We Visited a Railway Festival (in Manassas, VA)

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

Some interesting Manassas history: In July 1861, the First Battle of Bull Run, also known as the Battle of First Manassas, was the first major land battle of the American Civil War. The Union Army was slow in positioning themselves, allowing Confederate reinforcements time to arrive by rail. Each side had about 18,000 poorly trained and poorly led troops. The battle was a Confederate victory and was followed by a disorganized post-battle retreat of the Union forces. The Second Battle of Bull Run (or the Battle of Second Manassas) was fought in August 1862. At that time, Manassas Junction was little more than a railroad crossing, but a strategic one, with rails leading to Richmond, DC, and the Shenandoah Valley. Despite these two Confederate victories, Manassas Junction was in Union hands for most of the war. Following the war, the crossroads grew into the town of Manassas, which was incorporated in 1873. In 1894, Manassas was designated the county seat of Prince William County. The first Manassas station was a small log building where the Orange and Alexandria Railroad and the Manassas Gap Railroad intersected. The present Manassas station was constructed in October 1914. In 1975, Manassas became an independent city, and was separated from Prince William County. The Manassas area almost got an American history-themed Disney park called Disney's America! A site was selected in Haymarket approximately five miles from Manassas National Battlefield Park. Disney found the area to be an attractive place to locate a park because it isn’t too far from DC, sites of historical significance, and other attractions like Kings Dominion. The project had initial support from various politicians and local officials, but it soon faced opposition from citizen's groups and historians who objected to Disney's planned portrayal of historical events, as well as the potential impact on nearby historic sites. It was cancelled in September 1994 following disappointing early results for Euro Disney (now Disneyland Paris), the death of Frank Wells (who was then Disney CEO Michael Eisner's partner in crime), rising costs, and the prospect of reduced profits with the park being closed for four months each year.

[@Thom-TRA]

Wow, DC Disney would have been wild! I believe the battle of Bull Run was the first battle ever where troops arrived en masse by rail.

[@davinp]

At 8:12 that is the old pullman gallery car that VRE had bought from Chicago Metra. VRE no longer has those old railcars

[@RFPAreaRailfanner]

Me and my friend went to Manassas on train day as well, and my friend said he saw you on the VRE lol!

[@sammymarrco47]

yes I do indeed have a KZbin channel. thanks for inviting me, looking forward to the [REDACTED] video later this summer! thanks for bringing Bryce, he was great to get to know. I used to live in Maryland and we drove the hour and a half to this a few times bc when I was a young lad I loved trains, great to see kids are still enjoying it these days!

[@brycebundens6866]

Sammy it was amazing to meet you!!! Let’s do some more multimodal adventures!!

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

We definitely need more Thom, Sammy, and Bryce adventures!

[@TheGAMWolferz]

A Lego Metro rail, Bikeshare and DASH Bus?! Well done to the builder’s! I know that section of King street and they did a great job replicating the Buildings. Bravo to them!

[@Thom-TRA]

Their attention to detail was impeccable

[@davinp]

VRE will be adding Saturday service later this year

[@moistkiteproductions95556]

I've been going to the railway festival since I was young. Every year it's always a surprise to see what models and layouts are put on display. Also it's sad they removed the train art from the toy store, they recently painted over it. Also I had no idea I was standing right by you at one point.

