Most everybody in our club that has an Open House serves some sort of refreshments. NO BOOZE! The club has an OH tour each spring, usually 5 to 7 layouts open over the weekend.
Observations.
Figure on letting folks use the facilities, driving around all day and drinking water/soda, they gonna need to pump out!
Have help to keep an eye on trains and even run them for you so that you can talk to guests and answer questions.
Don't be afraid to ask parents to supervise children that misbehave; but also don't be too strict, kids seem to learn by touch! As long as they don't cause a derailment or throw stones I keepa my mouth shut!
Guest book is quite useful.
No rain
See pictures from my layout that includes a wet picture from last week's open house at http://picasaweb.google.com/Roger.Caiazza/LeatherstockingLineGardenRailway#.
I think it is a good idea to have a guest book. It is fun to go back to see who has visited and when they came.
Roger Caiazza
Leatherstocking Line Garden Railway
I keep a supply of magnets and cap buttons in my train shed for when visitors come. They have in variations the name of my railroad and pictures of it on them.
As a footnote on the comments about beer. I'm the only one that is allowed to stumble and fall onto my layout so unless I know someone well enough to let them drink alcohol only I'm allowed to do so
RUDY JAGER, CEO OF THE LONE WOLF RAILROAD
TRUST ME--I USED TO WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT!
Wish we had:
A book for visitors to sign.
Matt from Anaheim, CA and Bayfield, COClick Here for my model train photo website
I keep a supply of magnets and hat buttons in my train shed for when visitors come. The have in variations pictures and the name of my layout on them.
[quote user="ToadFrog&WhiteLightn"]
What do you wish you had and have had for a open house? (for trains Vic!)
Toad
I depends on the occation; at our open house in Sacramento for the California Railroad Musium 10th anniversery/1991 PCR Convention my HO layout worked great, not so much as a derailment, even when Russ Larson and Bill Shamburg dropped by. Patricia baked snacks and served cold drinks etc. and her rose garden was in full bloom, Perfection.
Two years later in Sacramento Garden Railway Society hosted the Western Regional Garden Railroad convention. Again everything went well. Jack Verducci kept moving his chair and ended up sitting in the hot Sacramento aftennoon sun. I never saw what held his attention. In the heat of the day my MRC 6200 and Aristo TE were intermitint.
By 2003 we were moving to the Sierra Nevada and the Sacramento club asked if we could open for the 19th National Garden Railway Convention. I laid track on bare ground, with little cut and fill, ending up with a loop to loop railroad. I trimed sage brush and bitterbush into trees and put out minimal buildings. Everything started great until two trains sideswiped on a multi-track return loop, the day got hotter and everyone huddled under the shade of a pine tree. That night I did repairs in the dark. The next day a screw worked loose under an Aristo switch point rail. That night I removed the switch and again did repairs.
It's hard work but satisfying, I'd do it again.
Have fun, Rob
I wanted to bounce the off of ya'll.....imput!!!!
I wanted to go the less expensive route for the kids so they could not hurt the gears and engine but would like egg liner with RCS work? Or a simple what?
They SHALL pass it on to others to play with, will have a sign up.
Ray Dunakin wrote:Rolling stock weathered and lettered for my RR. (Got a few cars weathered now, still need to get decals for lettering and logos.)
Your a man after my own heart! Ray did you just do the hopper on MLS?
Sorry no beer or wine here. Even if they bring it they will be asked to leave.
Learned this from PowWows. Just my feeling on it besides I am way dry so......
So I see no one offers or would offer coffee, tea, soft drinks, eats....etc.....
We had a cookie's and trains event at the reno house in Dec07 it was fun no derailments no uncouplings just fun lot's of kid's And hot chocolet, beer and wine for the adults. and a ton of smile's
The head is gray, hands don't work , back is weak, legs give out, eyes are gone, money go's and my wife still love's Me.
Willam send me a good E-mail address
Dave
ttrigg wrote: vsmith wrote:Well, if by some miracle I one day was to host a BTS show bus tour stop, being in the summertime, I would offer an ice chest with bottled water, soda, ice teas, probably put out a couple bags of chips and dip, maybe some sliced fruit or veggies or other healthy alternatives for the heart patients and diabetics which make up alot of our aging constituency, and likely have a radio set up playing something interesting, maybe some jazz or swing music, not Black Flag or Kiss, well not till everyone leaves...Vic: Are you implying that we are a bunch of old putz'es? No need to imply my friend. The BTS tours I've been on have made me feel like a youngster, and I'm past old enough to collect social security.
vsmith wrote:Well, if by some miracle I one day was to host a BTS show bus tour stop, being in the summertime, I would offer an ice chest with bottled water, soda, ice teas, probably put out a couple bags of chips and dip, maybe some sliced fruit or veggies or other healthy alternatives for the heart patients and diabetics which make up alot of our aging constituency, and likely have a radio set up playing something interesting, maybe some jazz or swing music, not Black Flag or Kiss, well not till everyone leaves...
