ProTrak

ProTrak Operations Weekends

Upcoming ProTrak Operations Weekends:

2012: Thursday May 3^rd to Sunday May 6^th, 2012, Andy Keeney's Nashville Road, in Lansing, Mich

2012: Thursday October 18^th to Sunday October 21^st, 2012 (proposed date), Jim Moir's C&NE, in Baden (Waterloo), Ont

Active users sponsor "ProTrak Weekends".  It is all about operating a railroad. ProTrak Weekends are open to all, ProTrak user or non-user, experienced railroad operator or new to model railroad operations, or simply those who are curious about what this is all about.   If you are interested in holding a ProTrak Weekend, please see below.

• There is no charge.  But you are responsible for your meals and hotel.

• The purpose of the Weekend is Operate! and to explore ProTrak {and Grapevine} in greater depth than is possible on  chatlists or this website.  This also is your chance to provide direct feedback on what you want to see in ProTrak.

1.  Andy Keeney and his Nashville Road have sponsored eight Weekends in ~late April, from 2004 to 2011, all held in Lansing, Michigan.  Andy will be sponsoring The 9^th Annual ProTrak Weekend in May 2012, from Thursday May 3^rd to Sunday May 6^th, 2012, in Lansing. Mich.

• For the Lansing ProTrak Weekends we stay at the Motel 6 on Saginaw Road.  Breakfast is at the incredible "Sophie's".  You can fly directly into Lansing and someone will pick you up at the airport.  There is lots of transport with folks who drive in.   

• If you are interested, email Andy Keeney:

2.  For Thursday October 18^th to Sunday October 21^st, 2012 (proposed date), we will be hosting A C&NE ProTrak Operators Weekend, here in Baden (Waterloo), Ontario.  The Canada & New England Railroad is a multi-level, multi-deck railroad (3 floor levels with multiple decks on each floor level) featuring "mountain climbing" (helpers), long trains, several yards and industrial switching, all set in the "modern" era. 

• the Buffalo airport is 2-1/2 hour drive; NW flies from Detroit into the London airport (1 hour); and Toronto's (expensive) airport is 1 hour.  Lansing is a 4 hour drive - due east.  Accommodation is in Stratford (20 minutes west) or Kitchener (15 minutes east).  Within a block, here in Baden, there are several good eateries (EJ's, Tim Horton's, Subway and really good pizza).

• There is great train-watching (VIA, GEXR) 200 feet away, and right from the railroad-room windows.

• If you are interested, email Jim Moir:

Hosting a ProTrak Weekend

Generally speaking, to host a ProTrak Weekend you only need a few basic and obvious items.  If you already host regular (monthly or more frequently) operations sessions, then you will host a ProTrak Weekend quite successfully.   To host a ProTrak Weekend, you will need: 

• a railroad in good running order, that can keep 20 people busy:

  • this means DCC;

  • two-man crews are fine.  Plus there will be yard work, DS and ProTrak-operator roles. 

• your ProTrak traffic program in reasonable order:  

  • leading up to your Weekend, there are lots of users who would gladly help you get to this point.  

  • part of the point of the ProTrak Weekend is to learn more about ProTrak.  By refining your railroad during the Weekend we all learn.

Because most of us will be flying or driving in:

• have "good eats" close-by and acceptable accommodation within 15 to 20 minutes.

If you are interested, then the first step is:

• to publish recent photographs of your railroad (on the web) so visitors will know exactly what they can expect.  

  • If you wish, we can post photographs here on this website.