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

Love the detail on that Lego layout, especially the DC Metro, the DASH bus, and the McDonald's! Yup, I was quite into Lego when I was a kid as much as you were! I have a pretty big Lego Architecture collection! Great Wall of China, Villa Savoye, Louvre, Space Needle, Trevi Fountain, Venice, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Sydney Opera House, UN Headquarters, John Hancock Center, Berlin, Lincoln Memorial, Burj Khalifa, Fallingwater, you name it! And as a kid, I loved getting the Batman and airport-themed Lego City sets. I had the 7893 passenger plane set, and you can actually see the piece for the front of the plane from that set used for the high-speed trains at 5:10! I also have the Emerald Night train still in its box! The train at 5:04 is the Metroliner, set 4558, and that set was originally released in 1991 before being re-released in 2001 as set 10001! They actually sold a set, set 4547, where you could add a double-decker club car to the train, re-released as set 10002! I volunteer for the seasonally-operated Railroad Museum of Long Island, and the Railroad Museum of Long Island has an incredible indoor layout! The museum's Riverhead location (it also has a Greenport location) has a restored 1949 Lionel showroom layout that was moved from their offices in Michigan! The layout was going to be discarded by Lionel, but several original RMLI members had some inside intel and started negotiating with Lionel to cart it to Long Island! It is a 60 x 14-foot multi-level layout! Originally, the layout was cut into 7 pieces, but 8 additional cuts (15 in total, weighing 150 pounds each) had to be made to fit it in the trailer for transport to Long Island. Originally there were 43 operating accessories, which has grown to 88 working accessories as of June 2024! And the museum has a huge collection, the Riverhead location alone has old electric M1 cars, old double-deckers, baggage cars, a caboose, and a piece of a turntable!! It also has a Alan Herschel Company 16-inch gauge train from the 1964-1965 NY World's Fair that anyone who visits can ride! After being used at the fair’s LIRR pavilion, it was used by the Grumman Aerospace Corp’s (which became Northrup Grumman) Calverton site for their annual family picnics, it was given to the Village of Patchogue after that site closed, and finally Patchogue gave it to the museum! The museum hosts an annual big railroad fest in August!

[@Thom-TRA]

You have all those architecture sets _and_ the Emerald Night? I am officially jealous!

[@jaelynnmangis3617]

Hiya! I was one of the people displaying with WamaLTC at the festival! So seeing my face and voice (and mainly my hair) pop up throughout the lego segment of this video was quite the pleasant surprise! I really appreciate the coverage of our layout, and yes, the builder of the King Street models (and the metro and vre trains) is incredibly talented. I really really really enjoy his stuff :) Thanks for putting this out! And I hope to catch ya next year!

[@Thom-TRA]

Thanks for commenting! You guys had a great display! Excited to see what you have in store for us next year

[@nashorn9745]

VRE does have the back bones of a good system modern trains and useful routes. Some of the gallery cars that VRE has are only 10 years old.

[@nathanjiang100]

you definitely want to head to the Amherst Railroad Hobby Show every January in Springfield, MA. they have 4 warehouse-sized buildings filled with club layouts, model train & railroad memorabilia dealers, and model train manufacturers who usually announce new products at the show. free shuttle available from Springfield Union Station as well.

[@haj8579]

I am super impressed by realisticness of the steam locomotive train model in the intro. I cannot imagine how much it costs.

[@Thom-TRA]

Probably more than I can afford! 😂

[@michaelb9629]

This event kind of reminds me of the Franklin Park Railroad Days that takes place every year on the second Saturday of June. I was in town and went to it earlier this month. I still try to get to it every year since I’ve been going for almost 10 years now.

[@davinp]

A big problem that VRE has been having is delays caused by Amtrak. Sometimes congestion at Union Station causes VRE trains to be delayed in the afternoon/evenings. When Amtrak is late, VRE is late

[@chriscubingclips]

Dang, this festival seems cool as heck. The "excursion" did seem to leave a bit to be desired but you're right about it probably being a lot of kids first train ride. If only VRE just ran more trains to/from Manassas to DC. lol Thanks for the great video!

[@Thom-TRA]

I’m hoping for a big increase in service in the coming years

[@tyleralberico]

When you mentioned the bus, I was like “there are no express buses to DC on weekends” then I saw you board the 96….. that must have taken forever to get home haha

[@Thom-TRA]

You’ll find out next week!

[@CrabMan2539]

Wow! Last time I was at the manassas rail festival was in 2015. The 611 j was running that day (Its first excursion in 20 something years) and I remember returning to manassas to a highly crowded town with thousands of people. It was more crowded because of the steam locomotive but still it was crazy. Before then I was there in 2008. I was 4 at the time and I remember them having those harness trampolines where you jump higher. They had white t shirts on the trampolines so our feet wouldn't burn. Back then VRE still had their geeps and that was the only time I remember riding behind one. I want to go there again some year.

