Peter

The first "official" forum gathering was held in the grandstand.  I have a copy of the group photo around here somewhere, but can't seem to locate it.  There was a relatively small group at that first meeting.

April of 2002 was the first time I ever attended York and had an absolutely great time.  Turned out to be a tad expensive but it was worth every penny I spent.  I was in the cornucopia of the train world for the very first time and it was impossible not to spend.  I lost a few pounds as well due to the sauna like conditions and all of the walking I did.  You never quite know what kind of weather you will get in April.  I have not been to an October York yet because I'm always up in the West Virgina mountains at that time enjoying the magnificent Autumn foliage while hiking, hunting and trout fishing.  Can't have too many hobbies.

Allan Miller can attest to the first AOL gathering at Yortk in front of the Lionel tent back 1997 or 1998. And then afterwards we did 5 gatherings under the "now gone" carport that was between the grandstand and the Utz arena.

Those were the good ole York days. Still are as a matter of fact.

Truly some of the best memories I have of York.  Never was there a more contentious bunch of train nuts than the AOL Train Gang, and never was there a more congenial and fun gathering of those very same guys.  Those WERE the days!  

Man those AOL boards were riotous !

What great arguments we had.

Scrappy

Yes, Sharebear, it was a riot with Jim Dietor and Neil Blumberg!

Ah, yes, the good Dr. Neil!  My arch nemesis on AOL back in the day!  He's still going strong on another forum.  Still dislikes anything to do with MTH and unfailingly waves the banner high for Lionel.  Always a fun read because the fellow is as literate as anyone I've ever seen on a train forum, even if he does go a good bit overboard with his analogies.

He'll be reading this, I'm quite sure.  Hi, Doc!