Scout pack meeting this Sat, Sept 12 NOT AT GRACE; we're meeting at the Baltimore train museum at 1:30pm because they're hosting a special event to honor first responders & to teach newer first responders how to respond, they're performing a real, controlled train collision into an unoccupied car that we can watch from a safe distance as it occurs and newer first responders perform a simulated rescue of potential car occupants. A great learning experience for scouts about train safety, one of the many services first responders provide, and how they do it!
Directions
Arrive by 1:30pm. The museum was renamed so your map may call it B&O Railroad Museum Parking or something else, the GPS coordinates are: 39.285549, -76.631839 which is the parking lot at https://maps.app.goo.gl/X1gYMbsP64qu5W8H7 you'll either park there or see signage for overflow.
Tickets
You must buy your own tickets at https://theborailroadmuseuminc.ticketing.veevartapp.com/tickets/view/list/first-responders-showcase_1 but under their orange image, change Availability drop-down to select Demonstration #2 - 2:00 PM. They will email you a QR code which you'll need to show them to board the train! If you forward that email to cubmaster@elkridgepack432.com we'll give you $5 back per pack-registered attendee to defray costs.
The plan
Train departs at 2pm even if you're not on it so arrive by 1:30pm so you have time to:
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enter the museum
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show your QR code to front desk check-in
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find & use the restroom. You won't be near food/water/toilets again until 3:30pm so go before boarding!
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get seated on the train by 2pm!
There's a lot of time after we witness the collision before we board the return train to the museum which we'll make use of by waiting for most of the "rescue" efforts to be performed and then I'll call the scouts to the far side of the viewing area where we'll discuss what we just saw and how that relates to scouting in terms of safety, calling for help, first aid, etc. so you can consider the scouting part of the outing to officially start post-rescue at the crash site.
NOTE: Hard-soled, closed toe shoes are REQUIRED to attend. Scouts should be in uniform.
You're encouraged to arrive earlier to explore the museum and meet the first responders. There will be several emergency vehicles letting people sit inside and they leave when the 2pm train does. Your ticket includes admission to everything there and kids could easily be entertained for well over an hour, if you want to get into those emergency cars, earlier is better. More info at https://nationalrailroad.org/events/first-responders-showcase/