Calling All Steamers: GR Steamfest 2013

[Saturnalia]

I will coordinate with the folks at FWRHS to get 765 over to PC. Our two steamers are fully rebuilt and ready to roll now, the 1894 had a test run last weekend on the Northern Branch between Van Wert and St. Mary's and everything tested out okay. The 3001 is going to have one final test run this weekend just to make sure that everything is fine tuned. Now just to confirm because its been a while, when exactly is this event again? I need to coordinate with the CCP&S and make plans to clear up or lighten the load on my lines that will host excursions.

The event is the first week of July, including the 4th.

Let us know if everything can make it.

Just double-checking that the "excursions" you mention are not part of this event, since we haven't planned any on the PC for this.

[59caddy]

Man, I wish this was happening in real life.

[conrailman75]

Well, my routes from Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids via Allegan, the Grand Rapids Branch from Grand Rapids to Jackson, the entire South Haven Branch, and the GR&I from Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids are open to be used for excursions during this event if you so desire. If you don't want to use them, I will! I will start sending my steamers and all other steamers using my route on Friday the 28th and stage them in Hughart yard for ferrying over to the MQT on Sunday the 30th. I will get with the FWRHS and CCP&S to coordinate the deliveries of their excursion power to us.

[CarolinaSouthern]

If the M&N can get our H-1b 4-6-4 done, we will send it along with our streamlined passenger cars to the show.

[astrovanman1989]

ill set our gbw 2-6-0 and caboose at our greenville interchange on june 24th

[Saturnalia]

Here is the schedule for the first 3 days. Keep in mind we have other activities that happen daily that are not listed here.

Sunday, June 30th, 2013 – MQT Employees Only
• 8:00 – Exhibits open to MQT Employees
• 10:00 – PM 1223 Excursion Wyoming Yard to Newaygo
• 12:00 – Potluck-style Lunch
• 18:00 – Pizza dinner by Vitale’s
• 19:00 – Employee Appreciation Show including Speaker & History Movies
• 21:30 – Fireworks display at Wyoming Yard

Monday, July 1st, 2013
• 10:00 – Gates open to Everyone
• 11:00 – PM 1223 Excursion to Holland
• 13:30 – Exhibit: Steam up of PM 1225
• 15:00 – Wyoming Yard Tour under MQT #2, 50-tonner
• 18:00 – “Sunset” Excursion to Newaygo on PM 1225
• 21:30 – Gates Close to General Admission
• 23:00 – Gates Close to excursion Guests

Tuesday, July 2nd, 2013
• 10:00 Gates open to Everyone
• 11:00 PM 1223 Excursion to Holland, Grand Haven & Muskegon
• 12:00 Train Departs for Newaygo with Newaygo Grade Riders Onboard
• 14:00-16:00 Newaygo Grade Riders on North Newaygo Grade
• 15:00 Wyoming Yard Tour under MQT #2, 50 Tonner
• 18:00 Dinner train to Lowell Departs
• 19:00 “American History: Built on Steam” Presentation in Roundhouse Pavilion
• 21:00 Gates close to General Admission
• 22:00 Gates close to Excursion Guests

[59caddy]

Here is the schedule for the first 3 days. Keep in mind we have other activities that happen daily that are not listed here.

Sunday, June 30th, 2013 – MQT Employees Only
• 8:00 – Exhibits open to MQT Employees
• 10:00 – PM 1223 Excursion Wyoming Yard to Newaygo
• 12:00 – Potluck-style Lunch
• 18:00 – Pizza dinner by Vitale’s
• 19:00 – Employee Appreciation Show including Speaker & History Movies
• 21:30 – Fireworks display at Wyoming Yard

