blabride Also it seems I may have to build some houses as there just is not much out there that fits other than thw two Woodland Scenic ones and the Atlas. SB
Also it seems I may have to build some houses as there just is not much out there that fits other than thw two Woodland Scenic ones and the Atlas.
SB
Don't ignore the nice, and reasonably priced, small frame houses from Rix. It is easy to forget what is in the extensive Rix line when Pikestuff from the same source gets most of the attention.
Dave Nelson
Our club layout was built specifically to run track warrant, car card & waybill operating sessions.
During the recent NMRA convention, we had one open house for the general membership, one for the Layout Design SIG and two for the Operations SIG.
During the general and LDSIG sessions, a couple of club members kept trains in motion to animate the layout. During the OPsig sessions, visitors were paired with a club member for a standard four-hour session.
Thanks for all the reply's. You guy's have giving some valuable information.I do think I will move my more valuable MKT and Mopac items, china, locks, keys, etc, into a case. The idea of tag descriptions on some of the more odd and or important locomotives is also a great idea. Not a lot of people know the story of the MKT testing a set of Pennsy Baldwin Centipedes. Another purpose of my layout is to see if I could build one using as much already done stuff as possible. After building three previous layouts the traditional way. Ballasted track, scratch built or kit built structures etc. I needed to do something faster. So I have used kato unitrack and as many ready built structures as possible. I have integrated the Kato track into the scene with ballast and dirt up to the edges then some stain on the plastic track pieces. It looks very acceptable. My goal was to go from nothing to almost done in a year. It's going to be close. What might hold me up is finding enough buildings. I am reusing three structures from a previous layout as well as some trees. Also it seems I may have to build some houses as there just is not much out there that fits other than thw two Woodland Scenic ones and the Atlas.
While I have dealt with club open houses I would say it would depend on the club's layout..A loop layout can run trains without much worry while a point to point layout without the means of running loops must stay fluid and that is done by having the experience members working the yards and engine terminal while the least experience members serves as mainline engineers. A experience dispatcher should be used as well.
The same basics would apply to a home point to point layout without a means of running loops.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Dave Nelson pretty much summed up my position. I have a point to point - Operations based layout. I designed a couple of loops with hidden returns just so that I could run trains in a circle at open houses without having to worry about crashing into the end of the line. A few other suggestions:
I would encourage you to get a helper person just to run the trains around or set up the layout so that trains can safely run unattended. This way you can talk to your visitors without having to divide your attention.
I always have a loooooong train running on one of the loops. It seems to build excitement and capture the attention of most visitors (make sure you “vet” the train first - no questionable runners).
I take the time to “stage” the layout. I put out the cool cars in spots where they can be easily seen and I also put away certain rolling stock. I also make sure the track is clean and the locos on the running trains are good runners.
You might consider putting together a bulletin board with a presentation of some of your historical materials, track plan, layout overview, etc… outside the layout room where visitors will see it. I have also done signage in the layout room on the fascia explaining the models being viewed - you might consider that for some of your coo; loco models – a couple of sentences that enhance the viewing experience.
I always enjoy open houses – 0ne of the best parts of the hobby for me is sharing with others.
Guy
see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site
My layout was designed for realistic operation, so that's the focus. However, an open house environment isn't usually conducive to demonstrating operations, unless the attendees are looking for that (e.g. you've opened the layout to members of a local club interested in starting operations on their layout). Normally I just let a train run for the open house, and answer questions on operating if anyone brings it up. My layout has ops paperwork everywhere so someone with such an interest can easily tell we operate regularly.
Rob Spangler
SB,
I'll be participating in layout tours here in my area in early November...supported by there region chapter of the NMRA...I also did last year. I've had similar concerns. The coordinator stopped in last year.
People want to see layouts and the individuality in each. Jim...the coordinator commented that my layout was somewhat unique in current times. I'm in northern Nevada... I run purely DC and as block system on a copper clad panel...everyone else on the tours was DCC. I model Reading and Conrail, together and separately (as my signature says). My layout looks like Pennsylvania...different for my locale. My layout is only maybe half complete.
I run trains, no switching...and give a verbal tour of the layout. That also gives my visitors something to chuckle about...they hear my mix of Pennsylvania Dutch and mid Atlantic brogue.
Most people like to see layouts and how each person builds it and runs it...thats what I look for.
I'm still trying to wake up...I hope I made sense.
Mark H
Modeling in HO...Reading and Conrail together in an alternate history.
In my experience, most open houses are just an opportunity to see trains running, and if the layout and layout room have a nice finished appearance, so much the better. At most, perhaps having a passenger train stop at stations might be one bit of operation that is welcomed at an open house.
There are many reasons for this.
First in general operating sessions are wonderful to do, but not to watch, unless there is something particularly instructive going on such as a full blooded timetable and train order system, where as a watcher you can learn alot about how to take part in such advanced sessions. But otherwise watching other guys at an operating session is about as interesting as watching an accountant engage in double-entry book keeping.
Second at an open house you want the aisles cleared as much as possible for guests, and not have guests try to be using the same space as a bunch of guys with throttles in hand chatting on their headsets. People will have questions and the host (and informed friends of the host) should be about to deal with them. Also the photographers and videographers will want trains slowed down, speeded up, runby again, and so on. All inconsistent with a real operating session going on.
Most open houses run the trains a bit faster than you'd see at an operating session.
Make sure you get every visitor to sign a guest book. I mentioned having friends around to help answer questions. That is particularly important if you have nice collectibles around the room -- you need some watchful eyes in the room. Model railroaders are the salt of the earth as a rule but there are bad apples too (just to mix the food metaphors here).
On balance I think the important thing to keep in mind is that your visitors are there to enjoy themselves. They want to like your layout. They want to learn from it too -- what ballast do you use, who makes that structure, lighting, all sorts of things. Most of them will be wise enough to focus on the parts that are good and interesting, and will praise those things. They will understand and accept things that are not finished or not yet perfected. And I would be lying if I said that a plate of cookies and perhaps some punch or soda didn't help get visitors in a friendly mood. This might sound odd but not all visitors want to have to interact with your pets, if you have any (I on the other hand enjoy seeing the pets but not all do).
Enjoy the day. You will find it very gratifying. Having said all that I do hope that someday you will give operations a try. They can be enormous fun and can lead to some great friendships.
Hello All,
In reponse to the recent post on falling interest on the forums I thought now would be a good time to ask some questions that I have been pondering.
I am considering opening my layout for tours during the local train show. However one thing I have always wondered is just how much interest is there in a layout like mine. My primary interest has always been in locomotives and their developmental history. So while I have a detailed scenic layout 16' by 12', that can represent roughly two different eras in central Texas, it is set up mostly to just watch trains run. I do have a room full of local railroad material along the walls and way more locomotives, cabeese and passenger trains than anyone needs of all Texas railroads from three different eras.
My other question is how many of you are still just watching your trains run, versus moving to prototypical operations complete with a full crew? When you visit someone else layout on a tour what interests you more?
Any input or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,