Fresh Tracks - "If it wasn't for you meddling kids!"

Article by Nick Wilson Young people often experience frustration in trying to be taken seriously in this "grown-up" hobby. The Teen Association of Model Railroaders gives many youths an introduction into the world of model railroading. For many, this is their first contact with others their own age who are interested in trains. As an organizer in the western New York area, I invited several modelers to come to the Rochester area for a meet. This regional meet took place from July 16 to July 20 in the year of 2001 after our TAMR's National Convention. As part of this regional meet, I tried to book some interesting tours and events. Back in the planning stages for the meet, I was discouraged to find that many people were turned off by the fact that this was a teen group. However, many others understood the goals of our group, and were thrilled to have our attendance. For example, Otto Vondrak of the Rochester Institute of Technology Model Railroad Club had previously met me and knew that we weren't the spray-painting-punk street kids that some people presume us to be. Together, we set up a very nice operating session on RITMRC's huge club layout. After a brief question and answer period, including a tour of the railroad, we were allowed to use our own equipment and run trains over their HO scale Rochester & Irondequoit Terminal Railroad. Hours later, on our way home for the evening, everyone commented on how much fun they had. Another place that accepted us with open arms was the joint museum of the New York Museum of Transportation and the Rochester Chapter NRHS's Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum. They understood that we shared common goals, and that we were interested in learning about railroading. We got to go around the museum grounds and look at all of the equipment on display. We got a tour of the whole overall museum, which included rides pulled by their Fairmont speeders over tracks laid by their volunteers! The museum appreciated that we as the younger generation had an interest in railway preservation, with an eye to the future. However, the most unbelievable thing of all was what happened at the CSX's Rochester Yard (formerly Conrail's Goodman Street Yard). I got a hold of the Yardmaster and asked if we could possibly get a yard tour. At first, he was very skeptical about the idea, but after I explained the goals of TAMR, he was extremely glad we wanted to come and extended an invitation to our group. We started with a tour of the yard tower, which gave us an inside look at railroad yard operation. We also got a tour of an active ex-Conrail caboose (Rochester is one of the few locations on the CSX system with an active caboose pool used on locals). As thanks, we received lots of official CSX items (sunglasses, payment sheets, yard diagrams, timetables, operating manuals, etc.) to take home as souvenirs. But the best part of the yard tour, by far, was the cab ride in a GP38-2. After it came back from a local, we piled on and were treated to a cab ride around the yard. The crew was very friendly, explaining to us all the functions and controls. It was rewarding to know that these groups welcomed and trusted us to visit with them. Hopefully we will be able to do another meet like this the next time a National Convention is in this area. Overall, this regional meet was a complete success and a lot of people found out that we aren't the punks that we are presumed to be. To learn more about TAMR, please visit TAMR. Happy Railroading!

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