Neil Young at York

I saw Neil a number of times at York. He was in the Grandstand building (I think it was called "Yellow Hall" at the time), doing demonstrations in a tent outside of it and walking around. He had at least one of his disabled sons with him at least one time. He was very friendly and approachable. He also had his old tour bus there.

A surprise "meeting" was in the restroom near the first aid station.

He had a plane flying over the Fairgrounds towing a "Long Live Lionel" banner.

Great post.  I am glad others saw and talked with him at York.  He really likes his trains!.

I was on line for a sausage sandwich outside the Brown hall and noticed this guy in front of me in line that looked familiar It was Neil Young   Talked some trains until our sandwiches were ready

We got a visit from Neil to the club when Legacy was first introduced that same year

@bluelinec4 posted:

I was on line for a sausage sandwich outside the Brown hall and noticed this guy in front of me in line that looked familiar   Talked some trains until our sandwiches were ready

We got a visit from Neal to the club when Legacy was first introduced that same year

"Neal" Young?

The old Grandstand building was great.  A bunch of food stands selling trains.  We only had tables in there once or twice.

I love his moving song about the old man, but forget the exact title.

Down by the River was an early big hit, and I liked the music, but not so much the lyrics, when he says "I shot my baby," or words to that effect. Maybe Neil simply had empathy for the tragic fictional characters, both shooter and victim (I hope they are fictional),  in the song. I remind myself when hearing such songs that songwriters have vivid imaginations, and can be empathetic in almost every imaginable situation.

More importantly, Neil is a creative genius in music, trains and probably other things. As I've mentioned several times before on this Forum, IMO what Neil has done with trains, his son and himself represents the highest and best use of model trains.

I would love to meet him.

Arnold

I just Googled Old Man by Neil Young, and that is the exact title of the song.

Google took me to a YouTube video of the young Neil Young, in the height of his powers, doing a live performance of the song. It blew me away!

Arnold

Well we started with stories of Neil at York,  My wife has seen CSN&Y three times.  Let's here more stories from York.

I met him at York a few times. I just said hello and went on my way. One time he was set up outside the Purple hall with his tented layout and a camera on the train. My friend asked him to sign a car for his son, can't remember if it was a Horde Tour car or Vapor Records, which he signed. Another time, he passed us in the Orange Hall. I was with a friend and his two sons, and my youngest son Mark. I told them Neil Young just passed us, and they said no way. I called his name, and he and his companion stopped, but asked us not to be too loud. We all shook hands, and we each went our separate ways. My friend searched all over the hall looking for a Neil Young car, and when he found one, he then set out to find Neil for a signature. He was successful, and I think that was the last time I saw him at York.

I first met Neil when he made several visits to Kalmbach Publishing Co. in Wisconsin (I was working there at the time) to demonstrate the new marvels in Lionel sounds and command control prior to their formal introduction and release. And, of course, I remember seeing him at York a number of times. I also had the pleasure of meeting his son, Ben, who actually was the inspiration for Neil's involvement with trains and Lionel.

@Allan Miller posted:

I first met Neil when he made several visits to Kalmbach Publishing Co. in Wisconsin (I was working there at the time) to demonstrate the new marvels in Lionel sounds and command control prior to their formal introduction and release. And, of course, I remember seeing him at York a number of times. I also had the pleasure of meeting his son, Ben, who actually was the inspiration for Neil's involvement with trains and Lionel.

Yup my good buddy Neil named his son after me  LOL

I remember Neil brought the layout from his "Horde" tour and it was set up in a tent outside of the Yellow Hall with a huge Jumbotron outside the tent showing the train action that was taking place inside. I remember Neil was showing off the new technology and was talking to a few of us like we were all old friends. He loves talking trains.

Saw Neil Young several years ago at my regular train shop - The Train Station in Mountain Lakes, N.J. They were filming a demo of some of Lionel's latest products. Believe it was around the time of The Big Red Button.

Saw Neil and spoke to him a few times at York. This photo below was taken in the Horse tour layout tent back in 1998. I invited him and his family to join the AOL gang at our bi-annual online gang BBQ on the fairgrounds. He showed up and hung out with us talking trains which is his escape from reality like the rest of us.

