Re: Winterail
Author: George Andrews
Date: 03-23-2023 - 21:13
Corvallis, OR., the current home of Winterail, is easily accessed from California using Amtrak to Albany,OR., then a short cab or Uber ride to Corvallis. For those with less time to spare, a 2 hour or so flight from any SoCal airport will have you in Portland, then a 90 - 120 minute drive to Corvallis - Friday up - Sunday back.
No, it's not " The Glory Days " of Stockton, when Winterail routinely sold out every year and would - be vendors were assigned a waiting list. It's also NOT the sweltering theater and fetid restrooms at Scottish Rite Temple, with few good dinner break options nearby. But Winterail IS still with us, and has even spawned a Summerail mate in Marion, Ohio.
My 1st Winterail was 1985, only 3 years since the Yellow Borg swallowed up the beloved Western Pacific. ( I've only missed 2 years since. ) Espee & Santa Fe were still running trains without any help from U.P. or BN. Santa Fe's line West of Stockton across the Delta was still dispatched with train orders, while Espee still operated many scenic & historic lines including Gold Rush turned lumber branchlines in the Sierra foothills. Stockton Tower still ruled over 3 separate railroad mainlines, while Stockton Terminal & Eastern & Central California Traction added shortline flavor to the mix. And yes - the Greatest Generation of Railfan photographers & authors were in attendance - Steinheimer, Benson, Dorn, Kistler, Sims, Walker, Stanley, Meeker, Dunscomb, Stindt, MacGregor, Strapac, Signor, Sanders, et al. Some of them were at this year's show as well. Who knows; maybe one of this year's presenters will some day add their name to the list ??? I really liked Bruce Blackadar's The First 55 Years show. And I'm already looking forward to attending Winterail 2024.