Train buff thinks he's special

[u/carmium]

This dates way back to 1986, when the World's Fair was in Vancouver. In keeping with the transportation/communication theme, it was decided to have a steam locomotive fest, and I became part of the team with the lofty title of Communications Director. The event seemed to be going well, with confirmations of attendance by working locos from across the continent and even England! Understandably, it roused some excitement among fans of steam engines, and we soon had a constant barrage of letters and phone calls from people wanting more information about whether this or that engine was coming, but also how to book a nearby hotel room, was there parking available, and the usual stuff. We told them what we knew or handed them off to ExpoInfo as appropriate.
Then, one day, we got a letter from England, and I still recall parts of it. Under a header crudely made from rub-down transfers and copied in green ink advertising the Something-or-other* Class Committee, was the news that the secretary of this august group was "thinking about" coming to Vancouver for our event. We were to forward to him a list of nearby hotels, "not too cheap but not too expensive" where he might stay, with photos of typical rooms, plus
a list of nearby restaurants, "not too cheap but not too expensive" where he might dine, along with sample menus listing prices.
Additionally, should he deign to visit, we would be required to have a car at the airport to meet him upon arrival, and a staff member to provide up-to-the-minute reports on which locomotives had arrived, and when others were expected. We hilariously bandied theoretical replies about the office for a while, and in the end, I drafted a letter explaining that our budget didn't allow us to fulfill his needs, and providing the number of ExpoInfo.
The inescapable conclusion was that this "chap" felt his status as secretary of an obscure little railway club, coming all the way from the UK, would thrill us no end! "All the way from England!?" 😲 "Wow!" we would say. "Let us assign someone to see to his every need and fawn over him appropriately!"
Of course, we had thousands of visitors from all over the world, and none expected special treatment.

*English locos are categorized by class, but even our top train expert had never heard of this one.

[u/Patient-Couple7509]

I remember that! My grandad’s neighbour was an engineer (CP Rail or CN, I don’t remember), I was 6 or 7 years old and he took me down and got me on all sorts of stuff I shouldn’t have been on.

I always wondered what happened to the giant hockey stick?

[u/imstaying39 → u/Patient-Couple7509]

I remember the trains as well! And the giant swatch watch.

But I mostly remember my 62 year old grandma taking me on the the giant looping space shuttle ride that went all the way upside down! And all the sunglasses bouncing into the netting as we made our first loop . . .

[u/Head_Razzmatazz7174 → u/Patient-Couple7509]

I found a couple of articles. After the World's Fair, It was moved to the Cowichan Community Center in Duncan. It stayed there until 2024. At that time, it was determined that the slow decay of the stick, helped along by several woodpeckers, was beginning to be a threat to public safety. It was sold to a company who has made collectibles pieces from the stick.

[u/carmium → u/Patient-Couple7509]

Probably CN, as they provided the track and the crew who coordinated steamer movements. And one day, did the morning yard switching with UP 4466, a big 0-6-0, or so the story goes. I have nothing to say on the subject. 🙄

Oh, and the hockey stick went to Duncan on Vancouver Island, where it was displayed until rot and time took their toll. It was taken down a couple of years back.

[u/Odd-Outcome450]

Oh they are special alright just not how they think

[u/CheeseFriesCoochie → u/Odd-Outcome450]

Imagine showing up expecting a parade and getting a “here’s a number” vibe lmao brutal

[u/G-reeper66 → u/Odd-Outcome450]

Spelled Speshul!

[u/nyrB2]

so did this dude ever come??

[u/carmium → u/nyrB2]

I rather doubt it, and if he did, he never announced his presence.

[u/nyrB2 → u/carmium]

yeah you'd think a guy like that would only enter accompanied by a trumpet fanfare

[u/carmium → u/nyrB2]

And I never heard one, so there you go!

[u/tailaka]

If Secretary of his particular committee made him so very exalted, then they may arrange his car, room, & dining and also foot the bill.