[@Thom-TRA]

I wish they had more historic equipment this time around!

[@Cupertinorail]

Also the Lego Train you see at 5:03 is a rarity. It is the 1991 metorliner set. I thought it looks more like a premature Acela rather than metroliner train. I have a 1999 lego train called railway express that I bought in 2002. It was very expensive when my parents got it for me. Both are very hard to find. Railway Express reminds me of an transnational train that is seen across Europe. A feature of some lego trains is a destination board with European cities.

[@TranscontinentalRailfan]

I love going to this festival! It’s also really nice that Amtrak now has more service to Virginia to go to and from Manassas.

[@kjrehberg]

The festival was awesome but really crowded. Next time we'll take the train from Union Station or get there early in the morning to get a parking space. The excursion is very scenic and a great way to experience VRE for people who do not or cannot use it. Also, great news that VA is buying the Manassas Line and a lot of other railroads for more passenger and commuter service.

[@michaelformaini7053]

That was a great way for you to welcome the northern summer season and what a positive outlook on life had the participants in this festival, especially your friends Bryce and Sammy. Manassas Virginia certainly had a great vibe about it on this day (much better than in a bustling city). It's really cool that the passenger station is right in the centre of town. Reminds me of my time in Eugene Oregon on Labor Day long weekend back in 1989 when the university students returning from summer vacation organised a great picnic on the town common and I was made so welcome to join in (being an Aussie visitor certainly helped). Very uplifting video for me to watch on a chilly winter's evening down here in Melbourne.😊

[@kevinb8881]

Thom, oooooh, you know what have been even more wild on these trainsets, railroad electrification, either third rail or overhead catenary!!

[@songfromthesixties]

Fun little fact; the station in Manassas features prominently in the music video for Steve Winwood's "Back in the High Life Again", which even features a cameo from Amtrak's Crescent.

[@Thom-TRA]

Is he a local artist that he decided to feature that location?

[@songfromthesixties]

@@Thom-TRA Nope, he's an English musician who was in several different rock groups in the 60s such as the Spencer Davis Group and then had a big solo career in the 80s. Why and how he or his team decided on Manassas is a mystery to me honestly!

[@jack615]

Well i posted this earlier it's not there now but Nathan said it too you definitely need to go the Amherst Railroad Hobby Show in West Springfield Mass in Jan or Feb.

[@Cupertinorail]

I never been to a railway festival before. This would be the first one I get to see in action. Thanks

[@chadamtrakrailfan]

What an awesome train festival in Manassas! I loved that you got to take Amtrak to it, as well as took the VRE excursion (even though a large section of the ride was waiting, but I wouldn't be complaining--just being on the train would make me happy hehe). Also, so cool to see the models of Amtrak locos 301 (my favorite unit, of course), phase 7 chargers, and amfleets! At 7:09, telling by the arrangement of the trainset, it looks like a recreation of the Lake Shore Limited. :D

[@Thom-TRA]

The 301 is a beauty

[@rbrouns9569]

The magical attraction between people and trains. Big trains and small trains, why do we like them so much?🤔

[@ck4426]

This railway festival was really awesome!!! Thanks for taking us along on all of your awesome railway adventures!!!

[@Thom-TRA]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@KiIo-27]

The club NVNTRAK is a decent club, We love our passenger trains and freight 😂 if you even come to timonium train show (the next one is in october) be sure to swing by I plan to have some W.I.P MARC Equipment in N scale and some NS

[@PeterWarner-yz7tb]

That engine really gets around. it had been a mainstay on the Coast Starlight and occasionally saw use on Pacific Surfliner between San Diego and San Luis Obispo and the Cascade trains between Eugene, Seattle and Vancouver, BC. In fact, we had numbers 112 through 121 on the Starlight. Your train had the 118 on it

[@SwinkMcloud]

And they say people don't want trains. People will stand in a long line in the sun just to get on one.

