enterTRAINment

[KeithL]

Recently got TM's DVD with parts 1-6 of their Great Toy Train Layouts of America video series from about 15 years ago. All of the layouts and the stories of their builders are great, including "enterTRAINment," the layout built by Elliot Feinberg, a CTT Forum member, at Mall of America in 1992.

EnterTRAINment, which unfortunately no longer exists, was outstanding, and Elliot designed the layout in a way that would allow visitors, including kids, to get close to the action and experience the fun of trains. Elliot didn't mind if a train got bumped off the track once in a while.

Last I remember, Elliot was working on a new layout in his basement. I don't know if it's O or HO. Elliot, how's it going?

Keith

[spankybird]

That's our own BigBoy4005. He is always around and helping.

BTW - he is still doing O gauge.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Thanks Tom, sorry Keith, I don't know how I missed this topic, very unlike me.

Yes, enterTRAINment is gone, closed after a little more than a year. Many people have asked "Was it the rent that did enterTRAINment in?" The honest answer is no. Even at over $10,000 per month that wasn't the problem. The business plan took that into account. It was the location within the mall that killed it.

I had to make a decision before the mall opened, about which space to build in. The business was based on traffic, but with no established pattern to go on, I took the leasing agent's sugestions into account and chose third floor next to Golf Mountain and across from the food court. The sad part is, I could have been on the first floor by the rotunda, one door down from the Great Train Store, where the traffic was close to triple.

The business plan was simple. The mall said they expected 40 million visits the first year. I said, "YEAH RIGHT, how about 25 million?" So, take 25 million people, and figure 1% would be willing to pay $2 admission. That works out to $500,000 per year, more than enough to pay all the expenses and make a nice profit.

The mall's first year attendance turned out to be something like 36 million visits. The problem was, where I had chosen to locate, we only saw about 10% of those visits. Instead of needing 1% off the sidewalk, we needed 10% to make the half million goal. 10% was not realistic, however we were better recieved than 1%. Depending on the day of the week, we were pulling betweeen 2% and 4% off the sidewalk. Triple the traffic, and we would have survived.

This is the first time I've told my story in public like this. Whenever the subject of enterTRAINment comes up, I like to say thanks to Tom McComas and *** Christianson who managed to preserve the display with video and print.

Tom's original part VI video sold for $29.95, but now the entire six part series sells for only $19.95 as a two DVD set. Quite the bargain really, especially when you realize that many of the layouts featured no longer exist.

On to the present.

Yes, I'm still in O gauge, I have too much invested, and wouldn't want to switch scales anyway. I have however changed my focus to realistic operation using scale equipment. The new layout is 38' x 46' entirely double decked, with some triple deck. The layout is also all TMCC.

Here are some progress shots of the new layout.

[KeithL]

Elliot,

Yes, it's truly a shame that enterTRAINment didn't make it. But it sounds as if you made well-thought-out decisions based on the best information you had at the time.

Thanks for the progress shots of your new layout. Wow, progress indeed! That helix is something. And your track plan is mind boggling. I hope you'll share reports and pix of future work on the layout.

I certainly agree with you that TM's DVD with parts 1-6 of their Great Toy Train Layouts of America series, at only $20, is a great deal. The layouts, including enterTRAINment, although from 15 years ago or so, are classics, and the stories of their builders are very interesting.

Keith

[Big_Boy_4005]

Thanks Keith, enterTRAINment actually had 3 helixes which were buried in the scenery. We never got a chance to use them. The plan was to be able to move any train to any track in the space. Oh, what might have been.

The new layout is going to have a second helix. If you look at the second photo, you'll see a 1x4 supported by a leg sticking out in the foreground. The end of that 1x4 is where the curve will start, an 8' diameter arc, at the end of the peninsula. You can also see it in the plan.

The track plan looks mind boggling, but it really wasn't that hard to draw. It actually follows the local prototype fairly closely, so it took less imagination than a total freelanced style layout would. The whole thing is just a long mainline with industrial switching and yards along the way. After all, what is a railroad anyway?

[laz 57]

Hi ELLIOT,
Wow great story and wish it would have worked out for you?
On the new layout where is it?
I hope the CHIEF didn't influence you on any SOUTHERN ideas[;)]. Did you show the CHIEF what the word LAYOUT means? And what a hammer and saw is used for[;)].
It looks great bet your having fun working on it.
All looks great.
laz57

[ChiefEagles]

SOUTHERN INVASION. I ran train on the layout. [}:)] LAZ, I dind that most Yankees are pretty good EXCEPT those from Ohizo and PA. [;)] Got some Entertrainment memorabilia while at Big Boy's. Sure would have been nice if it had still been working. I think the new layout is going to be better than the mall one.

