The Adventures of Traindiesel: York Meet April 2023 - ACQUISITIONS

@Ted Bertiger posted:

... My good buddy, Rocky was not doing well. He did eat a little and drank some water when I got home. Maybe he missed me? At 18 years, 3 months old, my beagle was at the end of the line when we took him to our vet the next day, we made the hardest decision ever to let him go. My Rockstar, Rocky, was ready and it is still hurting us emotionally. ...

Very sorry. They're never with us long enough, Ted. I know. Rocky was lucky and happy to have spent his life with you guys.

October will be my first York. Really looking forward to it.

@gmorlitz posted:

Right. Take a one year old, put the track on the floor, run 18 volts through it, tell him to lick his fingers (you really don't even have to tell him to do that) and touch the rails. And while you're at it, put a train on the track (which seems small to you, but which is HUGE to him, and run it. Sort of like people who think they can beat the train when the lights are blinking and the crossing gates are going down.

You really should watch Thomas on TV. They do really nice stuff.

Gerry

Touching the 18 volt rails with slobbering fingers is part of the learning process to respect electricity. I always preferred the ‘hands on’ approach rather than book learning. He’ll learn faster. He may cry a little from the shock, but he also might like it and become a pyromaniac. I may wait until he’s two.

I liked watching Thomas. I would humm the theme song when I would come on. I even put the theme song on my iPod!  But alas, it’s not broadcast on the PBS channel here. Maybe his cousins will lend him the videos I got them.

@RSJB18 posted:

George Carlin and Ringo Star narrating....what could be bad......

We have a load of the blue plastic track and battery powered engines....the Tomy stuff, not the later.....my son and I (ok- mostly me) would spend hours on the basement floor running them.

Brian- thanks for sharing your York adventures with us.

9th grandchild? WOW! Maybe the 9th is the charm 👍👍

Bob

Thanks Bob. I had fun writing it as it happened.

With a ninth grandchild I may soon be able to field a baseball team. If I can get the five granddaughters to play!

@Ted Bertiger posted:

Brain and Lynley,

I think I saw you from a distance in the orange hall but I was there for Friday only and after speaking to my wife around noon, I had to leave around 2:30-3:00 to head home. My good buddy, Rocky was not doing well. He did eat a little and drank some water when I got home. Maybe he missed me? At 18 years, 3 months old, my beagle was at the end of the line when we took him to our vet the next day, we made the hardest decision ever to let him go. My Rockstar, Rocky, was ready and it is still hurting us emotionally.
Next October, I will be there for Friday/Saturday and hope to see those Philly/San Diego folks there. Sorry I missed you folks there but a family issue arose.
At least he let me to York for the day!!

Ted, I’m sorry we missed each other. So sorry to read about Rocky. Be comforted in knowing that you guys gave him a good home and a good life. He will be waiting for you at the Rainbow Bridge.

See you in October, my friend. Maybe you’ll be able to tell me how great Aaron Rogers will be!

Day Six: A Somber Day

Today was a day of visiting with family. We went to visit my cousin whose husband passed away suddenly in February. Her husband was a big American Flyer/S gauge collector and operator. He took me to my very first train show, a Greenbergs Show at the old Philadelphia Civic Center around 1980.  He also introduced me to the TCA and took me to the Meet as a guest.  I was already cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs for trains, I couldn’t join fast enough!! He was also my first signature on my TCA application. (Chris Gans of Nicholas Smith Trains was the second).  He had as many trains and probably more than I do. We had a lot of fun with trains over the years. I met up with one of their sons at the Meet on Friday. He told me they will keep their father’s big layout intact to operate for their sons.

We were unable to get to the funeral so we made arrangements to extend our York trip to visit with my cousin. She understood and looked forward to our visit. While there my cousin’s son, also a cousin, that I met up with at York stopped by with his two boys. He showed me a box that just arrived from Charles Ro. It contained a Strasburg observation car his Dad had preordered before his death. He is also waiting for Lionel’s Strasburg #90 locomotive.

As we said our goodbyes we planned to get together with some of our other family at a restaurant for dinner when we come back East for our grandson’s birth. It was great to see my cousin but there was a deep sadness in the air for all of us. She hoped that someday soon we could move back to the area as the ranks of our family are dwindling.

In addition to this, on the way to visit my cousin we stopped by the cemetery to visit my Grandparents grave. Lynley and I had a tough time finding it as I was going by memory and the cemetery had expanded so the landmarks were different.

