South Eastern USA -- A steampunk connectivity thread

[Erland Calwallader]

ImagiCon has Steampunk.

http://imagicon.org/imagine2010/

[Erland Calwallader]

I got an idea for a steampunk meet up for the Birmingham AL. Calera AL has a Railroad museum. they have a event called Steam days. {This years schedule will be out in about 2 two weeks.}

http://www.hodrrm.org/CalendarofEvents/SteamDays/tabid/95/Default.aspx


Enjoy a 6-mile excursion pulled by Flagg Coal #75, an operating coal-fired 0-4-0 steam locomotive built by Vulcan Iron Works of Wilkes Barre, PA in 1930. This 40-ton saddle tank locomotive was used as a switch engine until 1935 when it was sold and used to push 4-wheel hopper cars from the steam shovel to the crusher at the rock quarry until 1953. The locomotive sat untouched in a museum until 1991, when John and Byron Gramling purchased it and spent 10 years painstakingly restoring it to service. Now you can relive the golden age of steam with a ride on the train pulled by #75!

ALL SEATS $15, (Ages 2 and older)


What do you think?

[Utini420]

I think some events, to some crowds, sell themselves.

Steampunks, on a train, in the spring time?  I'm in.

[Erland Calwallader]

It was pointed out to me the web site is not updated on the train site. I will call them Monday to get the new dates and times.

[thesocialdynamicist]

Hickory, NC here I am amazed there are so many fellow steampunks nearby!

[lilibat]

Weeeeell... now it looks like I will be in TN earlier in May due to Maker Faire. Probably one of the first 2 weekends.

[quantumcat]

Whee!!!

Glad you'll be around. 

[jstorm]

Weeeeell... now it looks like I will be in TN earlier in May due to Maker Faire. Probably one of the first 2 weekends.

Keep us updated,would love to meet you.

Hey quantumcat,  I may be down in Shelbyville this week.  Let me know if you will be around.

[quantumcat]

I'll be here,good Lord willing and the crick don't rise.

(Going by the amount of rain we've had,the creeks and  Duck River might be overflowing their banks-but it'll probably be safe enough this weekend.  Just watch out for the weather reports and drop me an email if you do get by here. We could do lunch?)

Message me here or  write quantumcat2@yahoo.com.

(Since my e-mail goes wonky at times,my husband's addy is terrain_sherlock@yahoo.com.)

I look forward to hearing from you.

[Erland Calwallader]

I am Chattacon Bound! Hope to see some of you there! 

[quantumcat]

Have a fun,safe time!

[Utini420]

Have fun guys!  It sounds like its going to be off the hook this year, I've lost count of all the folks I know who are "finally making it" this year.  Wish I could join ya.

Remember, pics or it didn't happen.

[lilibat]

Wow, Chattacon. Haven't been in like 10 years or so. *sniff* 

[quantumcat]

It's been about that for me,too.

Chattanooga does great cons.

I'd like to go there again plus Huntsville,DragonCon and the Nashville conventions.

We tried a mini game con here some years back and may attempt that again.

It was fun but failed to supply moments like swapping geneology details with Larry Elmore or watching a fan ranting
about a GURPS module that he knew existed that the poor fellow manning the table maintained was not in the company inventory.

(The "clueless " one dealing with the irate customer was Steve Jackson-owner of the company.)

My first Chattacon was (I think) the third.

My mom and I attended a medical conference at the Choo-Choo and stayed an extra afternoon to fit in the first day of the convention.

Alas,we had patients and farm critters insisting we come ASAP.

[Captain Lyerly]

I hadn't been in like... 23 years.  Twenty-three... wow.  It was a lot of fun showing up and seeing old friends, seeing them light up when they realized who I was. 

Unfortunately, the Influenza cut short our visit.  We did manage to attend the Steampunk Makers' Panel, wherein we heard wonderful explanations from our own ExLibris and SteamPunkBuilder!  We also saw an EPIC build's results - Professor Xavier's chair, done in Steampunk.  I am just blown away by this still; I hope someone can post pictures, as we were without cameras at the time.


Cheers!

Chas.

