Have you ever.....(update)

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

…“done” a train show??? I don’t mean attended one, or had a table to sell stuff at one. I mean set up a display at one. Show off your hobby to the general public. Are you a member of a club that has a portable layout, modules?

It has been a very long time since I’ve done any. The promoters around here disappeared many years ago, and the shows that had become tradition over the years, simply stopped.

There is a guy in the local NMRA that has picked up the ball, and organized a couple of shows, and I have signed on to do them both.

This is one reason I haven’t been around as much the last couple of weeks. I have been working on getting the layout ready to go. The thing has been “moth balled” for over 10 years. It has actually stored well, but I was in the process of doing some modifications, so I am taking this time to fini***hat project, clean, and do a test set up.

When the shows are over, I will probably set the layout up in another room in my basement, just so I can run some trains while I work on the real layout.

My sad but true confession is, my kids are 10 and 12 years old, and I have never set up my trains for them to see and run. [:0][:I][:(] That ends in 2005!!!

I’ll keep this topic running and post photos of the layout and it’s progress. In the meantime, please share any stories of how YOU share your hobby with others.[8D]

2

  1. No

  2. Shame on you!

  3. looking forward to your pictures. Mine forthcoming in a few weeks

3

Could someone share how you attach pictures to your posts in this forum?

Thank for the help folks.

Kevin T.

4

You are right Dave, shame on me. Perhaps part of my problem is that I have so much stuff to sift through. To set up a small layout, is not a simple task anymore. During my kid’s lifetimes, the trains have been packed away more than not. Too many other things going on, but no more.

5

KT,

My understanding is that you need an Internet site before you can do that. Do you have one? Also, it should be fairly large enough not to crash if too many people access it.

I have a junk site that’s free and so rather than post pictures I post my links:

http://davidvergun.tripod.com/index3.html

and

http://davidvergun.tripod.com/

6

Yes Elliot. Life has funny ways of changing things. Had a big layout, divorced and kids and I moved to house with no real finished basement. Now the kids are gone and we have empty bedroom upstairs [well, as soon as I can get them to get all their junk out]. So unpacking trains and etc. You did an excellent track plan for me last winter/spring. Plans was to have it ready for nieces and nephews by Christmas. Then any of the neighboring kids. Well, got to traveling to BPS shows and then the summer came. Time to do the gardening, fishing, managing farm ponds and etc. AH, the fall/winter is here and I will get to the layout. Well, this surgeon had other plans [sould say the 'Master Surgeon"] for me. Sawed my chest open. Doing great as had no heart troubles but that breastbone heals slow. So no big lifting nor reaching. Now the Pro Mariner Co. wants me to do the BPS shows starting in Feb through May. Hey, when do I get to build that magical layout?

7

Elliot,

Yes, we do demos for MTH at train show and local club meetings. We run DCS and TMCC (actually TMCC through DCS, as no on really wants to bother with the Cab-1 so far) to show how easy it is and how well the two systems work as one. Up to 10 trains simultaneously on four loops of track.

One or two big demos/displays per year and about 10 small ones:

My 11 year old son is with me at every one!

8

We do a lot to demonstrate the hobby to others.

Our club here in Dallas (Lone Star 3 Railers) puts up a portable display layout that is sponsored by Toy Trains Unlimited and Theatrical Warehouse Desisgns. The 12’ x 20’ sceniced layout uses Lionel Fastrak, TMCC, and has five loops.

We are invited to set up for (1) Thomas when he comes to town, (2) Share the Blessings charity food and cash drive at Thanksgiving (benefits Habitat for Humanity, Santa Cop, SW Bell Pioneers, and 2 others), and (3) some local train shows.

The first two events are focused on children. We let them run the trains with the CAB1s.

We also open our club layout for the Christmas season and obviously the focus is on kids seeing the trains and running them when possible. The open house proceeds also go to Share the Blessings.

Finally, the club meets almost every Thursday night and we are always open for guests at that time.

Unfortunately at this time my 11 year old has lost interest in the trains although he messes with the home layout from time to time.

I do not have any pictures of the portable display layout - but here are some from the club’s last year’s open house.

EDIT - Fixed the links and reposted the photos.

Regards,
Roy

9

I do shows with the TAMR. WE have operating displays that are inmteractive, I hand kids, both young and old Cab-1’s and they go right to it blowing the whistle and ringing the bell.

Chris

10

Guys
Nice Pic’s you all have posted.
If at all possible on this forum, to set aside a place we all can put our pic’s.

11

As promised, photos and an explanation of this display layout.

