By Ken Liesse
As we head towards the end of October, I’d like to remind everyone that November is National Model Railroad Month. But why wait for railroad related events? Here are a few of the things coming up, starting this coming weekend.
This year, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) is celebrating its 40th anniversary. To celebrate, Amtrak has put together a special commemorative train with displays of Amtrak’s history. The train is appearing at King Street Station in Seattle this coming weekend (October 22-23), and will be open to the public from 10 to 4 each day. It will then move to Portland for display the following weekend. These are the only two stops the train is making in the Pacific Northwest (a slap in the face to a lot of places that have supported Amtrak over the years, but it is what it is).
The second weekend of November, the Boeing Employee’s Model Railroad Club will be putting on their annual show at the Kent Commons (corner of 4th and James in Kent). Hours for the show will be 9:30-4:00. This is always a great show and over the years has grown to take up most of the Commons. There’s usually a line to get in, so plan on arriving early to get the best deals.
November 18th is Take a Model Train to Work Day. This has turned into an annual event where model railroaders are encouraged to take a model or two to work to let their co-workers know what they do for a hobby. Some have even gone as far as taking small layouts to their workplaces to really let people see what they do with their free time. This is a great opportunity to share our hobby with others and maybe even get some more people interested in model railroading.
As mentioned previously here (thanks Walt Huston), November 19th is the day for the Tacoma Layout Tours (see previous article). There are a whole bunch of neat layouts on this tour and it will be well worth your time to stop by and visit as many as you can.
Once you’re done touring layouts, stop by the Puyallup Fairgrounds. The Great Train Expo is in town again, and there will be several modular layouts on display as well as more opportunities to lighten your wallet. The show runs Saturday & Sunday (November 19 & 20th), 10-4 both days.
In addition, don’t forget the monthly clinics that 4D sponsors throughout the division. There are several great clinics coming up next month, so you won’t want to miss the one nearest you.
I’d like to remind everyone that November is National Model Railroad Month.[/i]
And I’d like to remind everyone that this is the reason why we always held the Science Center show in November. Up until a few short years ago.
November is the traditional month when families went shopping for train sets. Train sets to put up around the Christmas tree. Who goes shopping for train sets in the last weeks of January? Who even gets a day off in the last weeks of January, except for federal government and public school system employees? I wish they ( we ) had never changed. It doesn’t make sense. Unless your “target audience” is public school students, who do get a day off in the last weeks of January.
I urge all members to contact the Science Center, and explain to them that falling attendance, falling revenue, falling interest in our train show, can all be traced directly to their ill-conceived decision to shift the November train show to the last weeks of January. Urge them to shift it back. Do not contact the superintendent, or the board, or our organization – I have been told that they have expressed the preferences of the organization, but since they are only 5 or 6 people their opinions are ignored. Numbers count. The more people who contact the Science Center, the more weight it will carry.
We can change the Science Center show back to National Model Railroad month. But only if we care enough to make a phone call.
Remember when we had a 3-day attendance of 32,000 at the Science center show?
Well, I do.
That will never happen again, with the show being held in January.
But, maybe that’s the whole idea. At least, to some people. People who don’t belong to our organization, any way.