Date: 2017-06-02
From: Carnegie Hotel, Johnson City, Tennessee 

To: Carnegie Hotel, Johnson City, Tennessee 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

6/2Carnegie Hotel, Johnson City, TennesseeMiles: 0Total miles:  702.4The first day of the convention was quite a success and a lot of fun.  Patricia and I went to McDonald's for breakfast (Sandy decided to sleep in).  After I consumed two Egg McMuffins and a large coffee, we headed to Mahoney's Outfitters so I could resolve a few gear issues. I met Dave Ramsey, the weekend manager, who noted that we both share our names with someone famous. He is very knowledgeable about equipment and about the AT in particular. He has been active in the conservation of local lands and has provided aid to many hikers.  We had a good conversation about trail conditions, conservation efforts, and American Chestnuts, and he was able to help me resolve my gear issues. Patricia and I returned to the hotel.  Later, Sandy, Patricia, and I went to the Train Show at ETSU.  There were many vendors and several modular layouts on display.  Sandy bought me an ET&WNC Transportation t-shirt for an early Father's Day present. I met my friend, Fred Alsop, at the train show.  Sandy and Patricia returned to the hotel, while Fred and I walked to the George L. Carter Railroad Museum. This museum houses a large, beautifully rendered, and historically accurate model railroad depicting the East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad. I always look forward to seeing the progress they have made since my last visit.  The layout building team, headed up by Fred, who in his spare time is a world-renowned ornithologist with many books to his credit, continue to make remarkable progress on this massive project. This last year was no exception.  There is now an incredibly intricate and faithfully executed model of the iron mine complex that existed at Cranberry, North Carolina.  Other progress is being made as well, and it was so cool to watch (and hear) Locomotive 11 pull a freight train through the many towns and through the massive Doe River Gorge.  The attention to detail is amazing.  Last year, the team constructed a model of the store at Shell Creek based on a nearly 100 year old photograph, which also depicted a family posing in front.  A young girl stands on a platform somewhat removed from the rest of the family.  That young woman, now 106 years old, viewed the model a few months ago.  She asked, "Is that me standing on that platform?"  Fred asssured her that it was. "My coat was red not blue," was her reply.  Of course, the photograph was black and white, so there was no other way to know.  When Fred showed me the scene today, you'd better believe her coat was now red.  There has been another major addition to the museum as well. Sharon has donated John's tremendous model of the Carnegie Iron Furnace to the museum, and the museum team was able to extract the huge model from Sharon's basement in Jefferson City, Missouri, load it into a truck, haul it to Johnson City, Tennessee, and establish it in its new home.  This model is a different scale from the rest of the railroad, so it resides in its own place of honor to be viewed separately from the rest of the layout.  This model railroad is a work of art and is available for viewing by the public.  I highly recommend it for anyone interested in railroads, model railroads, and/or Appalachian history.  Sharon also donated John's extensive photo and document collection to the museum, where they too can be accessed by interested parties.  After my visit to the museum, I returned to the hotel.  The society's business meeting was at 5:00, and a delicious dinner was served at 6:00.  And, yes, I did go back for seconds on everything including dessert.  After all, I will be returning to the trail in a few days. After dinner, Sharon gave a powerful, touching speech about the early history of the society and about John's major role in its creation. She also discussed the magazine he created (along with my friend, Chris Ford) and about his model rendition of the ET. It was a beautiful tribute to a unique and incredible man.  After the meeting ended, several of us headed for the bar for a drink and to reminisce a bit more.Today was a very full day, and tomorrow promises to be the same.  While I'm not hiking the trail for a few days, I consider my attendance and involvement in the convention as part of my overall adventure.  Two more days of railroading, and then I, with my new shoes, will again be on the trail.