I was recently with my uncle in Canada, and he introduced my to a "game" thay play all over the world called geo-cash. It is basicly where sombody places a box in a descrite location, and then they go to a board and post clues/gps corridinates as too where the box is, once somebody finds the box the sighn a paper that proves they were there, and date it. The person that found the box then goes to the board and states that he/she found the box and describe it or somthing in on it. I think that this could be adjusted to fit with trains where a Railfan would place a magnetic box (ie: altoids container) in a place maintainence will not find it, in it they would place a a sheet of paper in it, and when another railfan finds that box, they would then sign it w/ the date and a location of the pice of equipment at that time, and we could watch were each car goes on a regular basis and possibly see where other railfans are, and where they watch their trains. (i know it a looooooong sentence) I just thought that this would be somthing fun to try, what do ya all think??
Thats a good idea, but wed have to do it by state etc. Some of us live in California and some in New York---But it just might work--im going out on a limb here--but it seems pretty cool
Posts: 1082 | From: Los Angeles, CA. USA | Registered: Aug 2003
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This variation need not be limited to a region or state. Amtrak cars often get switched around from train to train. All we would need is the car number (the five digit painted number) and the location of the box in the car.
But placing it where maintenence would not find it but would still be accessible to a railfan is problematic.
------------------ Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth. -Mr. Toy
Yes you bring up a good point, I was thinking in a place like under seats, or hidden on the inside of the luggage racks, places like that, where normal people would not think to look.
Starlight 99,
I thought about that, but as Mr. Toy stated amtrak cars get switched around alot, like the fifth coach on the starlight is often placed on the Builder out of Seattle as demand calls. Also, on a side note, I often ride the starlate, and may be in the area over Thanksgiving, if i am mayby we could work out a time to meet at one of the statins along the surfliner route emali me at f59phi2014 at comcast dot net (figure it out) and we will look at the idea in more detail
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I can think of things that are far more fun to do on a train...mostly involving the use of a sleeper...
Posts: 566 | Registered: Mar 2002
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The game might be fun, however, since 911 I think we need to recognize that someone "hiding" even a small box on a train is probably not the smartest thing to do or to be seen doing. Given a terrorist mindset, even a small box can contain enough plastic explosives to cause major damage. Despite the best intentions, perhaps this is one game that should not be played on passenger trains. Just my thoughts.
Posts: 218 | Registered: Mar 2001
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Maybe something more public might be a safe and fun alternative. I'm thinking a guestbook in the lounge car (at the mostly unused upper level bar, maybe). Amtrak would assign the book to the car, not the train, so it would get moved around from time to time. Railforum members would write in their screen name and we could watch for each other by flipping through the book. Meanwhile, the public would be writing in their names oblivious to what these obscure names like CK, irishchieftan, and Fumes5 mean. But we would be in the know....
------------------ Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth. -Mr. Toy
I think that is a great idea to try, but who would we write to in maintaince to see if this could be a go? I think that we may have stubled on to somthing here, we could even see about placing them in the coaches and sleepers, but in a cubbord somewhere, and you would siply ask the car attendent to let you see it (most are willing enough). What does everybody else think of that??
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Fumes, I don't think maintenence is the place to go. Write to Amtrak management and suggest it. I think I will, too. A guestbook would be a nice customer service touch that would cost very little to implement. Amtrak need not know about our little secret entries.
Dave, don't use your back button.
Irishchieftan, the leisurely pace of rail travel offers time for both sorts of activities.
------------------ Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth. -Mr. Toy
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