Kids R Kids Learning Academy Presentations

I loaded up the Woodings CBI motorcar (we call it the "pumpkin" since it orange and has rounded curves) on my trailer yesterday and took it down today to the Kids R Kids Learning Academy in far north Austin (actually across the border in Williamson County, but still part of the city of Austin) for their annual Child Safety and Protection Festival.  Set the motorcar up in the parking lot, raised an EZ-Up for shelter, and placed a table to display Capital Metro and Operation Lifesaver material.  Last but not least, I set up an easel and offered OL presentations to the families that dropped by to take photos of their kids in the motorcar.  Letting the kids in the car is not without risk, since they sure do love to push, pull and manipulate every handle, button and thingamajig they can get their hands on, but it worked out OK today.  Here's some photos of the families and kiddos clustering around the motorcar:

I did a total of 12 presentations, reaching 20 adults and 21 kids, or 41 in all.  Pretty small scale but we aim to reach as many as possible, even if it's only two, three or four at a time.  When I see kids really looking at the OL coloring book, like in the photos, I begin to believe the effort really is worth it.  Plus we're helping out Capital Metro in its service area with rail safety education efforts, which is one of the goals set forth in our lease of the Llano-Scobey Spur line from Capital Metro RR.

Temps weren't nearly as hot as last year, probably got up to 90 or so by 12:00 noon, when the fair officially ended.  Had plenty of help getting the EZ-Up up and taking it down but it always takes a while to winch up the motorcar and secure everything.

This was my third appearance at the Academy.  I did the Safety Festival here this time last year and also came back in December to do OL presentations to several classes.  But I only bring the motorcar to the Festival since it is a lot of work to get it on a trailer and bring it down, then unload it back at the homestead. 

Sugandha Jain, my contact at the Academy, promised to e-mail me some more photos taken by their photographer, so I will post them here when available. 

RPI OL Presentations 9 June 2012 at San Angelo

RPI was invited to participate in the San Angelo Railway Museum's "Hobo Days" festival on June 9, 2012, by both setting up a motorcar display and doing Operation Lifesaver presentations under the eaves of the historic, restored depot that now serves as a repository of railway collectibles in San Angelo, TX.  I set up a table as well as an easel and did a total of 11 OL presentations to about 37 or so adults and children.  Not a lot of folks in the audience each time but the idea was to reach as many as possible.  TXDOT and the Texas-Pacifico Railroad, which leases the line through San Angelo down to Presidio from TXDOT, are eager to see more OL presentations since the TPRR is increasing the number and speed of its trains through town.  I was able to meet both TPRR and TXDOT officials during the day.  Here's a shot of me at my table, ready to offer an OL presentation:

President Leland Stewart, Jerry Light, Robert Casares and myself brought motorcars for an RPI display to help snag potential new members.  RPI member Marty Reimer dropped by to visit during the day.  Here's some photos of the RPI exhibit:

The first motorcar in the lineup, an MT-19, belongs to TXDOT and is on loan to the San Angelo Railway Museum.  It used to run on the former KCS line.  Then comes Jerry's renovated Woodings CBI, my Woodings CBI, Leland's MT-14K and Robert's M-9.  All in all, the motorcars gave visitors a good idea of the variety of motorcars used in the old days.

As we were leaving to have dinner, Jerry showed us some old motorcar sheds fashioned by the KCS out of old boxcars:

This exhibit and OL activity helped cement RPI ties with the TPRR and showed TXDOT that RPI is definitely willing and able to provide OL presentations to target audiences.  We hope these efforts will pay off in the long run for all RPI members.  In the meantime, a good time was had by all.