S-Fest Report
Good morning.
I attended the 2002 S-Fest in Tingley Park, IL. It was held at the
Tingley Park convention center. Because of my schedule I was only able to
attend late on Friday. I left work at 2:00 PM in Milwaukee and got to the
south side of Chicagoland at 5:30. I was using the directions from the web
site and this gave no clue if you were to go North or South from the closest
interchange. The address was so new that Mapquest.com had no idea. It
guessed South. I, of course, followed this and it was North.
Coming back over the bridge I really needed to go the bathroom. I
spotted the Holiday Inn on the right and decided they have bathrooms and I
can ask for directions there. I drove in to discover the large, attached,
gray building just to the Holiday Inn's North was the convention center.
Right now I didn't care: I had a mission. I parked the car, went in, found
the toilet. When I came out the world was fine again. Smiles all around.
I was now thinking about supper. I eat by the clock and it was
suppertime. About that time I was greeted by Dick Kloes, Gary Children, and
Ray (Raymond) ?Something?. The first two are of Badgerland S Gaugers and I
didn't know Ray before. The three of us went to Bananas, the restaurant in
the Holiday Inn. Dick and Gary were disappointed they didn't have catfish
on the menu. (I told my wife about this later. When Catherine went grocery
shopping she purchased fresh catfish steaks.)
We all ended up with the prime rib. Prime rib, clam chowder soup,
basket of breads, wilted stir-fry vegetables, and a baked potato. A large
baked potato. A very large baked potato. Each of our potatoes could have
been carved into a tunnel for N scale. Dick got the whopper of them all.
It was normal shape but close to a foot long! And soft and fluffy. Whoever
cooked these knew what they were doing. Good food. Good company.
After eating, I tried to get away as I knew the trading floor closed at
10:00 and I had to go home Friday night. Getting the check took forever.
$12.00 (with tip) for a Prime Rib dinner in a motel restaurant is a good
buy. (Of course I left my big cash at home so I had only what was already
in my wallet.) I left Dick and company here and took off.
Registration was easy as I had prepaided. I got my packet and started
in. I enjoyed all of the layouts. As I hadn't ever had a chance to really
look at the All-Aboard panels, Art Dotes' layout was appreciated. The
others, as always, are bigger and better every time.
I got to the trading floor. Jeff Wilson of Hoquat Hobbies was there. I
purchased the last traction shell he had: CNS&M express motor 314. (Box
motor with four big doors.) It came without box and almost without anything
else. But I can figure this out. (Yes, this one too has copies of the AF
caboose door for all of the doors: just like the North Shore coach and the
North Shore merchandise dispatch car: Box motor with two big center doors.)
I stressed again that I wanted to purchase 10 more steeplecab shells.
Jeff informed me that they are gone. If I can find J. Wolf (who made them),
maybe I can get more but Jeff's letters have gone unanswered. So I guess my
project of building 10 (with most for sale) is dead.
The biggest disappointment was the number of tables that had stuff but
were covered and did not uncover that evening. Saddest was the NASG table
as this was one of the reasons I drove a total of six and a half hours to
get there and back! As an NASG member this was a big disappointment. CASG
members told me John Foley was responsible for the tables. I got there at
6:45 PM and left at 9:45 PM. Not once during those three hours was the
table uncovered. I wanted to examine the NASG modern building before
purchasing one (or several). I also wanted to purchase a second standards
gauge. I hate dealing with the mail and I hate paying shipping. All
previous S-Fests that I have attended have always had a working NASG table
and someone with it.
I got the JAX blocks from S-Helper, Bob Barker's CD book from Port Line
hobbies, two bags of the 120 MTH people, a couple of trolley books, a few
parts, and many, many fine conversations. Tom Hodges of American Highrail
was doing a brisk business and is out of Northern tender shells at this time
(336). (He had about 20 frames, however.) He still hasn't cut me my water
tender. (Don't point out Raisin River's masterpiece water tender. That
work of art would look ridiculous behind a pure AF 336. I love my 336. I
need something as crude as it is.) American Highrail has a brand-new
doodlebug which looks much like the Bachman Spectrum in HO. Very nice.
(No, I did not buy one. If it had been an interurban or MU coach, I would
have. Probably several...)
American Models didn't have much at their booth. But it turns out
Karen bought Ron surprise tickets to the Stones Concert for Saturday night.
I hope he had a good time because if I had those tickets I know I wouldn't
have made the S-Fest either! (I can buy from Ron either direct or next
year. I always get good support from Ron.)
Des Plaines hobbies was also closed all evening.
When I left I turned in my badge holder. (Someone else I am sure used it on
Saturday.) I went home to bed. On Saturday I did all of the normal weekend
stuff except mow the lawn (which is very overdue). When I could, it rained.
Sunday saw me climb onto a plane for California. And here I am. So I
could not have stayed for Saturday, I had to pack and catch a plane.
Tonight (Monday) I visit Ed L's home with my steeplecabs and on Wednesday I
go to Bill Roberts.
All in all it was another successful S-Fest. If you were there I hope you
had as much fun as I did.
Thorin
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