Monday, July 1st, 2013
• 10:00 – Gates open to Everyone
• 11:00 – PM 1223 Excursion to Holland
• 13:30 – Exhibit: Steam up of PM 1225
• 15:00 – Wyoming Yard Tour under MQT #2, 50-tonner
• 18:00 – “Sunset” Excursion to Newaygo on PM 1225
• 21:30 – Gates Close to General Admission
• 23:00 – Gates Close to excursion Guests

Tuesday, July 2nd, 2013
• 10:00 Gates open to Everyone
• 11:00 PM 1223 Excursion to Holland, Grand Haven & Muskegon
• 12:00 Train Departs for Newaygo with Newaygo Grade Riders Onboard
• 14:00-16:00 Newaygo Grade Riders on North Newaygo Grade
• 15:00 Wyoming Yard Tour under MQT #2, 50 Tonner
• 18:00 Dinner train to Lowell Departs
• 19:00 “American History: Built on Steam” Presentation in Roundhouse Pavilion
• 21:00 Gates close to General Admission
• 22:00 Gates close to Excursion Guests

You have fireworks for employees but not the public??!

Looks very fun and interesting, we'll have a festival in November we are planning now that will use some of your ideas

What are the "Grade Riders"?

What will happen to the roundhouse after the festival?

[ES44AH]

Here is the schedule for the first 3 days. Keep in mind we have other activities that happen daily that are not listed here.

Sunday, June 30th, 2013 – MQT Employees Only
• 8:00 – Exhibits open to MQT Employees
• 10:00 – PM 1223 Excursion Wyoming Yard to Newaygo
• 12:00 – Potluck-style Lunch
• 18:00 – Pizza dinner by Vitale’s
• 19:00 – Employee Appreciation Show including Speaker & History Movies
• 21:30 – Fireworks display at Wyoming Yard

Monday, July 1st, 2013
• 10:00 – Gates open to Everyone
• 11:00 – PM 1223 Excursion to Holland
• 13:30 – Exhibit: Steam up of PM 1225
• 15:00 – Wyoming Yard Tour under MQT #2, 50-tonner
• 18:00 – “Sunset” Excursion to Newaygo on PM 1225
• 21:30 – Gates Close to General Admission
• 23:00 – Gates Close to excursion Guests

Tuesday, July 2nd, 2013
• 10:00 Gates open to Everyone
• 11:00 PM 1223 Excursion to Holland, Grand Haven & Muskegon
• 12:00 Train Departs for Newaygo with Newaygo Grade Riders Onboard
• 14:00-16:00 Newaygo Grade Riders on North Newaygo Grade
• 15:00 Wyoming Yard Tour under MQT #2, 50 Tonner
• 18:00 Dinner train to Lowell Departs
• 19:00 “American History: Built on Steam” Presentation in Roundhouse Pavilion
• 21:00 Gates close to General Admission
• 22:00 Gates close to Excursion Guests

Can you put our Tom Thumb on display with the "American History presentation. It is the original Tom Thumb, the one that performed the famous race with the horse.

[Saturnalia]

Here is the schedule for the first 3 days. Keep in mind we have other activities that happen daily that are not listed here.

Sunday, June 30th, 2013 – MQT Employees Only
• 8:00 – Exhibits open to MQT Employees
• 10:00 – PM 1223 Excursion Wyoming Yard to Newaygo
• 12:00 – Potluck-style Lunch
• 18:00 – Pizza dinner by Vitale’s
• 19:00 – Employee Appreciation Show including Speaker & History Movies
• 21:30 – Fireworks display at Wyoming Yard

Monday, July 1st, 2013
• 10:00 – Gates open to Everyone
• 11:00 – PM 1223 Excursion to Holland
• 13:30 – Exhibit: Steam up of PM 1225
• 15:00 – Wyoming Yard Tour under MQT #2, 50-tonner
• 18:00 – “Sunset” Excursion to Newaygo on PM 1225
• 21:30 – Gates Close to General Admission
• 23:00 – Gates Close to excursion Guests

