Access to a train room ?

[eZAK]

I'm having a party in a few weeks with about 30 adults & 14 kids.

What would be the best way to show my layout?
It is in a separate room in the garage measeuring 14' x 22'.
It is a 'J' shaped, walk-in, type layout.

I thought of doing some sort ticketing system and allowing 1 family in at a time.

What do you think?
Any ideas?

[3railguy]

Crisco

[cnw1995]

Pat, I've used a timed sort of schedule to let everyone get a chance to 'play' without my being overwhelmed...hide what you don't want to show off. It helps to have everything up or secured. Else, you can let a bigger group in to 'look' - try to manage their expectations before they go in to avoid having to correct an overenthusiastic child in front of their indulgent parent - maybe you draw straws to run something. I shouldn't be - but am - surprised at the 'oh relax, he was just looking' response sometimes. I'm sure you'll make it fun for them. Gook luck!

[Roger Bielen]

My layout has limited viewing space, 48" X 14' aisle on one end, door each end, with a 24" service aisle down the middle, accessable via duck under bridges and a 32" X 6' operators aisle to one side. When we have our Christmas get together my wife always suggests taking a look at Roger's trains. There are a couple of regulars that want to go out to the train room as soon as they arrive and have refreshments in hand. I've found that those that are being courtious (sp?) take a quick look and return to the house, those really interested to see what's new over the past year'll keep me busy for an hour or so.

Basicly, let the interest determin the viewing.

[jonadel]

I'm also planning a 1st open house in December on a Saturday for my co workers and my wife's freinds. I'm thinking about sort of dividing groups into certain parts of the day but yet they can come anytime, depending on their schedule. My biggest concern is that everyone will show up at once and I won't be able to spend the time with them that i would like to.

What "rules" do you set up for little hands when Mom & Pop won't watch the kids?

Thanks.

Jon

[cnw1995]

Jon, it helps that the layout is up in a crawlspace - so there's a solid concrete wall 4 ft high and 4 inches thick. This keeps little ones from crawling under or otherwise endangering themselves with wiring. I have a step stool which is semi-permanently parked before part of the layout that has nothing really to grab in front of it. So it can't be dragged down to a more complicated part of the layout. I toyed with placing a small plexiglass shield there but it was too much bother. I also bought a whole mess of cheap wooden train whistles to give away to the real young ones so they have something to do...usually these disappear into their parent's pockets but I like the enthusiastic tooting!

Like the ads say, I also would like to have train-shaped cookies this year and invite the neighbors in.