We looked and looked but couldn’t find the headstones.  We were about to give up and we were walking back to the car. I said a little prayer to help me find it but I was frustrated. I took a different walkway to the car and as I turned my head there it was!!  Then I felt happiness come over me, like my Grandparents were happy we were there. My Grandparents and Great Grandparents, who I never met since they passed before I was born were next to each other as well as some Aunts and Uncles who I did know very well.  Since we now live on the west coast I felt I needed to see them again.  

After this we went to visit my cousin.  Tomorrow will be a more fun day.

Oh that's good news, congrats Brian.

@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

Oh that's good news, congrats Brian.

It was fun today, Dave. But it’s late, I’m tired and we have an early flight to catch in the morning. I’ll add the final installments of my adventures after we get home.

Brian, don't keep a fellow San Diegan in suspense, name and location of the sandwich shop.

@Doug W. posted:

Brian, don't keep a fellow San Diegan in suspense, name and location of the sandwich shop.

Doug, that would be Philly Frank’s in San Marcos. Info in the web link! Cheesesteaks, hoagies, Esposito’s water ice and Tastykakes. Tastes like home!

Traindiesel,

Thanks much.

I have been passing right by that location quite often for years.

@Ted Bertiger posted:

Brain and Lynley,

My good buddy, Rocky was not doing well. He did eat a little and drank some water when I got home. Maybe he missed me? At 18 years, 3 months old, my beagle was at the end of the line when we took him to our vet the next day, we made the hardest decision ever to let him go. My Rockstar, Rocky, was ready and it is still hurting us emotionally.

Ted

So sorry.  We chatted a little Friday about him.  It is one of the hardest decisions but I'm sure Rocky knew he was ready and you did the best for him.

We live in Philly near the Betsy Ross bridge and go to the Pub about once a year for the rib eye,

it's great, and with eating salad also we end up with about half the ribeye to take home for a whole nother meal

@Ted Bertiger posted:

Brian,

I will be at York for Friday only. Can’t stay overnight this time. My 18 year old beagle, Rocky, is slowing down and the misses might need help at late night with my buddy. So.. I said I would go for the day cruising through the halls.
Catch up on Friday.

So sorry to hear this TED.  I know the feeling very well, and know when it is our time we will meet up again with our best friends.  You have all those memories of ROCKY and he will live with you forever.

Day Seven: More Trains and a Taste of Philly

With a leisurely start to Tuesday, our last full day of our York Meet trip, We took a short ride to Nicholas Smith Trains. It has been nearly six years since I’ve been to the store since our move west. This would provide some relief from the agony and suffering of my Post York Meet Syndrome. But first, we went next door to the Thunderbird Steaks and Hoagie shop for lunch.

They make tremendous sandwiches and a magnificent cheesesteak, with fried onions (cheesesteak, wit) and some pepperoni and bacon. Yummm! I really miss coming here.



After getting stuffed from lunch we headed next door to Nicholas Smith. First I took a look in the toy store downstairs. They used to have tons of K-Line trains down there. Only a few freight cars and accessories left.


Heading up the stairs to the main store. Always loved the destination cards on the steps from the SEPTA Regional Rail Silverliner trains. Some years ago the SEPTA store was selling these as they replaced the train cars. I was lucky enough to secure a whole set of them.

Inside the store is a full service hobby shop of all gauges.

O gauge, scenery materials and accessories.

Post War counter.


Ho, N and Z scales.



The glass case housing some of the latest offerings and the front counter.





To counteract my Post York Meet Syndrome, I was prescribed a pair of freight cars and to call them in the morning. The rolling stock was free but the consultation was $120. I was offered a couple good deals on locomotives but I had to limit my carry on package for the flight home and my wallet was already huffing and puffing from the York Meet.



Continued.....

Day Seven: More Trains and a Taste of Philly (Continued)

After heading back to the hotel we got ready drive over to Citizens Bank Park to see the Phillies play the Seattle Mariners. It was like being home again! We love going to Padres games at Petco Park but we miss going to “The Bank”. We even sat near the our former season ticket seats.



As we entered the ballpark we stopped for a photo with the National League Pennant Trophy.

Kyle Schwarber steps to the dish.  Hoping for a Schwar-Bomb! (didn't happen)



Who wants a hot dog??!! The Philly Phanatic and Hatfield’s Smiley the Pig.