Tuesday, July 2nd, 2013
• 10:00 Gates open to Everyone
• 11:00 PM 1223 Excursion to Holland, Grand Haven & Muskegon
• 12:00 Train Departs for Newaygo with Newaygo Grade Riders Onboard
• 14:00-16:00 Newaygo Grade Riders on North Newaygo Grade
• 15:00 Wyoming Yard Tour under MQT #2, 50 Tonner
• 18:00 Dinner train to Lowell Departs
• 19:00 “American History: Built on Steam” Presentation in Roundhouse Pavilion
• 21:00 Gates close to General Admission
• 22:00 Gates close to Excursion Guests

Can you put our Tom Thumb on display with the "American History presentation. It is the original Tom Thumb, the one that performed the famous race with the horse.

That engine will be the backdrop

[ConrailMan5]

HC&E will no longer be sending the 0-6-0

[Ypsi]

Can I send an sd70ace and an executive coach? Not steam but I want to be represented

Because of our recent sale, we will not be attending steam fest his year.

[59caddy]

Can I send an sd70ace and an executive coach? Not steam but I want to be represented

Because of our recent sale, we will not be attending steam fest his year.

You can still send other power that you have not sold.

[Ypsi]

We do not want to so we are not going to. Things change after sales and time.

[59caddy]

MQT, will the steam engines be able to fit under the Colonial Drive overpass on the way to Newaygo?

[Saturnalia]

MQT, will the steam engines be able to fit under the Colonial Drive overpass on the way to Newaygo?

Yes, colonial is high enough for excess-height:



(you don't even need to watch, the thumbnail shows excess height cars!)

[59caddy]

MQT, will the steam engines be able to fit under the Colonial Drive overpass on the way to Newaygo?

Yes, colonial is high enough for excess-height:



(you don't even need to watch, the thumbnail shows excess height cars!)

Even the 1225?

[Saturnalia]

Yes, even the 1225

[59caddy]

Since MoTown Commuter Rail won't, we would like to operate the passenger trains into Grand Rapids for the festival.

I would run trains on any schedule the railroads can handle to Grand Rapids from each route on or before opening day, and then any number of trains back at the end. Stations would consist of simple temporary platforms built wherever possible.

Routes:
-Toledo-Grand Rapids, connections with MTR in Toledo, Plymouth and Howell, and AMTK in Lansing and GR
-Kalamazoo-GR, connections with AMTK in K-zoo and GR

We are looking to Mid-America Railcar Leasing to lease some historic private cars powered by our own locomotives.

Let me know if this is okay on your respective railroads, we will try to not be too cumbersome on your railroads.

[conrailman75]

Since MoTown Commuter Rail won't, we would like to operate the passenger trains into Grand Rapids for the festival.

I would run 3 trains to Grand Rapids from each route on or before opening day, and then three trains back at the end. Stations would consist of simple temporary platforms built wherever possible.

Routes:
-Plymouth-Grand Rapids, connections with MTR in Plymouth and Howell, and with AMTK in Lansing and GR
-Ft. Wayne-GR, connections with AMTK in Ft.W, S. Bend and GR, and NICTD in S. Bend

We are looking to Mid-America Railcar Leasing to lease some historic private cars powered by our own locomotives.

Let me know if this is okay on your respective railroads, it should not be too cumbersome on your railroads.

Okay, first off you can't reach South Bend on my route from Ft Wayne to GR, which is the GR&I Branch. There is no connection at Kendallville so you cannot get onto it off the Chicago Line. Second, you can only run one trip up and one trip back because I have to slot you into our traffic patterns between Ft. Wayne and Kalamazoo. Now from K-zoo to GR you can run your 3 trips up and back because that portion of the line is open for use during the festival. I will talk to the traffic department and let you know how we will slot you in with the other excursion moves that will be running before and after the festival.

[Saturnalia]

If you bring anyone in, make it one each way on the 3rd and 5th, and two on the 4th. The 4th will be the biggest day.