Spring meet 2014 - Chesterton IN 6/7

[justalurker66]

I think it is purely a trains vs social argument, there are some nice centrally located places for trains. But if you want to see trains while cavorting with people and having a good time, you simply cannot beat Deshler.

Berea, Marion, Rochelle, any Metra station...

I lived in Marion for a few years in the 90's but don't remember a lot of rail traffic to look at. Perhaps it has increased since then? At the time I was there they were pulling up rails. There was a nightly switching job down by the VA hospital (if I recall correctly). It has been long enough that I really cannot think of where I'd set up base near the tracks - at least not anywhere where Marion's finest would allow.

"Any Metra station" would probably be a problem if there was a party involved. There are some stations I feel uncomfortable spending an hour at let alone a full day with a group of people attracting attention.

There is strength in numbers ... chasing the 4449 a few years ago with the foaming masses gave access to property that I'd never trespass on alone. Which would be a point in favor of Butler on May 5th ... the local authorities EXPECT a lot of people railside and should be more concerned with the rabid foamers using US 6 as a dragstrip to keep getting ahead of the train runs than a reasonably quiet group camped out somewhere.

[MagnumForce]

Marion, Ohio or Indiana? Probably 70 trains in the Ohio version in a day.

[PAT.C]

OK PEOPLE - DESHLER IS THE PARTY PLACE FOR RRFAN MEETS.
THAT IS A FACT BEYOND DISPUTE [BECAUSE I SAID IT ]
.
NOW QUIT THE ARGUING AND PLAN A RRFAN MEET IN CHESTERTON

I KNOW WE WILL BE BACK TO DESHLER AGAIN AND I LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

[justalurker66]

Marion, Ohio or Indiana? Probably 70 trains in the Ohio version in a day.

Indiana ... which probably explains why people are willing to go to Marion - if it is the one in Ohio.

[Standard Railfan]

Well, I see I stepped into the p***ing match a little late.

For me the drive to Chesterton will be 4+ hours. About an hour and a half less than what I drive home on the weekends.

I like Chesterton because of the options open to us. As stated elsewhere, if construction, derailment, or whatever happens, we are only a few miles from another line.

Typhoon- Nice job. Good to see a dispatcher that knows his territory.

[trnwatcher]

I'd like to make a suggestion....if you live with 1 hour of the proposed meeting site your vote doesn't count. I've been to 4 RRfan.com meeting the closest one being Durand and we saw 8-10 trains in a 12-14 hours. The other 3 have been in OH. I like Deshler\Fostoria but we need to mix up the locations. I and others suggested Chesterton to "Z" several months back. I'm not opposed to going to Rochelle, Lafayette, Marion, Indy or even Cleveland if we see trains.

The park at Deshler has it benefits but it also has it's drawbacks. It's a 30-40 minute drive to a decent motel, there is one restaurant in town and after 11 pm the only people that are left at the park are the ones camping and the drinkers. Once the sun comes up most everyone goes off and does their own thing anyhow. I personally have enough photographs of Deshler and the surrounding area. Honestly if the event is back there this time I'll save the money and time and skip it.

I railfan with another group twice a year and this year they are doing the area around Monon\Lima, then onto Fostoria and they will end up in Durand Saturday March 28 for the slide show up there. Unfortunately due to work\personal issues I will be unable to do the railfanning portion but am hoping to get to Durand. We all meet up at one spot on the first morning then railfan a designated line\area during the day. Lunch and dinner are usually pre-planned stops with dinner usually at our stop for lodging that night. We have a great time and end up shooting trains in various locations over the 1-2 days we are out. I would like to propose that we attempt something like this for the outting and then a second date planned for a get together to see everyone's pictures\video.

I'll get off my soapbox now....TIA for reading this.

[railohio]

Be advised that National Train Day is May 10 in Chicago and May 3 in Toledo when picking a date for the meet.

[Typhoon]

Shouldn't "National" Train Day be on the same day everywhere in the nation?

[railohio]

Amtrak has a limited amount of display equipment available so Toledo holds its even one weekend off the national to ensure its availability.

