2014 Toy Train Operating Society National Convention Buffalo, NY

2014 Toy Train Operating Society National Convention
Buffalo, NY
August 5-9, 2014
Buffalo How Buffalo got its name remains a mystery, although the site has never been named anything else. Ironically, there have never been buffalo in Buffalo, except the North American bison at the zoo. One of many theories blames the misnomer on a mispronunciation of the French beau fleuve, or “beautiful river”. The river is the Niagara. The Buffalo‐Niagara area has a rich history: Millard Fillmore, Grover Cleveland, Shirley Chisholm, and Red Jacket had ties to Buffalo along with President Theodore Roosevelt was sworn into office here after President William McKinley’s Assassination. Other residents include William G. Fargo as well as inventors of the windshield wiper, the pacemaker, and the electric chair. Ellsworth Statler opened his first Hotel Statler here and Samuel Clemens was an editor of the Buffalo Express. Frank Lloyd Wright left his mark on Buffalo with the Darwin D. Martin house (one of our tours). There are over 100 sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places here in buffalo along with the picturesque 269 acre historic Forest Lawn Cemetery – since 1850. Niagara Falls As ice retreated 50,000 years ago, the land rose behind it forming such ridges as the Niagara Escarpment. The melting ice formed the vast Lake Erie, which began overflowing the escarpment about 12,000 years ago creating Niagara Falls. The Canadian or Horseshoe Falls are 177 feet high and deeply curving crest of 2,200 feet. The American Falls are slightly higher at 184 feet and have a shorter, fairly straight crest of 1,075 feet. The third and smallest of Niagara’s falls, Bridal Veil, is separated from the other falls by Luna and Goat Islands. Untouched, the combined flow of water over the falls is 1.5 million gallons per second. However, one‐half to two‐thirds is diverted to generate electricity before it gets to the falls. Many forts were built and destroyed in this area. The Buffalo‐
Niagara area grew and prospered with the arrival of steamships, the Erie Canal, and the railroads. NOTE: If you wish to go to the Canadian side, you must bring your valid passport with you. How to get to Buffalo The Buffalo‐Niagara area is serviced by the Buffalo‐Niagara Airport (BUF), Amtrak (Buffalo‐Depew Station), or by driving (NYS Thruway). The airport has 110 flights daily to 23 non‐stop locations; the airlines include AirTran, American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United Airlines, and US Airways.
GENERAL INFORMATION Once you register for the 2014 TTOS National Convention (one‐time $40 fee until July 1, 2014), you can sign up for tours and all other functions or order 2014 convention memorabilia. TTOS host hotel, the Millennium will be the place buses will pick‐up and return attendees. If you have questions or require additional information regarding tours and other activities, please contact the TTOS office at 714‐449‐
9391 (Tues, Wed, Thur // 10am – 2pm PST). Things to Do and See in Buffalo‐Niagara Area Buffalo Museum of Science Niagara Aerospace Museum Buffalo Zoo T. Roosevelt Inaugural Historic Site Harbor Cruise / Miss Buffalo II Fireman’s Memorial Exhibit Center F. L. Wright’s Fontana Boathouse F. L Wright’s Graycliff Estate Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino Aquarium of Niagara Devil’s Hole State Park Niagara Gorge Discovery Center Niagara’s Wax Museum of History Whirlpool State Park Old Fort Niagara Niagara Adventure Theater Niagara Power Project Power Vista Niagara Wine Trail Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel The Millennium Hotel – Buffalo Airport/Galleria 2040 Walden Ave. (I‐90 @ Exit 52E) Cheektowaga, NY 14225 (716) 681‐2400 The Millennium Hotel is the TTOS host hotel. It is a 100% non‐smoking hotel with a unique and convenient location providing access to Western New York attractions and commercial centers. This hotel is just 3 miles from the Buffalo Airport (BUF) and the Buffalo‐Depew Amtrak station with a complimentary shuttle. One of the area’s finest shopping is a short walk to the mega Walden Galleria Mall with over 200 stores, shops, theaters, and restaurants. The Millennium Hotel offers a 24‐hour front desk, ATM/cash machine, bell staff/porter, free parking for guests, the elegant Waldens Restaurant, spirited Twigs Lounge, all season pool, game room, business center, guest laundry, and fitness center and sauna. The guest rooms offer a hair dryer, coffee maker, high speed internet