[lilibat]

I am not entirely sure people recognizing me at Chattacon would be a good thing. 

[Erland Calwallader]

I had a blast at Chattacon. My camera had problems, Sorry. I think Ex lib will post her pics. I hated I missed you Captain Lyerly. Bummer! Glad I did not catch the Influenza. Lilibat love to see you anytime. Quantumcat, please add a Birmingham Convention on your list. Utini we missed you.

Quick review -
The Pirate party was awesome!
I saw some extremely good costumes.
They had some great Steampunk vendors. One had lots of steampunk guns of every shape and size.
I enjoyed sitting down and talking to a lot of good friends.
I loved the Arcattack. They were very loud but Tesla would be proud. http://www.arcattack.com/
Beer good!
Great Room Parties -wish I remembered half of them <J/K>
Blasted rain on the last day - Man the life Boats!

[Ex Libris]

Chattacon...

What an amazing good time!  I've not been to a smaller con like that - so I discovered the pleasure of REALLY having the time and space to make new and fascinating friends.  I will be back.  Our hosts (in the steampunk sense), Emilie and company were extraordinarily gracious and supportive.  I think that Doug, Bill Bill, Arthur and I were given a real plum when invited to be on the Maker's panel.

NOTE:  the SP Panel didn't make it into the progam or schedule for ChattaCon.  Additionally, the room was off the beaten path and only accessible via elevator.  As such, we expected a light turn out.  Not so.  The panel was WELL ATTENDED and supported by extraordinarily talented builders in the crowd who offered inspiration and advice of their own during the event. 

What I learned:
1)  Pirate Parties are fun - Yar!  they are!
2)  If you throw a shoe at the departing shuttle - it will stop for you.
3)  It IS possible to laugh so hard you throw up.
4)  That a man who crafts a magnificent steampunk wheelchair, a chair that can outrun you across a parking lot while simultaneously dispensing Cosmos from the brilliant glowing tanks on the back -- well, that man is like the man who invented beer.  A hero to the thirsty steamy riff-raff running in his wake.  Srsly, off. the. hook.
5)  Steampunk cowboys, rock.
6)  Costume Contest judges LIKE Steampunk - dominated the top five spots.
7)  Chattacon volunteers are really good people.

Looking forward to Conooga (TN), Anachrocon (GA) and ImagiCon (AL)!

Ex (hausted) Libris

[Captain Lyerly]

The Makers' Panel was an assemblage of genius par excellence.  I felt a little out of place, as I had not planned on being there at all, and was without even so much as a pair of cheap goggles... quelle fromage!!!

I felt that being given an insight into others' build techniques, especially the frugal shortcuts shared by the panel, might help some of those who were "sitting on the fence" begin to become Makers themselves.  The generosity displayed with the genius was overwhelming.

Well done to all of you.  Well done indeed!


Cheers!

Chas.

[Erland Calwallader]

I got an idea for a steampunk meet up for the Birmingham AL. Calera AL has a Railroad museum. they have a event called Steam days. {This years schedule will be out in about 2 two weeks.}

Looks like the train ride has been moved to the fall. No date is set yet. Maybe we might catch the fall colors.

[Disposable]

I too am in Virginia, about 45 min north of NC.

[Plan_B]

I, personally, live in Boca Raton, Palm Beach CO, Florida. It's so ronery for a Steampunk like me, since I haven't found anyone else in the subculture around.

[Licurius Styles]

Hello all, I am in Florida myself and do need to find some like minded individuals. If anyone is in the Ft. Myers area Do tell and I'll gladly make your acquaintance.

[Plan_B]

Fort Myers, you don't say? I lived in Estero for a good long while, and I head over there every so often for family and doctors appointments and the like. Matter of fact, I'll be over there within the next few weeks, I'd love to meet up and chat a bit!

[Erland Calwallader]

I saw the Calera Railroad Museum <32 miles south of downtown Birmingham AL> was having Steam Days in the Spring <Last year>. They changed it to September 18, 19, 25, 26 this year.

This is the website: http://www.hodrrm.org/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx

I think we can set it up where it is easy to afford after Dragon*Con. Maybe on the last weekend. What do you think?