Open House?

[g. gage]

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    

 

 

[Ray Dunakin]

Nope, I don't have any hoppers yet. One of these days I want to try scratchbuilding some small single bay hoppers, though.

[Independent Operator]

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

 

[Southwest Chief]

Wish we had:

A book for visitors to sign.

[Independent Operator]

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

 

 

[Liverpool NY Roger]

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

[Capt Bob Johnson]

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.