access, iron board, voicemail, satellite TV, and clock radio. There are elevators and handicap accessible rooms as well as room service. This is a full‐service hotel with seasoned professionals eager to exceed your expectations. Reservations for the special TTOS rates of the Millennium Hotel’s “Superior 2‐Queens” or “Superior 1‐King” rooms are $119 per night (plus taxes of 13.75%) or you can upgrade to Courtyard Guestrooms for an additional $10 per night. Reservations must be made BEFORE July 1, 2014. When making reservations, call (800) 323‐3331 and tell the agent you are with the Toy Train Operating Society. Any cancellations must be made 72 hours prior to the scheduled date of arrival or you will be charged for one night stay plus taxes. Please note: the same policy applies to “no‐shows.” Check‐in time is 4:00pm and check‐out time is 11:00am. We advise you to register for a hotel room at your earliest convenience as TTOS has a specific room block for this hotel. Explore the Roar of Niagara Falls – A World of Wonder Awaits You Monday, August 4 – OR – Sunday, August 10 A day to explore on your own A World Wonder awaits you. Ride the world famous Maid of Mist within feet of the mighty Falls, or literally let Niagara’s water rush over you at the Cave of the Winds. Here you will get an up close and personal experience with The Falls. At Niagara Falls State Park, beautiful vistas, world‐class attractions and much more await. Niagara Falls is perfect for those who are young or young at heart. There is an old prediction that “the love of those who honeymoon here will last as long as the falls themselves.” Goat Island in the Niagara River separates the US from Canada, the Three Sisters Islands lie in the rapids, and Luna Island lies between the American and Bridal Veil Falls. These islands are accessible by foot‐paths and each one offers spectacular vistas. The Niagara Adventure Theater’s film “Niagara: Legends of Adventure” tells the story of legends, explorers, and daredevils. Visit the Prospect Point Observation Tower with views 260 feet above the falls and elevators to take you down into the gorge. The Niagara Falls Scenic Trolley lets you enjoy an overview of the park in a half hour with one of the knowledgeable guides, or you can get off and on at each of six stops to explore the attractions. HINT: plan to see the evening light show; it is spectacular! {Trivia: Annie Edson Taylor, a 63 year old school teacher, was the first person to survive a trip over the falls in a barrel} Tour #1 – “It’s All About Transportation Thru The Ages”
Tuesday, August 5 – (8am to 5pm) (STRICT limit of 30 people maximum)
Cost: $ 60 This tour begins with a one‐time chance to see the GM Powertrain Plant. Here GM engines are built, but not just any engine – you will witness the birth of the all new line of GEN V engines, like those used in the new 2014 & 2015 C7 Corvette Stingray. This signature engine represents the rebirth of the company itself and the factory that makes it. The GEN V incorporates new internal technologies as well as new build‐ technologies. Our guide will show us how the engines were developed and built as we walk through the factory; you will see why they are so unique to the automotive world. Of note, the Tonawanda Engine Plant was built in 1937 as a one‐million‐
square‐foot manufacturing facility for engines and axles. During WWII, it assembled 14‐ and 18‐
cylinder Pratt & Whitney engines for planes such as the P‐47 Thunderbolt and B‐24 Liberator. It built the first small block V‐8 in 1955 and the first big block in 1958. Today, the plant has expanded and builds multiple sizes of the “EcoTec” engine. Our tour bus will then take us through portions of Buffalo so we can see both current and historic sites of products made in the area ‐‐ heard of world renowned Roswell Park Cancer Institute, General Mills Cheerios, DuPont Corian©, Dunlop Tires, Rich Products Frozen Foods, Moog Servo Controls, Wilson Greatbatch Medical Pacemakers, Sheas Performing Arts Theater and from days gone by Curtis‐Wright Aircraft, Bell Aerospace, Westinghouse, Western‐Electric, Herschel Carousels, Pratt & Lambert Paints, Iroquois Beer, Schaeffer Brewing, Simon Pure Ale, Trico Windshield Wipers, Wurlitzer and many others. We will also see the Edward M. Cotter Fireboat, the world’s oldest working fireboat. This tour will also cross over or pass by lift bridges, bascule bridges, and swing bridges; in fact you might meet an operator of the international swing bridge! Next we will stop at the once grand deco‐style Buffalo