[laz 57]

CHIEF how big is it.?
You are one LUCKY dog to see it and meet BIG BOY.
GOOD PIES?
laz57

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by laz 57

Hi ELLIOT,
Wow great story and wish it would have worked out for you?
On the new layout where is it?
I hope the CHIEF didn't influence you on any SOUTHERN ideas[;)]. Did you show the CHIEF what the word LAYOUT means? And what a hammer and saw is used for[;)].
It looks great bet your having fun working on it.
All looks great.
laz57

Thanks Laz, you mean where's the helix? Upper right corner of the plan.

The other helix that I haven't started yet will be the lower right corner of the plan.

As for the Chief, I drew him a plan, expecting him to know how to use tools. Seems his bigger problem is getting "squatters" off his land.[;)]

All you have to do to visit, is email me when you're coming to town. Everyone's welcome.

[FJ and G]

Elliot,

That's quite a story. Rise and fall of the BIG layout and now another layout on the rise.

Hope things improve for you and always looking forward to construction photos. Oftentimes, construction photos are more instructive and helpful than finished product shots.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Chief, the thing is, you probably wouldn't have gotten to know me here on the forum if enterTRAINment was still around. I would never have had time for it.

Dave, I've pretty well gotten over that loss, and am making the best of it. Life is never easy though, and it's all I can do to hang onto my house while dealing with my ex and the child support. Only 6 more years.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by KeithL

Recently got TM's DVD with parts 1-6 of their Great Toy Train Layouts of America video series from about 15 years ago. All of the layouts and the stories of their builders are great, including "enterTRAINment," the layout built by Elliot Feinberg, a CTT Forum member, at Mall of America in 1992.

EnterTRAINment, which unfortunately no longer exists, was outstanding, and Elliot designed the layout in a way that would allow visitors, including kids, to get close to the action and experience the fun of trains. Elliot didn't mind if a train got bumped off the track once in a while.

Last I remember, Elliot was working on a new layout in his basement. I don't know if it's O or HO. Elliot, how's it going?

Keith

[ChiefEagles]

I am a witness to him building right along. It is a monster of a layout but well planned.

[ADCX Rob]

Big_Boy_4005

...Dave, I've pretty well gotten over that loss, and am making the best of it. Life is never easy though...

Elliot, I see you've been posting again("Date Me" thread) after a long time away.  Welcome back!

How are you doing, & have you picked up at all on the layout?

Rob

[Penny Trains]

Big_Boy_4005

Thanks Tom, sorry Keith, I don't know how I missed this topic, very unlike me.

Tom's original part VI video sold for $29.95, but now the entire six part series sells for only $19.95 as a two DVD set. Quite the bargain really, especially when you realize that many of the layouts featured no longer exist.

Hiya!  I'm relatively new around here so forgive me if these are questions you've answered a million times.  But I'm curious, which other layouts no longer exist?

Becky

[ADCX Rob]

Just off the top of my head... to start... layouts that were featured and are gone include(in addition to Elliott's EnterTrainment) Ward Kimball's, Ralph Johnson's, Doug DuBay's, & Frank Petruzzo's.   Bruce Manson just passed, I'm not sure how well his wife will be able to keep up with his Flyer "S" layout. 

There may be others that are gone, too.

Phil Klopp is working on getting TMCC & DCS to work nicely together on his layout.

Rob

[Big_Boy_4005]

Rob,
I see you've been digging around in the CTT attic.  Sorry to say I haven't touched the layout in 4 years. I don't even go down to the basement anymore.

They got the cancer, but the prognosis messed with my head. Combine that with my other health issues, and I think B.B. King said it best: "The thrill is gone".

Becky,
actually nobody has ever asked me that question. Unfortunately I've been totally out of the loop for the last 4 years. However it seems Rob has come to my rescue regarding who among those featured in that DVD collection are still alive.

As for the disposition of their layouts, answers are far more difficult. If there was one layout, from the list of people Rob mentioned, that I would expect to have survived, it would be Doug DuBay's. Doug had it professionally built by Clark Dunham and installed in his train shop in Des Moines.

Perhaps the best person to ask would be Bob Keller (Ogaugeoverlord).

[dougdagrump]

There is a "G" gauge operation just west of Cincinnatti that has taken the name "Entertrainment". Even if not the same gauge the name lives on !

[spankybird]

Hi BigBoy,

 

Good to see you stop by. Some of us old guys are still around.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Hi Tom, I've been checking out Sunday Photo Fun. Layout's looking great.

I see that. I remember a lot of people, not just from CTT, but from MR and Trains. I always look at the member's joined date to see if I should know them. When I run across a name I don't recognize, almost every time, they came along within the last 4 years.

[marxalot]

Yo Elliot,

Good to see you are still training and keeping keeping on! I've often wondered how you were doing. I'm seldom here but note that you are a pleasant, polite, memory from the past. Marx still runs on my layout but along with other stuff now........

[Penny Trains]

Sometimes you just gotta make heaven in spite of the devil.

Becky