[RITSlist] RITS - Chicago MSI possibility

[George Bailey]

Mr. Carson, other RITS officers, members and RI fans -
   
  I am a RITS member who is also a member of the Atlas MRR forum. We have been having an interesting thread which might open a possibility for a future RITS event at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry.
   
  http://forum.atlasrr.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=39172
   
  One of the MSI employees, David Harrison, who is also an Atlas forum member, works with the Great Train Story layout in the museum. If you have not heard nor seen this HO scale layout, I can tell you it must be one of the biggest layouts in the area. It "starts" with a good portion of downtown Chicago, proceeds past farms, small towns, industries, and "ends" at Seattle's dock area, taking up a good portion of a very large room, and is superbly done.
   
  http://www.msichicago.org/
   
  http://www.msichicago.org/exhibit/great_train_story/index.html
   
  The MSI usually runs BNSF trains, but for a special upcoming event with an UP historical society is running UP power on the layout for a weekend. Of course, once David posted a description of the event, several other road fans inquired about the possibility of having their road on the layout for a special weekend (to include my request for a RI one, of course!).
   
  After talking to his boss, David has posted the following guidelines for such an event at the MSI:
   
  "It might be possible for outside groups to be involved in a special event theme operation such as backdating or a specific RR. It would be recommended that the group be a historical society, or maybe a club group, but not an individual. Date or dates would be agreed upon. a conformance person would certify beforehand equipment to be operated. Advertising to increase public attendance and/or a charter bus commitment." (unclear here - to be undertaken by the society/club, I think, or at least in conjunction with the MSI ??).
   
  My understanding is that RITS members would furnish the HO scale locomotives and rolling stock for the event.
   
  I think this would be a unique opportunity for the RITS to have a large public impact, for RI fans in the area to enjoy seeing a great layout with RI trains, and for RI modelers to get their models on the GTS layout, and for new visitors to see the MSI - which has many exciting exhibits besides the layout (and, of course, for the MSI to make money). Perhaps such an event could be in conjunction with a Chicago RITS convention. Another possibility we discussed would to have several clubs/societies "pool" together for a "Fallen Flags" weekend event.
   
  I am posting this to the RITS list, so that both RITS members as well as RI fans can chime in with their thoughts.
   
  Jack, if you wish to contact David for more details about the GTS and the possibility of a RTIS event at the MSI, I have his home phone number. If you e-mail me back, I will send it to you.
   
  Thoughts, anyone ???
   
  - George
   
   
   
  
 

       
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