Central Terminal, now being restored. It was the second largest terminal in New York State and was the approximate halfway point for the Twentieth Century Limited (traveling from New York City to Chicago). Lunch will be at Chef’s Italian Restaurant which has been in the same location since 1923 & made famous by many celebrities who dined here. You’ll see an array of “who’s‐who” photos on their wall of fame that travelled many miles to sample their fares. And then across the street is the Buffalo Transportation Pierce‐Arrow Museum which just completed a major expansion so it could show so much more of its fascinating archives. It is the home of an incredible collection of automobiles from 1902 to 1960. The development of transportation in the Buffalo area is chronicled through exhibits of automobiles, muscle cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and such related motoring memorabilia as signs, parts, and accessories. Of particular interest is a collection of Pierce‐Arrow automobiles and hood ornaments as well as such cars as Edwin Ross Thomas’ “Thomas Flyer”, William C. Carr’s electric carts, and the Buffalo Electric Stanhope. The museum expansion now includes the Buffalo Filling Station based on preliminary design plans developed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
NOTE: NO open‐toed shoes, NO rings, NO loose jewelry, NO neckties in the GM plant TOUR #2 – “It’s An All American Tour” Wednesday, August 6 Cost: $ 50 We will travel by motor coach to the “Made In America Store” where you will see and purchase items for family, friends, pets, or yourself. There are 5,000 individual items (100% made in America) from 400+ vendors in a 6,000 sq. ft. store including (but not limited to) toys, food, clothing, furniture, gifts, sporting goods, artwork – you name it. Then we re‐board our motor coach for a trip back in time as we head to the Arcade & Attica Railroad. Upon arrival, you will see a variety of railroad equipment in addition to the New York, Ontario & Western private car used by President Grover Cleveland. Your journey aboard the train begins as you enter the historic station with its exhibits, antique lanterns, switch locks, and nostalgic photos. Then we board the passenger train for a ride through the countryside and farmlands that have remained virtually unchanged since the tracks were laid in the 1880’s. At Currier’s Station, the 2‐8‐0 steam engine turns around while you take photos and talk to the crew. This railroad is steeped in history and you can read all about it if you go to their website: arcadeandattica.com. Lunch and light snacks will be provided on this tour. TOUR #3 – “Favorite Foods” Welcome Party – Then Trip To The Buffalo Naval & Cost: $ 50 Military Park and “Canalside” Wednesday Night, August 6 The Welcome Party lasts into the evening. We begin this adventure with a “Taste of Buffalo” as we sample a variety of light fare known to western New York, chat with friends, and bid on unique items in the Silent Auction. We then board our motor coach for a short ride to Buffalo’s th
“Canalside”. In the 19 Century, Buffalo’s terminus of the Erie Canal made it one of the country’s most important transportation and industrial centers of New York State. Today, “Canalside” is Buffalo’s $295 million waterfront redevelopment masterpiece with multiple activities throughout the week. The Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park is the largest inland park of its kind in the nation. The park represents all the branches of the Armed Forces and is home to the USS Little Rock (a cruiser), the USS Sullivans (a destroyer), and the USS Croaker (a submarine) as well as a number of other smaller vehicles, vessels, and aircraft. You will have time to explore all of this as the sun sets over Lake Ontario and you enjoy an ice cream social on the fantail of the USS Little Rock. Good food, wonderful location wrapped in history, and the camaraderie of your fellow members – all the ingredients for a memorable evening! TOUR #4 – “It’s All About Lockport Locks And An Erie Canal Cruise” Thursday, August 7 Cost: $ 50 Much remains the same as it was on the Erie Canal as it was in the 1800’s. Hand‐dug to connect the Hudson River with the Niagara River, the 363‐mile Grand Ole Erie Canal is truly a great engineering feat. Originally, 83 stone locks overcame the 571‐foot level difference between the rivers. Enlarged in the 1900’s, 35 locks now allow larger vessels to travel across New York State. We will board our comfortable motor coach that will take us to our