Hi Dave
I would have said liabilaty was with the parents for failing to control them.
Unfortunatly there is always some one who acts first and thinks afterwards
Oh! and it's never thier fault.
The concern I have with "high" layouts is the kids then climb on the barrier the smart ones put around to protect thier layout and keep a clear acsess way around the layout.
Climbing to see the layout that I think would be a larger concern.
I have seen propper ramps clearly marked for the mobilaty chalanged to see jambed up with Kids that just won't move.
So how do you get it right if you hope in good manner you get it wrong
If you try having rules it becomes your fault you can't win you are damned if you do and damned if you don't.
Just ask any body who has done the job of club exhibition manager.
regards John
John Busby Hi Dave I would have said liabilaty was with the parents for failing to control them. Unfortunatly there is always some one who acts first and thinks afterwards Oh! and it's never thier fault. The concern I have with "high" layouts is the kids then climb on the barrier the smart ones put around to protect thier layout and keep a clear acsess way around the layout. Climbing to see the layout that I think would be a larger concern. I have seen propper ramps clearly marked for the mobilaty chalanged to see jambed up with Kids that just won't move. So how do you get it right if you hope in good manner you get it wrong If you try having rules it becomes your fault you can't win you are damned if you do and damned if you don't. Just ask any body who has done the job of club exhibition manager. regards John
my dad shows his layout high because n scale looks more realistic to adults at eye height. For many years I worked in a grocery store, I watched human behavior and I can say there are a lot of idiots out there. You post warning signs or rule sign and they do it anyway. When you confront them they say they did no see it. This is when they are standing by it and you just watched them read the signs.
I am the show co-chairman and show cordenator for the green county train show. I try to predict what might happen and solve it or plan for it before all our shows. Most of our worst incidents happen because of stuff that should be common sense.
justin
Atlantic and Hibernia think the lesson for us is that if we really want to know what works best for the public's enjoyment of the railroad, take off the engineer's cap and mingle with the visitors as they tour the layout.
Exactly and be willing to listen what they say with a open mind and not fall into that curt reply of "people want to see trains run" should you be asked about switching.
Remember this.. If the club has a donation jar the donations will be bigger if you are friendly-let's face it..Nobody likes stiff shirts with a frown.
If you're not a people person then learn to at least acknowledge when you're spoken to. They won't bite you,so what's the harm?
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
I'm going to go against the general trend and say that realistic operations interests most of the general public.
Years ago I was helping at a Tech Model Railroad Club of MIT show. There were four or five trains orbiting the layout. I got bored and had been working on switch list software, so I randomized the cars in the freight yard, printed out a switchlist, and proceeded to sort the freight yard for my own amusement.About twenty minutes later I looked up and every vistor in the place, including the little ones, was clustered around me watching my every move. I asked with some surprise "why aren't you watching the trains running?" and everybody said "This is more interesting, you're actually doing something."
Disclaimer: This post may contain humor, sarcasm, and/or flatulence.
Michael Mornard
Bringing the North Woods to South Dakota!
Bayfield Transfer RailwayAbout twenty minutes later I looked up and every vistor in the place, including the little ones, was clustered around me watching my every move
Been there and done that over the years. Like I said earlier switching fascinates the public and I will add always did always will more so then mindless lap running at Mach 5.
The questions I have been asked over the years was interesting as was my answers about blocking cars for certain distentions,how interchanged of cars worked,this was after being ask why a PRR car would be in a C&O train.
I agree about stuff moving. There also needs to be a mixture of trains- IE I'm a steam guy and a show that only has Diesel doesn't hold my interest. I enjoy seeing the Diesels though, just not as much. Also, run consists that make sense. I went to an open house where they have people that sponsor train cars and they only run those and not normal model train cars. By this I mean they have box cars wrapped in ads for local denists and box cars that have auto parts business cards on them. Totally lost my interest in the place as a model RR club.
Modeling the N&W freelanced at the height of their steam era in HO.
Daniel G.
dale8chevyssBy this I mean they have box cars wrapped in ads for local denists and box cars that have auto parts business cards on them.
While I agree with you losing interest in the club ,I wonder if the club needed the funds?
Hi daleBchevyss
I think an over supply of local advertising at the expence of normal cars would bother me to.
I still have a City Models box car and bill board that was specialy done for me as they helped me put together a layout, I once took to exhibition, they went above and beyond the call of duty to help.
This was done as a thankyou to the hobby shop and the proprieter did the bill board as he was a model railroader as well.
He even spoke to a friend who worked for the local phone company to find out how many numbers to take off the phone number to have it fit in and be in keeping with the rest of the layout.
The box car was done as a propper one (no stick on business card) would have been done so that did not stick out like a sore thumb.
Although some people noticed them and some comented the adverts where not all over the place.
The biggest laugh I got was when some one told me the phone number on the bill board was wrong and I had to explain that the number was right for the period modelled
In the end I had to very politely suggest he took it up with the maker who was on stand what ever the number was over there.
When asked why, I said because he had made the bill board to suit the layout not to advertise his business not strictly true, but it explained the apparent anomaly in the phone number to the member of publics satisfaction.
That hobby shop has gone the way many have now and I still have a quiet chuckle about the phone number thing now and then.
Wish I knew how I could restore the bill board it's very tatty now and its a one of there only ever was one made and it was not made to be a perminant fixture
The card was not shelaced so it's in a pretty poor state
Not my video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1qOkhtUjsE
I would have rather seen some handouts or stacks of business cards on a table or signs on the walls instead of all those business cards on the train. I think it really takes away from the layout and the running train display. The club layout looks really nice except for the business cards and advertising boxcars.
Just 1 opinion.
Hi dale8chevyss
And that sums up your argument better in the first five seconds than you or I could with words.
Some one needs a boot in the backside untill there nose bleeds for that.
First off some one or more should have done propper model bill board cars
and like you said where are the run of the mill ordinary cars.
I know what I think but this is a family forum so I just can't put it into words
railroadedOne feature that I noticed really packs 'em in is the animated models of amusment parks with all the rides lit up & working with blaring music.
I've seen a couple of those at shows around here. They are really well-done models with working rides and plenty of lights, and lots of figures to make the scene complete.
A couple of other popular modules I've seen are the circus, complete with a Big Top and a circus train, and a corner module of the Disneyland Cinderalla palace.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.