Railroadfan.com meet - Fostoria Ohio or Butler IN?

[~Z~]

Admin Edit: Butler has been decided, thread about the meet here: http://www.railroadfan.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=9545

Let's retry this.... one last vote, 7 days long, and we'll decide where to go.
I'd like the meeting date to be the weekend of Oct 4th and Oct 5th, with some hang out time the Friday night before on Oct 3rd.

Two choices.... Fostoria Ohio or Butler Indiana.
We've done Fostoria a number of times now, quite a few people mentioned Chicago area. Take a look at mapquest or maps.google.com, and check the driving distances. For lots of people, Butler is closer. Has a few less trains, but probably a better central meeting area(picnic shelter, open park area, and overnight sleeping) What say you?

Here's a few mileage differences for those concerned about fuel costs.. also, we really should try to carpool. Those wanting to stay in a motel/hotel, for Butler, there's one in Waterloo, and quite a number in nearby Auburn.
Fostoria has 1 decent hotel in town.

Owosso to Fostoria = 161 mi
Owosso to Butler = 150 mi

Port Huron to Fostoria = 156 mi
Port Huron to Butler = 211 mi

Lansing to Fostoria = 157 mi
Lansing to Butler = 115 mi

Grand Rapids to Fostoria = 224 mi
Grand Rapids to Butler = 154 mi

Plymouth to Fostoria = 94 mi
Plymouth to Butler = 142 mi

Jackson to Fostoria = 127 mi
Jackson to Butler = 106 mi

Bay City to Fostoria = 192 mi
Bay City to Butler = 215 mi

[Racer]

Alright Fostoria! I can make that! My car has a built-in DVD player if anybody wants me to bring movies and watch in my car, ask me what movies to bring. With the back seats down, we can fit about 6 people in my car. Anybody want to bring a grill and cooler? I can bring stuff for smores!

[Scooterb]

Fostoria has always been the tradition...... But maybe do a poll/vote on the Butler or Fostoria Area? Might be a little closer for some and more conveniant.

[Y@]

butler. screw f-town... im sick of CSX

[Scooterb]

Butler will give F-Town a run fo the money on train numbers 80-100 trains in 24 hours CP run through, and NS. I am not going to vote because I will go to either one.

[SteveTJ]

Alright Fostoria! I can make that! My car has a built-in DVD player if anybody wants me to bring movies and watch in my car

Yep, Gotta love the MyGig system.

I haven't been to butler before. What railroads other than CSX pass thru there?

[sd70accsxt700]

No CSX a Butler only NS and CP.

[Scooterb]

CSX is about 10 miles south of Butler at Saint Joe so if you want CSX action its just a short run down to there.

[GreatLakesRailfan]

I voted Fostoria, but depending on where I'm working and if I can get the time off work, I'd go to either one... Either way, there's more to see down there than there is to see in Bay Sh*tty...

[redside20]

My Vote goes for Butler because i think there needs to be a change of pace. We can't do the same thing over and again. three words location, location, location! Lets see Butler is a high coveted railfan spot on a major US road Route 6 which follows the track for miles in each direction.

The best thing about Butler its convenient to other railfan locations which are right on the NS mainline
lets see
Edgerton 5 miles
Waterloo in10 miles
Kendallville 15 miles
St Joe 10 miles
Auburn/Garrett areas 15 miles
Fort Wayne 30 miles
Elkhart 45 miles
South Bend 60 miles
Delta Oh 70 miles

Also with scooter zach and everyone else there is more of a middle because the location is right in the middle of where everyone meets.

[RailCanon]

I voted for Fostoria, but I'll go to either one.

[Racer]

I voted for Fostoria, but I'll go to either one.

Gregg, if it's Butler, Indiana, you'll have't to get another ride from someone else. Sorry.

[RailCanon]

I voted for Fostoria, but I'll go to either one.

Gregg, if it's Butler, Indiana, you'll have't to get another ride from someone else. Sorry.

Butler isn't as far away as you think. It's about the same distance as Fostoria would be.
I would probably end up going myself though, if it was Butler. For me it's basically a straight shot down I-69, a little closer and easier than Fostoria would be.

[GP9R]

I'll do either, but I would rather go to Butler, its further, but I would love to see some more CP. and I can always deal with NS. CSX does have more colorful power but I've never been a big fan of CSX and my last and only trip to Fostoria was pretty boring, a couple hour ride to see what I could have seen in Durand. It was like 8 trains all day, and most of them didn't go by the station, my mom was too chicken to go anywhere else.

[rsinoms]

amtrak would alos be a possible way to arrive in butler!!!! Plus you have a 8-10 hour layover in chicago both ways!!!!

[TrainWatcher]

Fostoria... But I'll go where Chris Takes me...

[Racer]

Fostoria... But I'll go where Chris Takes me...

Sorry James, but if the meet is in Butler, I'm not driving. Probably going to get a ride with Jon. With a lease vehicle, I have abused my allowed milage-per-month railfanning to Monroe, Durand, Carleton, etc. and I need to make-up on the milage. Also, I need to watch my gas budget seince I spent alot of money on my model railroad (Maybe alittle too much ).

[sd70accsxt700]

amtrak would alos be a possible way to arrive in butler!

Amtrak flys by Butler, the only way your getting off, is the throw mama from the train way.

Butler isn't as far away as you think. It's about the same distance as Fostoria would be. Maybe, 20/25 extra miles.

Mabey for you Gregg, but for anyone in the Detroit area, its only 100 miles to Fostoria, and 177 miles to Butler. Almost double the distance.

[PAT.C]

BUTLER IS MY CHOICE AND IT GIVES A BREAK IN MILEAGE FOR THE WEST MI. GUYS.
THERE IS A COVERED PAVILION JUST SOUTH OF THE TRACKS AND WE CAN USE IT OVERNITE. IT HAS PICNIC TABLES AND A GRILL.
READ SOME OF THE POSTS FROM THE LAST BUTLER FEST AND YOU'LL SEE THAT IT IS A GREAT LOCATION.
THERE IS APPROX. 14 MI. OF HIGHWAY FOR PACING TRAINS AND BUTLER, WATERLOO, AND EDGERTON OFFER LOTS OF FOTO SPOTS.

NO HOTELS IN BUTLER .

[rsinoms]

amtrak would alos be a possible way to arrive in butler!

Amtrak flys by Butler, the only way your getting off, is the throw mama from the train

I was thinking you could take amtrak to waterloo and have someone pick you up!