destination in Lockport. Upon our arrival, we will experience a unique 2‐hour cruise which includes “locking through” and being raised the 49 feet elevation of the Niagara Escarpment (the same one that creates the Niagara Falls) in the only double set of locks on the Erie Canal. You pass under bridges that raise straight up, see water cascade over Lockport’s famous “Flight of Five” 1840’s locks, and travel through the solid walls of the “rock cut” as your captain describes the sights, architecture, and folklore along the way. Enjoy the cruise as you wave to joggers and bicyclists on the tow path. Travel is quiet and peaceful on the Erie Canal. These Coast Guard inspected vessels are easily accessible. Snacks and beverages are available on board. Depending on our schedule, lunch will be served before or after the cruise. TOUR #5 – First Night of Home Layouts Thursday Night, August 7 Cost: $ 30 This evening we will travel in minivans to see three home layouts. For some of us, we will see something we would wish to have at home: a basement! Light refreshments will be served at each stop. One layout we will visit is a “Hi‐Tech” O‐gauge layout that covers nearly 500 square feet. The layout is said to be “Where The North Meets The South” with his collection boasting an astonishing array of Southern Railway & other equipment. You’ll see trains operating in conventional, DCS, and TMCC environments as well as intricate scenery and structures. Along with trains displayed floor to ceiling with a variety of railroadannia, you will see two unique nostalgia Muscle Cars from days gone by. Another layout says, “Come one. Come all.” See the Big Top with 3 rings full of entertainment with an extensive collection of supporting trains and trailers located on part of this 20 foot x 34 foot layout. The train board contains structures with animated county fair rides from Lionel all landscaped to form an amusement park that is 8ft x 8ft. The rest contains Atlas O‐gauge track that winds through MTH industrial centers and Plasticville towns. The room has large displays of NYC and PRR engines from Atlantics to the most articulated along with displays of circus and 1960’s 6464 box cars. And another stop is an 18ft x 50ft semi‐scale, S‐gauge transcontinental layout that will be the feature article of an upcoming “Classic Toy Trains” magazine. The layout starts out in New England, goes through the Horseshoe Curve in Pennsylvania, crosses a portion of the Grand Canyon, and ends up on the California Coast. Also included is a large collection of prewar, post‐war, and Lionel American Flyer models in wide gauge, O‐gauge, S‐gauge, and HO. TOUR #6 – “It’s All About The Darwin D. Martin House and The Buffalo History Museum” Friday, August 8 Cost: $ 65 “It can be argued that the Martin House Complex is the most important house design of the first half of Wright’s career, matched only by Fallingwater over 30 years later.” – Wright scholar Robert McCarter The Darwin D. Martin House Complex, also known as the Darwin Martin House National Historic Landmark, was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and built between 1903 and 1905. It is considered one of the most important projects from Wright’s Prairie School era, distinguished from his other houses by its unusually large size and open plan; it is one of the largest homes he built. The Martin House Complex was the home of Darwin D. Martin, a businessman, and his wife. Martin and his brother were co‐owners of the E‐Z Stove Polish Company based in Chicago. Martin was instrumental in selecting Wright as the architect for the Larkin Administration Building in downtown Buffalo, Wright’s first commercial project in 1904. (Martin was a principal of the Larkin Soap Company.) Some twenty years later, in 1926, Wright designed a second major complex for the Martin family, Graycliff, a summer estate overlooking Lake Erie. Wright was especially fond of the Martin House design, referring to it for some 50 years as his “opus”, and calling the complex “A well‐nigh perfect composition”. Of particular significance are the fifteen distinctive patterns of nearly 400 art glass windows that Wright designed for the entire complex, some of which contain over 750 individual pieces of jewel‐like iridescent glass that act as “light screens” to visually connect exterior views with the spaces within. The complex includes the Martin House, the Barton House, the Carriage House, the Conservatory, and the Pergola. The multi‐year renovation is producing stunning results and the docents are wonderful.