[@Thom-TRA]

EXACTLY

[@haj8579]

That is a lie made by oil-related lobbyist groups

[@kjrehberg]

Yes, we waited in line for about 30 minutes to board the excursion. My family were very happy to wait for the amazing excursion.

[@carddamom188]

Hard to believe... It must be in another dimension...

[@cerionerwarriorgamer1754]

Model trains are awesome!!!

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

Agreed! I have my own Lionel Metro-North M7s I got from the NYTM!

[@anthonywarrener1881]

Thank you for this fascinating video. I really like the VRE operation on their two routes out of D.C, and as you saw, the gallery cars are kept in excellent condition ! I was surprised you deceived to take the bus back to D.D, for the train options you mentioned did seem more appealing to me ! Looking for hearing about your bus ride !

[@Thom-TRA]

Had to try something new! And didn’t want to spend another 3 hours there…

[@history_leisure]

2:23 Bryce is an old friend of mine from Middle and High School. I'm planning on being in DC the weekend of an anime convention near the North Bethesda station (just for one voice actor from Power Rangers who does anime now that its been cancelled), as well as Six Flags America for National Roller Coaster day

[@Thom-TRA]

No way you guys knew each other!

[@JaxB-po8ld]

Like this video too! Trains Are Awesome

[@AJTLfilms]

I was there too! i’ve been going to this festival for many years and they have it every year on the first Saturday of June

[@kayleebeare]

Ahh this looked so fun! Thanks for taking us along!

[@Thom-TRA]

You’re welcome!

[@virginialoverproductions]

Wait, what? You were there? Aw, man! I was hoping I would see you! In fact, I think I saw myself in the background of a few shots in this video.

[@alk61695]

What a very cool festival to attend. Hope to see it some day if I am down in Virginia.

[@teecefamilykent]

Brilliant video sir, good to see you enjoying yaself, though Lyndsey wasn't keeping an eye on you?

[@Thom-TRA]

Lindsey was out on her own adventures that day! This was a guys trip haha

[@radxl711_ruffiesstreams8]

Hey thank you for showing off my metro car and some of my other rolling stock. I got that metro car at one of the timonium Maryland model trains shows.

[@Thom-TRA]

Awesome!

[@dexteralexander2437]

Interesting and fun festival and video. We rode through Manassas on Cardinal 50 and 51 last week, and the town is on my visiting list, for its Civil War history and battlefield. Someday.

[@Thom-TRA]

The town is nice! I have yet to visit the battlefield.

[@MargretRoberts]

"Achtung" lieber Thom :-) wieder ein gutes Video!

[@Thom-TRA]

Danke!

[@97nelsn]

This looks like fun. If I had known about this, I could’ve used my Amtrak vouchers to see this in person.

[@Thom-TRA]

Save those for something cooler!

[@97nelsn]

@@Thom-TRA I already have plans to use it for a weekend trip to DC

[@Thom-TRA]

@@97nelsn you’re coming here on a hot weekend!

[@londonwhaley8690]

I enjoyed that video👍👍

[@TSMGL_Youtube]

Hey, my club used to exhibit out layout here before 2020! We unfortunately downsized preceding the early 2020s but we still have a club thankfully. Also, I cannot blame your friends for wanting the HO metro model. I have been looking for years for one and only just got my hands on one a couple months ago

[@Thom-TRA]

They want to know where you got it!

[@TSMGL_Youtube]

@@Thom-TRA just a matter of knowing where to look 😉

[@WeathermanJohnBiggs]

Great video! Used to go to this train festival a lot when I lived there. It would be great to see weekend service on VRE especially for those areas where the bus service is mediocre and metro is 30-40 min away.

[@Thom-TRA]

I heard from a guy on the inside at VRE that weekend service will start in December. Amtrak is planning some construction this fall and they didn’t want to launch weekend service to then cancel it for months.

[@WeathermanJohnBiggs]

@@Thom-TRA thanks for the info. Hopefully this comes true.

[@deaventuraconkikomas4281]

Love it!

[@Thom-TRA]

Thanks!!