The Phanatic in action.


After the game I had to stop at a Wawa convenience store to get some Tastykake fruit pies and cupcakes. Can’t get them in California, even at the Philly steak shops. This stash will have to last me until October!



After returning to our hotel we repacked the suitcases for the flight home Wednesday morning. I looked out the window at the city skyline and thought “Am I leaving home or going home? Am I going on a vacation or was I on a vacation?” I lived in the Philadelphia area for sixty years of my life. The area will always feel like home. San Diego also feels like home after nearly six years of being there. They have all the same stores and chain restaurants along with outstanding weather and both places have their own great local places. It truly is a small world!

We had a smooth trip back to San Diego. Before heading to the airport terminal we stopped by to check on the cargo plan that is transporting our York (and other) purchases home.



We landed around noon on Wednesday then went for a nice lunch at The Lazy Dog in Mission Valley. My York fun will be extended when my Meet Bounty is delivered tomorrow. But the lingering effects of Post York Meet Syndrome are slow to dissipate!

Lynley and I had a sensational time! We would like to thank all of you who stopped to chat with us, allowed us to dine with you and had a lot of laughs with. For those we missed seeing we hope to catch up with you at October’s York Meet. It’s no wonder I love this event so much, it’s such great fun looking at and searching for trains and spending time with some wonderful people in this hobby. And I want to thank the Train Collectors Association Eastern Division volunteers who always work hard and hosted a marvelous event that keeps me wanting to travel the 2700 miles to attend!

This concludes my adventures for the spring York Meet 2023. Thank you for reading, commenting and watching! Now to get busy on the layout! I’ll see you all on the Forum and hopefully at October’s York Meet (and hopefully sooner!)

@Doug W. posted:

Traindiesel,

Thanks much.

I have been passing right by that location quite often for years.

Doug, check them out.  And make sure you get a water ice for dessert!

Funny story.... We went there with my son and his family when they came to visit from Arizona shortly after we moved to San Diego County.  He was texting his friend that he grew up with in Philly and sending him pictures of the place, since they have a lot of Philly sports pictures on the walls.  His friend replies, "What are you doing in my Uncle's shop?"  Turns out his uncle opened the shop about twenty years ago out here.  So now we are like family!  LOL.  It's a small world!

@Transman posted:

We live in Philly near the Betsy Ross bridge and go to the Pub about once a year for the rib eye,

it's great, and with eating salad also we end up with about half the ribeye to take home for a whole nother meal

Joe, yes, the ribeye is really good.  A lot of times I get stuck on the 9oz or 12oz filet, I can't decide.  But I always add a lobster tail!  I'd say more often than not I fill up on that great salad bar and take home the steak.  Now that we have to travel to get there we make sure the hotel has a microwave for leftovers!

Brian,

It was great having dinner with you and Lynley and catching up.   See you at the next York.

@PatapscoValleyRR posted:

Brian,

It was great having dinner with you and Lynley and catching up.   See you at the next York.

Thanks Chris!  It was great to see you, Ann and Matt. We’re looking forward to October’s Meet!

@Traindiesel posted:

After the game I had to stop at a Wawa convenience store to get some Tastykake fruit pies and cupcakes. Can’t get them in California, even at the Philly steak shops. This stash will have to last me until October!

Drop me a line when you run out, we'll arrange a mail-order shipment   Can't have you running out of that Phila treat!

After the game I had to stop at a Wawa convenience store to get some Tastykake fruit pies and cupcakes. Can’t get them in California, even at the Philly steak shops. This stash will have to last me until October!

BRIAN,

   Where are the Tandy CAKES????

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Drop me a line when you run out, we'll arrange a mail-order shipment   Can't have you running out of that Phila treat!

John, I might just do that!  Ordering direct from Tastykake the shipping costs more than a bunch of pies. I’ll see how long these last.

@laz1957 posted:

After the game I had to stop at a Wawa convenience store to get some Tastykake fruit pies and cupcakes. Can’t get them in California, even at the Philly steak shops. This stash will have to last me until October!

BRIAN,

   Where are the Tandy CAKES????

George, I can get the peanut butter ones and Butterscotch Krimpets out here. That’s all that’s around here now. Before Covid there was more variety but not the pies!