After a delightful luncheon at the famous Anchor Bar Restaurant, we will set off for the Buffalo History Museum that was designed by Buffalo architect George Cary with its south portico meant to evoke the Parthenon in Athens. Founded in 1862, the Buffalo Historical Society’s first president was Millard Fillmore. In 1987, it was designated a National Historic Landmark. The museum current location was built in 1901 during the Pan American Exposition; it was clad in white marble. The research library includes genealogical information. The museum features exhibits and extensive collection of artifacts, books, manuscripts, and photographs chronicling the development of Buffalo and the Niagara Frontier & a train layout! TOUR #7 – Second Night of Home Layouts Friday Night, August 8 Cost: $ 30 Again, prepare to be amazed. These home layouts are outstanding with national recognition. We will travel in minivans to maximize our time walking through the layouts, studying the collections, and talking to the operator(s). Light refreshments will be served at each location. One layout is 54ft x 23ft and has been featured in O‐Gauge magazine three times (such as Run 214) and will appear in an upcoming issue of Classic Toy Trains. Over the years, he has acquired well over 300 locomotives and over 1000 pieces of freight and passenger rolling stock; it is all on display for you to see. His layout runs on rails of Gargraves Trackage and Ross Custom Switches, and the layout is controlled with TMCC and DCS systems. He commonly operates long consists of both passenger and freight trains with multiple headed locomotives of railroads known all across the country. Another layout is over 700 square feet and is patterned after the landscape of western Colorado and Utah where he runs Union Pacific, Southern Pacific, and Denver, Rio Grande. He runs a few MTH engines, but he is dedicated to Lionel and has the latest UP engines from Lionel including the Vision Line Challenger and the UP 9000. He has ordered the new Vision Line Big Boy. His track system is 100% FasTrack and has had no problems with its operation. There are also a few unique sound chips incorporated in his layout. If you don’t enjoy the layout, you will definitely enjoy the sounds. Another stop will be to see the train room that displays O‐gauge prewar, postwar, and modern operating equipment. It’s reported to be the oldest layout in the world due to the sight of several dinosaurs, brontosaurs, and other prehistoric critters that can be seen in the woods behind the nuclear power plant. This is a large 65 ft layout displays most of the accessories and operating pieces that Lionel cranked out. A cabinet full of interesting items including a personalized Mickey Mouse drawing from Ward Kimball’s visit is to be enjoyed. Check Classic Toy Trains (March 2009) and O‐Gauge RR (Run 215) magazines for a preview. TOUR #8 – “It’s All About The Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens And The Albright‐Knox Art Gallery” Saturday, August 9 Cost: $ 65 The idea of the Gardens first began in 1868. The conservatory (one of the largest public greenhouses in the country) showcases tropical plant species, while the rest of the park is designed to feature hardy species. The park was designed by Fredrick Law Olmstead; Buffalo was the first American city to embrace this concept. His designs made him world‐famous leading to his commissions for later work such as Boston’s “Emerald Necklace”, Chicago’s “Riverside” Community, Yosemite Valley, The Biltmore Estate, and the Niagara Reservation. His ideas influence urban beautification including the creation of The Mall in our nation’s capital. “The beauty of the Botanical Gardens is undeniable, and there is no other place like in the immediate WNY region.” “….the sheer number of plant life is daunting”. “You’ll see everything from standard flowers to cacti to multi‐
colored flowers”. “You will be amazed at some point when spelunking through the gardens”. These are the comments made by previous guests of the Botanical Gardens; you are in for a very special treat on this tour. After an elegant luncheon at Cole’s Restaurant, we are off to the Albright‐Knox Art Gallery, a major showcase for modern art and contemporary art. “The 100+ year old museum is a beautiful example of classical and modern architecture. The museum is small enough to be seen in a day, but it has so much in its collection that it will take your breath away. This is a rewarding 2 hour experience that’s enjoyable without being overwhelming.” – (online quote from a visitor like you) Come on this tour and you will see artwork of artists such as Pollack, Picasso, Rothko, Warhol, van Gogh, Gauguin, Renoir, Matisse, and Dali (to name just a few). Be sure to visit both of these YouTube links to see what Buffalo has to offer! Buffalo: America's Best Designed City http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBsi5FGbY2Y Buffalo, New York: This Place Matters http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MT11IdWPvfc *** T.T.O.S. Reserves the right to change or cancel any tour due to unforeseeable circumstances ***