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Rail Fan’s Weekend XXVI

October, 2006

"Larry and I wanted our first show to be dedicated towards remembering our loss of the MILW. Ed Lynch took the bull by the horns and used his contacts with Richard Steinheimer, Warren Marcus, John Illman, Noel Holley and Bruce Black to have them attend. 26 guys turned out to look at MILW slides we had all brought. The Cherrywood Room (what Sid Goodrich had named it) was brand new back then and a good venue. The cost was nominal, just a few bucks each to cover the room rental cost. The hotel rooms were a deal, either $29 or $39 a night. Seems cheap now but in 1981 we were not making as much either, so I don’t like those comparisons. For the first few years we continued to meet, each year with a theme, usually remembering one of the region’s fallen flags or paint schemes. Word continued to spread and the crowd eventually grew so we dropped the idea of a theme. Recent years have seen the group range from 55-70 attendees. For Year Three we increased the attendance fee to cover the room cost and the beer/pop we would provide, to keep people from wandering back and forth to the hotel for refreshments during the slide shows. Neither Larry nor I had attended the better known shows such as Winterrail with their presentation format. Still, a few of the guys over the years have asked to put one on and we have always accommodated them. As the show became larger Larry and I began to count on my brother Ken to act as bartender and Art to organize the slide projectors. The door prize thing started with Year Ten when we thought it would be a good commemorative gesture. Due to the generosity of the attendees, this aspect has continued every year."

"There is a tradition of good railroad photographers from Alberta and Montana. While Montana can claim Ron Nixon and Warren Magee, we had CP’s famous Nicholas Morant and Bob Sandusky. I’ve always wanted the show to be one where the guys who are serious about this hobby can get together and socialize. One of the benefits would be obvious. With a diverse geographical background we would always have a resource to count on for information or fellowship on a visit to a new area. The show has evolved from a gathering of the locals, which always forms the core, to a gathering of photographers. More pictures get published surrounding this event than any other rail fan gathering I know of. Fortunately the ego-maniacs have stayed away, or if one did show up he was quietly told to "check it at the door". Occasionally we still have to have Art play with the timer to discourage some newcomer, who thinks he can dominate the proceedings."

"I have been pleased over the years to see the improvement in quality from some of the local guys who came to watch, learn and listen from the others. As we near the quarter century mark, it’s still a fun weekend to put on."