Well I finally have a chance to post the treasures I purchased at the York Meet. The preparations for my Mother-In-Law’s burial, the funeral service itself are finished and the many family members who attended and hung out with us have all headed home to various parts of the country. And in the middle of all that my youngest daughter delivered a baby boy, her first child and our ninth grandchild after some complications. It’s been a busy couple of weeks after returning from the York Meet!

So, on to the good stuff!  Here are the boxes as packed and delivered by UPS.  They were handled very well. (I guess, anyway!)

Here they are unpacked.  But not before Manny inspects the…ahem….., ‘kitty’

Here’s a better shot.

My buying was a little different this trip.  I bought something each day of the Meet when I usually use Thursday to just look around.  My purchases were unintentionally evenly divided each day.

In the order that I opened them, here is the first item, a Lionel Vision Line 3 car set of Santa Fe Stock cars.  I was actually looking for another Vision Line freight set that I saw on a previous day’s hunt.  But during my search to locate them on Saturday I stumbled upon the Santa Fe set that I really wanted!

Atlas O Master Line Milwaukee Road 50’ PS-1 box cars.  These were from early 2001 production and brand new in the box.  I just really liked the paint scheme.

K-Line New Haven 21” aluminum Baggage/Lounge “Middlesex County” passenger car. Some years ago when I was gobbling up K-Line 21” passenger cars I had acquired an incomplete four car set of these. I had given up looking for the lost cars long ago. But as I was scouring the shelves at the Trainz booth I stumbled across this missing car from my set.

(Just today I took delivery of another missing New Haven 21” car. I was just wasting some time looking around at hobby shop websites when I found a sixth car for this set. I thought it was only a five car set. I bought the sixth car instantly, and with the duplicate coach car I bought purposely years ago to expand the set, I now have a seven car New Haven passenger set to go with my K-Line NH EP-5!)

Atlas O Premier Line 40’ Box Car “Nashville, Chattanooga & St.Louis”.  I bought this recently released box car for no other reason than to represent our trip to Chattanooga back in October for a wedding that caused me to miss October’s York Meet!  A bit of childish revenge to acquire a representative freight car from the area.  But in reality I had a great time in Chattanooga.  Road the Tennessee Valley train and saw the 4501 sitting idle and visited the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel.  And I drank more sour mash that I’ve had in my lifetime!

MTH Premier 40’ “Curve Beer” Steel Refrigerator Car. I like the graphics on this recent version more than the wooden reefer from some years ago. I’ve been wanting one of these since I’ve spent a lot of time at The Horseshoe Curve in Altoona, Pa. and had a few sips of Curve Beer while visiting.

MTH Premier Milwaukee Road & Santa Fe Covered Gondolas. My Penn American Railroad roster is low on gondola cars. These are really nice and hefty. I liked them so much I ordered a PRR and a pair of Milwaukee Road custom gondolas to add to the freight fleet.

:

While at the Meet I had my Lionel Legacy Command System upgraded to current versions by Marty E. Thanks again, Marty!

MTH Premier Milwaukee Road Fairbanks-Morse Train Master. A custom run from Mr. Muffin’s Trains. I love these brutish locomotives, they look like they mean business!

MTH Premier Milwaukee Road 2-8-2 USRA Light Mikado. Another custom run from Mr. Muffin’s Trains.  Adding to my Milwaukee steam fleet, this scale beauty has a real coal load and steaming quillable whistle.

MTH Premier Baltimore & Ohio 4-6-2 USRA Heavy Pacific. This is one of the only items I was looking for at York. I didn’t preorder it because I had other irons in the fire. Even I can’t get everything! This also has a real coal load and steaming quillable whistle and I love the blue B&O paint scheme. This will look perfect pulling my Golden Gate Depot B&O heavyweight passenger cars.

In addition, during our trip to York we also visited Nicholas Smith Trains. I can never leave there without buying something. So since it was a York trip these purchases count toward my treasure cache.

Atlas O Master Line GNLX 33,000 Gallon Tank Car. I love tank cars, especially big ones.  I bought this one because it’s blue, and I once saw a similar looking tank car at the refinery when I was driving over the (Perilous) Penrose Ave. Bridge on my way to a Phillies game.

MTH Premier ‘Sunoco’ Funnel Flow Tank Car. Found this on the shelf with the 33K tank car. I have a six car set of these from a previous release so this will be added to the consist.