I know my friends Jim Battaglia and Lou Sessal have more photos from that evening.

I saw Neil Young in concert in 1983 in Champaign IL during his Trans Tour.

”Old man, look at me now, I’m a lot like you.

I need to play all day with my choo choo.”

I like his music but I tell people that Neil is a train guy. I saw him in the tent that was outside the yellow hall, not swamped by people, just hanging out like everyone else. I thought it was great that the train guys for the most part gave him space and I thought it really was a credit to the membership. I could have, or anyone could have gone up to him and had a word or two, but I figured I'd just let the guy be. I think it was at the same show I went into the Yellow hall and people were in a line of 20-30 to speak to Mike Wolfe or get his autograph. I wondered what was going on. It was a face palm moment for sure.

@CBQ_Bill posted:

I saw Neil Young in concert in 1983 in Champaign IL during his Trans Tour.

”Old man, look at me now, I’m a lot like you.

I need to play all day with my choo choo.”

I saw him on there, too!  I was young and poor then.   On the road trip home, I had to give a gas station my Pentax camera in exchange for enough gas to get home.  Fortunately, I was able to return with money to get my camera back.  I saw him a few more times all the way through his "Keep on rocking in a free world" stuff at the state fair in Syracuse, NY.

He seemed to hate all politicians back then, which I liked and still like in my rock stars.    Today he is firmly entrenched on one side like Springsteen, which I don't like in my rock stars, regardless of which side they choose.   I'd say the same thing about guys like Ted Nugent, on the other side.  Neil's done a lot for rock n roll and Lionel and I would love to meet him at a train show.

I always wanted one of those Lionel advertising pages with him in it, and his personal autograph and some words addressed to me to frame and hang in my train room.  That would be so cool.  I almost bought the Greendale Lionel train set, but I wasn't a fan of that particular album, so I passed like I passed on his Transformer album.  Every one of his other records were great, with some like, "After the Gold Rush" real masterpieces that have stood the test of time.  He seems like the kind of guy who would respect my opinion on this, as a genuine fan.

Bottom line:  I'm jealous of you guys that have met him at York because he was probably in his real element as a train guy just like you and me.

Mike

I saw him at York and had him sign a catalog.  Weird thing is while I was standing there for the few moments making small talk he told me I looked good.  I wonder what his reference point was?  LOL!

Do you think it's possible that Neil is active on this Forum like us, and uses a pseudonym?

If he loves trains like many of you have said, I hope so.

Arnold

Seems just like yesterday he was on his "Freedom of Speech" tour...  Those were the days.

Jon

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Do you think it's possible that Neil is active on this Forum like us, and uses a pseudonym?

If he loves trains like many of you have said, I hope so.

Arnold

He used to be here a NY.  Not sure if he or that account is still active.

A quick search showed that ny is no longer listed.  Doesn't mean he hasn't changed his handle.  With him selling a large amount of his collection  wonder how much he still is involved with trains.

@KOOLjock1 posted:

Seems just like yesterday he was on his "Freedom of Speech" tour...  Those were the days.

Jon

Now he wants to kill it.  LOVE his music but lost respect for him over the last week.

If we can keep the politics off this thread it will survive.

@PRRick posted:

Now he wants to kill it.  LOVE his music but lost respect for him over the last week.

agreed

@MartyE posted:

If we can keep the politics off this thread it will survive.

Agreed.  Sorry Marty.  I thought I would address and kill what I thought was the elephant in the room and did not mean to introduce a political discussion.  The rules clearly state that politics are not allowed on the forum.

@MartyE posted:

If we can keep the politics off this thread it will survive.

You're right Marty. Bad choice of words on my part for a positive thread.

It's pretty awesome he took the time and helped develop TMCC. Always good to have a celebrity as an ambassador. I'm still using my old cab1.

Rust (and zinc pest) never sleeps

Seriously, that was the name of the last tour that came to town...  he brought trains in a tent!

Jon

If I remember I'll shoot the picture of the catalog.  It's hanging in my living room under Captain Kirk's picture and autograph.  An advantage of living alone.

@MartyE posted:

I saw him at York and had him sign a catalog.  Weird thing is while I was standing there for the few moments making small talk he told me I looked good.  I wonder what his reference point was?  LOL!