[~Z~]

Few notes:
Contacted Bill Shaffer about Derffest, and he said he's not planning to do one this spring, but might in August. That eliminates the thought of doing Deshler this spring, and we will indeed give Chesterton a try.

Weekend Dates: May 3rd - no, 765 running then.
May 10th - national train day, probably not a good idea.
May 17th - CRPA conference
May 24th - Memorial day weekend, typically not as good of traffic and other people doing vacation for things other than trains.
May 31st - sounds good.
June 7th - sounds good.

Anyone think of any objections for May 31st or June 7th before I start another poll for a date?
Still need to figure exactly where in Chesterton to have it, but we'll get that squared away soon.

FYI, we WILL do Deshler later in the year, possibly whenever Bill wants to do Derffest, or maybe a later weekend.

[Typhoon]

Be aware that Chesterton holds their European Market downtown on Saturdays from May to October. I was dragged there once a couple of years ago, from what I recall parking was at a premium in the area.

http://www.chestertonseuropeanmarket.com/

[PAT.C]

TYPHOON SAID... I was dragged there once a couple of years ago

YOU MUST BE MARRIED.

[PAT.C]

OK PEOPLE - THE MEET IS GOING TO BE IN CHESTERTON. THE DATE IS TO BE DETERMINED.

NOW QUIT BABBLING AND GET PLANNING !!!!!

YOU WESTSIDERS WANTED IT AND YOU GOT IT. NOW PLAN IT !!!!!!

WHERE WILL THERE BE PARKING? WHERE ARE LOCAL MOTELS?

WHAT ABOUT LOCAL BARS AND RESTAURANTS?

GET OFF YOUR ASS AND GET GOING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MOTIVATE - NOT MASTERBATE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[cnw8835]

OK PEOPLE - THE MEET IS GOING TO BE IN CHESTERTON. THE DATE IS TO BE DETERMINED.

NOW QUIT BABBLING AND GET PLANNING !!!!!

YOU WESTSIDERS WANTED IT AND YOU GOT IT. NOW PLAN IT !!!!!!

WHERE WILL THERE BE PARKING? WHERE ARE LOCAL MOTELS?

WHAT ABOUT LOCAL BARS AND RESTAURANTS?

GET OFF YOUR ASS AND GET GOING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MOTIVATE - NOT MASTERBATE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.google.com

[Paul W]

I like the date June 7th if a may throw in my thoughts should be able to make one finnally.

[~Z~]

Vote on the poll at the beginning of this thread. Reset it from location to date, so pick May 31st and/or June 7th, whichever you can make. If you don't think you'll go, please don't vote.

[~Z~]

One more day to vote.... so far looks like June 7th.

[Ramsey]

Chesterton is probably the best choice.

[Jochs]

OK PEOPLE - THE MEET IS GOING TO BE IN CHESTERTON. THE DATE IS TO BE DETERMINED.

NOW QUIT BABBLING AND GET PLANNING !!!!!

YOU WESTSIDERS WANTED IT AND YOU GOT IT. NOW PLAN IT !!!!!!

WHERE WILL THERE BE PARKING? WHERE ARE LOCAL MOTELS?

WHAT ABOUT LOCAL BARS AND RESTAURANTS?

GET OFF YOUR ASS AND GET GOING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MOTIVATE - NOT MASTERBATE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There's plenty of motels at the SR 49 exit (26B for Chesterton) on I-94.
There is at least one bar in downtown Chesterton and last time I was at Porter there were 3 bars, plus a Mexican Restaurant.

As for fast food, Chesterton has McDonald's, Arby's. Burger King, Subway, KFC/A&W( with root beer on tap, not fountain root beer), Wendy's, I believe Long John Silver's, and Taco Bell. This is between S.R 49 and going toward town (except the Wendy's.) There are several gas stations as well, (BP is open 24 hrs I believe.)

At exit 34B(Michigan City, US 421) there are more motels, more fast food places, Meijer, Wal-Mart, Denny's, plenty of gas stations, and the Blue Chip Casino/Hotel in town.
Exit 22 has a TA truck stop with a restaurant.

[Big Frank]

I'm not leaving Detroit. its safe here