There are a few items I got prior to York and after arriving home, just to round out some of my infrastructure. I’ll show them at another time on another thread. It’s amazing how you can discover things that you didn’t realize you needed! At York I fully expected not to get much at all but there must be something in that central Pennsylvania air!

I had a great time at the York Meet and visiting friends and family and some fantastic meals with a lot of amazing train people.  Lynley and I already have our badges for October’s York Meet.  We’re really looking forward to it!!  Now hopefully I can spend more time on building my layout

Looks like a great haul Brian. Enjoy. And BTW, why do you say "I can't get everything"?

Gerry

Brian…….sorry about Lynley’s mom and the troubles your daughter had in childbirth. Glad everything is calmed down.

It certainly looks like a great haul ( by the way, thank you for stimulating the economy).

Looking forward to seeing you both in October!

Peter

Hi BRIAN,

  First, sorry for the loss of your MIL, may she RIP.  Hoping your DAUGHTER is doing better, and so is your GRANDSON!!!!  CONGAS on number 9.

Nice haul from your enjoy your treasures!

@Traindiesel posted:

Well I finally have a chance to post the treasures I purchased at the York Meet. The preparations for my Mother-In-Law’s burial, the funeral service itself are finished and the many family members who attended and hung out with us have all headed home to various parts of the country. And in the middle of all that my youngest daughter delivered a baby boy, her first child and our ninth grandchild after some complications. It’s been a busy couple of weeks after returning from the York Meet!

So, on to the good stuff!  Here are the boxes as packed and delivered by UPS.  They were handled very well. (I guess, anyway!)

My condolences on your MIL.  Congratulations on the new grandchild, I hope your daughter and new grandson are doing well.

You certainly did stimulate the economy there, that's quite a haul!  Who says you can buy stuff at York if you're coming by air???   Glad to hear all your treasures got there intact, that's never a certainty.

@gmorlitz posted:

Looks like a great haul Brian. Enjoy. And BTW, why do you say "I can't get everything"?

Gerry

Gerry, I'd need a bigger warehouse!

@Putnam Division posted:

Brian…….sorry about Lynley’s mom and the troubles your daughter had in childbirth. Glad everything is calmed down.

It certainly looks like a great haul ( by the way, thank you for stimulating the economy).

Looking forward to seeing you both in October!

Peter

Thank you, Peter.  It was a long, sad road with Lynley's Mom.  Lynley hardly had a chance to mourn her Father's passing nearly five years ago because she had to jump right in to take care of Mom who was suffering with dementia, besides the long hours she was working on the drug approval.  My Daughter and her baby boy are doing well and he's slowly gaining the weight he needs.  We plan to go visit them this summer to help out a little bit.

It wasn't my intention to stimulate the economy as much as it was to stimulate my collection. LOL.  Actually I had no agenda this trip, but I couldn't ignore the long. lonely cries of the trains I purchased that needed a home!

Looking forward to seeing you in October!!

@laz1957 posted:

Hi BRIAN,

  First, sorry for the loss of your MIL, may she RIP.  Hoping your DAUGHTER is doing better, and so is your GRANDSON!!!!  CONGAS on number 9.

Nice haul from your enjoy your treasures!

Thank you, George. My babies are doing better and I now have a full starting lineup.  I just have to decide who will be the starting pitcher!

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

My condolences on your MIL.  Congratulations on the new grandchild, I hope your daughter and new grandson are doing well.

You certainly did stimulate the economy there, that's quite a haul!  Who says you can buy stuff at York if you're coming by air???   Glad to hear all your treasures got there intact, that's never a certainty.

Thank you, John.  Each day is getting better.  Since I bought the stuff a little bit each day of the Meet I didn't realize how much there was until I hauled it to the UPS table, and when I unpacked it all.  The medium sized boxes made it look like a lot less!  I've been fortunate that since we moved west everything I have shipped to Southern California from York arrived safely.  But for the cost of the shipping I could have bought another diesel locomotive!

@Traindiesel posted:

Thank you, John.  Each day is getting better.  Since I bought the stuff a little bit each day of the Meet I didn't realize how much there was until I hauled it to the UPS table, and when I unpacked it all.  The medium sized boxes made it look like a lot less!  I've been fortunate that since we moved west everything I have shipped to Southern California from York arrived safely.  But for the cost of the shipping I could have bought another diesel locomotive!

I hear you about shipping, I ship a lot of stuff, and I cringe when I tell people what it's going to cost!