That's funny stuff

@KOOLjock1 posted:

Seriously, that was the name of the last tour that came to town...  he brought trains in a tent!

Jon

That was the Horde Tour. The layout was really nice.

@MartyE posted:

I saw him at York and had him sign a catalog.  Weird thing is while I was standing there for the few moments making small talk he told me I looked good.  I wonder what his reference point was?  LOL!

My guess is that his reference point was the average age of York attendees...

Andy

@NYC Fan posted:

That was the Horde Tour. The layout was really nice.

A Lionel car was made based on that tour.  I bought it used later.  A Vapor Records car was a must have for me, too.  Not sure how many varieties were made but I think quite a few over the years.

@MartyE posted:

I saw him at York and had him sign a catalog.  Weird thing is while I was standing there for the few moments making small talk he told me I looked good.  I wonder what his reference point was?  LOL!

Maybe Marty he had attended several of your Legacy users group over the years and you didn't recognize him. Remember, your a celebrity on that front so that is possible.

@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

Maybe Marty he had attended several of your Legacy users group over the years and you didn't recognize him. Remember, your a celebrity on that front so that is possible.

Ha ha.  That's why I am still waiting for the EDTCA to get back to me about the room.  LOL!

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

but not so much the lyrics, when he says "I shot my baby," or words to that effect.

I'm not an expert on Neil Young but that era of music pulled heavily from traditional blues music in America. Shooting your girlfriend/wife because she was with another man is a common theme in blues music. Jimi Hendrix sings it in Hey Joe. Blind Willie McTell has some violent lyrics dealing with the same situation. I would guess the line comes from the theme but Neil Young isn't someone I've studied to death so I could be wrong.

The chance to meet Neil Young sure elevates my motivation to go to York haha I always liked him from Buffalo Springfield to his solo stuff. He seems like a decent person.

The Horde tour layout sat around for years in Neil's warehouse in California until Neil wanted to get rid of it. John Kitterman got it, brought it to Indiana, revamped it a bit and moved it into a Cincinnati, Ohio museum and is on display there. Last I heard it was still there.

I met Mr. Young way back in 1978 when he visited the store I was working at, "World of Trains" in Rego Park, Queens N.Y.  He was a mail order customer of postwar Lionel and stopped by to see the faces of the people he talked to on the phone. I was the repair tech and every train he bought needed to be checked mechanically because he actually ran his trains. That was a rarity, most collectors back then would not dream of putting their collectibles on a track to run. I remember him asking me if a 1946 double worm gear 726 would pull better that the later models. I told him it was heavier so it probably would pull more cars but a 736 would still outpull it because of magnetraction.  Little did I know that he would go on to be a part owner of Lionel and help invent Railsounds and TMCC. What a nice guy too.

Here’s the catalog Neil Young signed. Upper right.

Here is a pic from April 1998 York of Neil Young, my daughter Tammy, and myself outside of the Horde tent:

Here he is at the same show in a camera pose for me; his manager is the last guy on the right in the black shirt:

I gave his manager my business card and a burned cd of my buddy's band...never heard back from him...

Here are more pics from April 1998 York:

Here are some pics from April 1998 York AOL BBQ (not sure if Neil is hiding in any of these, but he is in my next BBQ post):

Here are some pics from October 1999 York AOL BBQ:

Thanks for the memories, Tony! A good time was had by all at those BBQ's.

Wow! Memories from York with the AOL train gang and many pics with Neil Young in 1998 and 1999.
Thanks TD for the pics!

@Tony D. posted:

Here are some pics from April 1998 York AOL BBQ (not sure if Neil is hiding in any of these, but he is in my next BBQ post):

Great photos, Tony!  Thanks for sharing.

You did a first-rate job with the photos, Tony! I had a GREAT time at each of those AOL get-togethers on the fairgrounds and at the Viking Club after we were banished from the fairgrounds (probably because we were having too much fun).

Thanks for all of the comments, everyone!

I was lucky enough at that time to get approval for the purchase of a $800 Kodak digital camera from my boss at work, for which it came in handy for my personal life, too.

PS.  It is amazing how technology continues to improve; $800 then, for pretty low res pics compared to today's standards.