[@brianhubert8418]

That looks like a cool event. I'm excited to see VRE considering weekend service at last and really excited to see what could be around the corner for passenger rail in in Virginia if the Commonwealth can actually purchase the Manassas Line from NS. It certainly looks like the demand is there for trains in VA with people waiting in a long line to ride just a short excursion and Amtrak Virginia always breaking ridership records.

[@Thom-TRA]

I just went to an even better event today! Video coming soon

[@brianhubert8418]

@@Thom-TRAexcellent looking forward to seeing it!!!

[@HolidayTMJsoul]

by the way I saw you on the vre i was so happy

[@RMTStudios]

I was there! Great festival!

[@thomasliptak9469]

I was there, shame i didn't get to meet you guys. Next year perhaps?

[@benwalter1221]

You should come to the train show at the Timonium, MD fairgrounds (Baltimore light rail station is just behind the building)

[@Thom-TRA]

When is that?

[@benwalter1221]

Next show is October 12-13

[@brycebundens6866]

That sounds amazing. Thanks for the heads up

[@benwalter1221]

I’ve tried to add the link, but I don’t think it allows me, so just search for “Baltimore Train Show” and it should be the first result.

[@csxguy3002]

I was there on June 1st.

[@BryanAlexander]

Thank you for recording this. We live in Manassas and also visited the model trains, plus the farmers' market. Any progress on weekend VRE service yet?

[@Thom-TRA]

I talked to one of their employees a few weeks ago, the aim is December! There’s some construction first that would get in the way

[@BryanAlexander]

@@Thom-TRA That would be good. We do head into DC on weekends often enough. I wish VRE ran at other times during the day. My DC work sometimes runs later than the usual commuting time. PS: nice to learn about your channel.

[@KingBLUCK]

So ive lived in Virginia my whole life (I live in Roanoke) and never knew there was a train festival in Manassas. I might have to take a train up there next time

[@Thom-TRA]

Definitely check it out!

[@J-Pow]

I try to so my business meetings in Historical Manassas, either at the Jirani Coffee or the Philadelphia Tavern, which are both really close to the tracks.

[@Thom-TRA]

Nice!

[@rikkichunn8856]

It looks like a lot of fun to me! I love model railroading--I model Marklin German prototype myself. I have working catenary and signals. Those were a lot of fun to wire up and make work! On my bucket list is a trip to Germany to see real German railroads in action.

[@Thom-TRA]

Working catenary, that’s impressive!

[@Northern_Idaho]

I think it would be cool if the VRE collaborated with Amtrak to offer an integrated fare system and more regular service on the lines, like on the Hartford Line. I think model railroading is cool, but I honestly don’t have the time to invest much into it. Very cool to see the detail from these model railroaders.

[@Thom-TRA]

Same for me regarding model railroading

[@Northern_Idaho]

@@Thom-TRA I’m sure you’ve heard about the flood water on the Missouri, so I’ll tell you I would be majorly concerned if it hit my house. I live several miles from the river on a hill, and the floodplain for this part of the Missouri is mainly on the Iowa side. They have closed I-29 and 680 in the Metro, so it here, and I’m sure they’re monitoring the bridges after what happened to that train bridge in Sioux City.

[@patrickwebb7311]

14:50 really appreciate your positive attitude here. Ps. Regarding getting into model trains, if you do want to, used models can be a good way to get into it. I’d also recommend youtubers like Jenny E. Kirk and budget model railways, for ideas and inspiration, if anyone is interested.

[@Thom-TRA]

Yeah, I really prefer the real deal over models though. I have a few models I’ve bought second hand on display, but that’s all the space I have in my apartment.

[@patrickwebb7311]

@@Thom-TRA fair enough, and certainly nothing wrong with that.

[@buildintotrains]

Definitely going to try and make it to this next year. Check your email when you are able!

[@johnchastain5657]

Have you visited the little Vienna (Virginia) train station? A local club sets up model train layouts there, and there are sometimes other events. Fun fact: Legend has it that the town of Clifton originated as a retirement hideaway for CIA spies and other employees. I wonder if that's true....