Well, if by some miracle I one day was to host a BTS show bus tour stop, being in the summertime, I would offer an ice chest with bottled water, soda, ice teas, probably put out a couple bags of chips and dip, maybe some sliced fruit or veggies or other healthy alternatives for the heart patients and diabetics which make up alot of our aging constituency, and likely have a radio set up playing something interesting, maybe some jazz or swing music, not Black Flag or Kiss, well not till everyone leaves...
Vic: Are you implying that we are a bunch of old putz'es? No need to imply my friend. The BTS tours I've been on have made me feel like a youngster, and I'm past old enough to collect social security.
vsmith wrote: user="ToadFrog&WhiteLightn"] So I see no one offers or would offer coffee, tea, soft drinks, eats....etc.....ToadHey, You said Trains...Well, if by some miracle I one day was to host a BTS show bus tour stop, being in the summertime, I would offer an ice chest with bottled water, soda, ice teas, probably put out a couple bags of chips and dip, maybe some sliced fruit or veggies or other healthy alternatives for the heart patients and diabetics which make up alot of our aging constituency, and likely have a radio set up playing something interesting, maybe some jazz or swing music, not Black Flag or Kiss, well not till everyone leaves...If it was in the winter then a hot beverage option like coffee or hot tea bags would be good option, but cold here is relative. I would also make dam sure everything hideous in the garage was either moved out or hidden under a skirting below the layout and that the yard was cleaned up as well.A display table for other trains that dont fit on the layout would be another option.
user="ToadFrog&WhiteLightn"] So I see no one offers or would offer coffee, tea, soft drinks, eats....etc.....Toad
Hey, You said Trains...
If it was in the winter then a hot beverage option like coffee or hot tea bags would be good option, but cold here is relative.
I would also make dam sure everything hideous in the garage was either moved out or hidden under a skirting below the layout and that the yard was cleaned up as well.
A display table for other trains that dont fit on the layout would be another option.
Awh....yes will keep this in the ole pea brain!
EMPIRE II LINE wrote: The new loop finished, the plan is for O. H. sometime in Feb. or soon after....Byron C.
The new loop finished, the plan is for O. H. sometime in Feb. or soon after....
Byron C.
Track bender work fine?
vsmith wrote:It would also be nice if I could clear all the junk out of the garage, err, layout room
Sale, get a date to sale stuff and put ads in paper! Price it to sale and don't be like the anal people I just went to this last weekend who had a Estate sale and much was not priced to sale!
kc heritage wrote:Two years ago I purchased the LGB Snoopy Flyer when it went on sale. I have a separate track for the kids (big and small) so they can have fun. Really adds a light hearted air to an open house. Definitely a must have. Regards, Dennis.
Dennis, This idea I will keep most definitely! And know if it gets killed or injured it will be ok.
"Gear,
I am always thinking way head not sure I picked that up as a cop or what but I would like my people to be feeling at home.
Oh yeah and the trains to run and not crash or fall over.
Toad"
Say what?
Tom Trigg
Have fun with your trains
Gear,
I hear that, Vic.
On top of the unfinished stuff from last spring, I bought one of these Smilin' Fong mini lathes. Now I have to tear that down, clean, adjust, etc.
It came to me that tines from a spring rake might work nicely for springing an x-4-x engine, or even the front axles sets on an x-6-x, since what I can find on the subject indicates most drie axles aren't sprung anyway. Anyone ever try that?
Les
Funny I thought the only name mentioned in the OP was mine
I would love to have an open house some day. I got plenty of engines and rolling stock for my tiny layout, but the setting (garage and yard) is rather unpleasant at the moment, I'm beginning to suspect that the open roof trusses in the garage are rather ugly and if a T-bar suspended ceiling might not look much better. I really wish we could complete all these projects and just enjoy our place.
dwbeckett wrote: GearDrivenSteam wrote:I was talking about ME not having a layout. There are more of us in the world besides you.So I guess Toad's question was only for You, sorry to have intruded on your privet mail.Dave
GearDrivenSteam wrote:I was talking about ME not having a layout. There are more of us in the world besides you.
So I guess Toad's question was only for You, sorry to have intruded on your privet mail.
Not at all, Dave. Just lettin toady know I was talkin about me not havin a layout not him. That's all. sorry for the confrooshus.
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