@MartyE posted:

Here’s the catalog Neil Young signed. Upper right.

A catalog after my own heart - two Allegheny's pictured on the front cover.   

What year is that from?

Allan,

Too much fun? Yes and we filled up a few garbage cans with beer bottles and Frank’s cooking was better than the fairgrounds crap!
Definitely great times back then.

@Ted Bertiger posted:

Allan,

Too much fun? Yes and we filled up a few garbage cans with beer bottles and Frank’s cooking was better than the fairgrounds crap!
Definitely great times back then.

Exactly why we got booted. As the Mayor of the Fairgrounds (Mytrains aka Mike Newcomer, RIP) told me, since The Fairgrounds didn't get a cut of the take (which was $0 anyway) and our BBQ was not supporting the approved food vendors, our little soirée had to exit. Lol we even got scolded in the TCA Eastern York Booklet. 
So baked Ziti at the Viking Club over Frank's outdoor gourmet prepared dishes it was...

Tony, those are wonderful photos.  There are a lot of long-gone heads of dark hair (or in some cases, hair, period) flat stomachs, and some people that no longer are with us.  And AOL, which was leading the way at one time, is largely forgotten.

The girl in the yellow t-shirt, in some of the photos, is surely in her mid-30s.

And the state of the art equipment is now old stuff.  Same goes for Neil Young;s Lionel Lines tour bus, an Eagle, not manufactured for years now, probably scrapped.

Thanks for a memorable look back in time.

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

I love his moving song about the old man, but forget the exact title.

Down by the River was an early big hit, and I liked the music, but not so much the lyrics, when he says "I shot my baby," or words to that effect. Maybe Neil simply had empathy for the tragic fictional characters, both shooter and victim (I hope they are fictional),  in the song. I remind myself when hearing such songs that songwriters have vivid imaginations, and can be empathetic in almost every imaginable situation.

More importantly, Neil is a creative genius in music, trains and probably other things. As I've mentioned several times before on this Forum, IMO what Neil has done with trains, his son and himself represents the highest and best use of model trains.

I would love to meet him.

Arnold

There is a long history of what are termed "Murder Ballads" in traditional music; this is a bit of a variation on that theme.

1998 and 1999 Signatures strangely looking different

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Down by the River was an early big hit, and I liked the music, but not so much the lyrics, when he says "I shot my baby," or words to that effect. Maybe Neil simply had empathy for the tragic fictional characters, both shooter and victim (I hope they are fictional), 

As a blues fan, a lot of people could have a field day with just about every blues song ever written and rightfully so.  Every time I hear Albert Collins' lyric, "brick, baby, I'm gonna throw it upside your head", for example, I cringe.  However, you have to keep it in perspective. Almost all blues tunes are about suffering and sadness and very often they are about another man stealing your woman or your woman running away with another man or your broken heart from all these things packed together.  So, I see these lyrics metaphorically, and when the anger or sadness typically hits its peak, the electric guitar playing gets truly magical and that has created some of our greatest rock songs.  Down by the river, I think, is such a song. IMHO it is truly one of Neil's finest.

If I saw him at York, I might be tempted to ask him about it.  But then I probably wouldn't, because we would be there to talk trains.

Mike

This is a Lionel Inside Track magazine that Neil signed it for me when a particular President/COO from Lionel visited him around 20 years at his ranch. I will never part with this personalized magazine and will have my grandsons keep this long after I’m gone.
I was known as Captain Kraft from AOL days. The Cap is short for that and NY knows me as that from then.

My favorite line from a blues song was by BB King I believe. "Nobody loves me but my momma and sometimes, I think she's jivin' too?

@c.sam posted:

My favorite line from a blues song was by BB King I believe. "Nobody loves me but my momma and sometimes, I think she's jivin' too?

I like that line, too.  I have a t-shirt from the Chicago Blues fest from several years ago with that quote on the back   My mom got a kick out of it!

Met him in his tent, talked about his system, and didn't ask for his autograph. My wife raised **** with me for that. Oh well.

@artyoung posted:

Met him in his tent, talked about his system, and didn't ask for his autograph. My wife raised **** with me for that. Oh well.

Same here - I just asked to shake his hand and thanked him for the music.