[@Thom-TRA]

They set it up in the Vienna metro station?

[@johnchastain5657]

@@Thom-TRA No, the tiny antique station in ye olde part of town. Hmm, maybe Metro could make some bucks hosting another model train fest!

[@sammymarrco47]

@@Thom-TRA just north in the WOandD station

[@brycebundens6866]

Gotta see this

[@davinp]

You can track Amtrak trains on VREs new train status map

[@Rovan84127]

Wish I could’ve gone this year after I learned about it just before it happened, but life got in the way 😔 hoping to visit next year instead at least

[@KiingOfFlipz]

Was that a little Galaxy Railways music i heard in there?

[@Daniel-hj8el]

Yo Tom isn't the line between D.C. to Richmond owned by Virginia DOT or at least half of the ROW owned by Virginia DOT? 1:26

[@Thom-TRA]

Not yet, they are in the process of buying it

[@PiplupJames]

I would love to go to this festival one day

[@Thom-TRA]

You definitely should!

[@davinp]

No fare free Fridays this year, however beginning July 1, VRE will alow children under 18 to ride for free.

[@arh463]

Both model and real life trains are awesome. If I may ask, how old are you currently?

[@Thom-TRA]

I am in my twenties

[@arh463]

@@Thom-TRA Nice! I’m also in my twenties (I’m 25). :D

[@adambuesser6264]

Would you happen to know how to run a model railroad in general? I love trains of any kind.

[@Thom-TRA]

Not really lol model railroads aren’t really my thing

[@dianethulin1700]

Fun Need Fest! I would do this

[@davinp]

Virginia Rail is taking with Norfolk Southern to buy the Manassas Line tracks

[@lamegaming9835]

next year, visit ashland train day!

[@johnalder6028]

Excellent ! Be sure and let elected officials know we don't want any cuts to Amtrak funding.

[@carddamom188]

In europe where I'm from if a train stopped for more than 10 minutes on a line, there would be riots on the train and everyone would leave it...

[@Thom-TRA]

Oh really? Because I’m from Europe too and I’ve been stuck on trains for hours before with no riots

[@flenomusic]

4:07 😆😀HA😜😃HA😃😄 - It's a very confused 🖤❤💛 🇩🇪 German 🇩🇪 🖤❤💛, isn’t it?

[@JaxB-po8ld]

It’s good

[@Thom-TRA]

The video? Thanks!

[@JaxB-po8ld]

Yes the video

[@Trainsaregreat365]

7:12 7:27 I'm not a theif either infact i had my first train collection stolen sadly

[@29downtheline]

The “German” on that sign… war mir sehr interessant… yikes! Super cool that you got to go to this festival, great video!

[@Thom-TRA]

Ah, speaken du German auch? lol

[@29downtheline]

Oui!

[@chvideoslb9906]

My brain is OK, but that's not really German 😉 just some words.

[@Thom-TRA]

@@chvideoslb9906 aber naturlich wissen wir das!

[@29downtheline]

Ganz genau!

[@RMTStudios]

You chose Omniride home from Manassas, when you could’ve gone VRE or Amtrak? You chose poorly

[@Thom-TRA]

Not like the alternative of spending 3 more hours in Manassas was that attractive lol

[@paulcastillo1310]

I like to go to this suff

[@JimBones1990]

That must have been a Bull Run-ish Battle to get through.

[@mrvwbug4423]

Going home via bus ... how uncivilized hehe

[@Thom-TRA]

It was terrible lol

[@sammymarrco47]

@@Thom-TRA oh now I'm looking forward to this! 😂

[@Cupertinorail]

Do you own any model trains, Thom?

[@Trainsandanimationstv]

You have become James in the thumbnail

[@Thom-TRA]

Actually I’ve always been James. Your entire life has been a lie.

[@BirbarianHomeGuard]

did you code switch upon entering rural VA so they wouldn’t sense your euro-yankee nature?

[@Thom-TRA]

Gotta keep a low profile ya know