The whole thing started almost 25 years ago, and has been evolving throughout it’s existance. It started life as 4 unwieldy 4’ x 8’ tables, which were painted green and set up in an empty storefront, in a rather desolate strip mall. This installation lasted for months, but when it ended, the 4’ x 8’ table concept was quickly replaced, and the tables were reduced to 2’ x 4’. It was at this time that I had the idea to add 2’ triangular sections to allow for better corner configurations.

In the photo below you can see the 2 styles of table.

One of the more unusual features of this system is that the track is not permenantly mounted to the modules. This allows for the tables to be configured in any arrangement to fit any space. Over the years, I have created at least a dozen different designs with this system.

Early on, I had the idea to use velcro to fasten the track to the table surface, but it took almost 7 years to get to that point. Ultimately, each table was covered with green indoor / outdoor loop carpet. Wooden strips were cut, and velcro hook was applied. These pieces were hot glued to the bottom of each section of track, as seen below.

It is OK to run trains in circles, but after a while that gets dull. This lead to the use of relay logic automation. Working passing sidings, and diamond interlockings!!! There are advantages to that cheesy 3 rail track.

Here is a photo of me, circa 1987, with the layout set up at one of the last mall shows. In the lower left corner, is a cluster of relays configured into what I nicknamed “the brain”.

Here is a close up of “the brain”.

[img]http://home.comcast.net/~big_boy_4005/brain.jpg[/im

12

Elliot,

Pretty neat idea! Good luck on getting it going again!

Regards,
Roy

13

My favorite Engine in action[8D]

14

Well guys, this is it. The first show is this coming weekend. Time to tear down the test layout, and load the truck so we can get up to the mall for an early set up Friday. I’m glad I started early, there was a lot of re-learning involved, as well as things that needed to be repaired.

Here is the test layout set up. It featured a single loop of track with a passing siding. Using relay logic, the trains take turns going around the loop. 3 rail track makes tricks like this fairly easy to do.

The actual display layout at the first show will be larger, and include this alternating loop, and a double figure 8 with relays controlling the quad diamonds.

Of course I will take photos of the actual display. I may even be able to do a short video, as I have recently found a way to have it hosted.

15

Elliot,

Thanks for the update!

Good luck with your display!

Regards,
Roy

16

Thats very cool[8D][;)][8D]

17

HTOS (Houston Tin Plate Operators Society) does several shows a year in the Houston area. They have a huge layout (about 8 tables) and the last show they did I helped tear down and transport back to our mall location (Mall gives us a free store front). I was amazed how long it took to tear down and transport. It took about 2 hours with 8 guys working. I imagine it took alot longer to set up.

I had a personal 36" wide x 80 " long door layout with 5 - 027 switches with a cross over and two branches. For scenery I had tunnels, operating ice house and gate man. In addition it had a single loop around the outside. I took it to the library for a day of running trains (along with several other loops). I just took it apart to make my new traveling layout.

The new layout is a dual door layout (2 each 30"x80" hollow core doors). I am using the same five switches with a cross over but have changed to an external loop siding and another long siding. On the outside it will have a loop of track with two spurs and several uncoupling tracks. I hope to take it to a show sometime.

Jim H

18

We have a local club that is just about all HO and N scale. I have not joined yet but may at the trainshow this weekend. They have a set up (HO) at the local heritage park where they have actual old rolling stock and a engine that is being rebuilt. The layout is in a old boxcar. They don’t attract too much attention. I have seen some great results from folks “doing” the shows. From new interest from the local population, to even trains being given/sold to the show personel. I have the wheels turning in my head as to getting something going here. Please keep us posted.
Dennis

19

I am at the San Diego Model RR Museum at least once a week sometimes more. I don’t know which is more fun, running the trains or talking to the visitors. The thing that I find amazing at times is that hubby can be kinda hohum about the layout but, in this case, their better half is extremely enthusiastic. We are open tuesday thru sunday and sometimes on monday when it is a holiday.
My grandson has already paid a visit to grampa at the layout but he slept the whole time, only 4mos old, but my daughter had fun running the trains for the first time. [^]

20

I attend 3 to 4 shows a year in the Chicago area. I could attend more but I work on Saturdays. Most of the shows have the same people or clubs with the same layouts depending on location. Everything is shown from Z to G gauge. Mostly HO, if your lucky S gauge and Lego. The O gauge are very few but large. The only thing with the O scale layouts is the engines they run. they bring the most expensive and the peoples jaws drop when the here what the prices are. Some of the layouts are too tall. I learned the first time when I brought my son. Holding 40lbs for two hours was not fun as my son likes to check out the details. Most people brought stools for there kids to stand on which is what I do for all the shows. Basic foldup step stool.