It was small since it I only have a 100’ mainline inside and the layout isn’t finished. The snow and ice on the ground didn’t help with attendance either, but there were a half-dozen folks here for a few hours.
I was asked to have another after the snow melts.
http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/lastmanout/_forumfiles/DSCN0187%20(Medium).JPG
video: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/gIs9tbMhDDz2mHqbdSEVng?feat=directlink
Dave,
You have to fix the file name on the picture.
Ralph
The layout is looking good.
I’m jealous, no sound on my American yet…and it’s still “undecorated”.
Ralph
David, the layout IS looking good and I’m JEALOUS
because you have trains up and running!
Good to see another INDOOR large scale layout.
(Neat camera shot–going through the trees)
Thanks Ralph image fixed and thanks Bob, there are a few of us “hot-house” train engineers in this scale…
Hello David-
Would you please comment on those attending. My guess is you are a member of a garden RR group. If so, are open houses regular fare for the group? If so, how are members encouraged to have them? Is the membership growing?
I ask because here in Southern California, there are three functioning groups in the Los Angeles and Orange County area. One, the So.Calif. Garden RR Society several years ago had over 200 families active as members. Now, for reasons not known, the group has dropped to just under 100 familes. Obviously, other activities consume time. And, garden railroads do depreciate in time. Plus, the construction is one of the singular features for many members – not the watching of their train follow an all too familar track pattern. Once construction is over, interest may drop in running trains and maintaining the layout. Who knows.
Any insights you have are appreciated. Thanks.
Wendell
Wendell,
I am with the Lehigh Valley Garden Railroaders in the Lehigh Valley, Penna… We have over 100 paid memberships with the typical 20% or so active members. We have no club layout, just the Open Houses and public display.
Once a year for the past few years we setup a Charity Holiday Train Display at Christmas, one narrow gauge and one standard, no modules yet. A local auto museum has adopted us the past two seasons. We are planning now to add another public layout. Through these displays we have added about five new members in the past three years.
Since this was at my home, inside with limited room available, I invited only some of the members that helped with the Christmas layout. Had all been able to attend it would have been a good group size. As it was, the icy, cold weather, bad road conditions and other commitments kept the group small.
We have a range of interests in the group; builders, collectors, serious rivet counters and not so serious freelancers.
Wendell, did one of your three southern California groups include the Gold Coast Garden RR Society? It stretches from about West LA to San Luis Obispo and has about 100 members. We meet once a month at a member’s home for a potluck lunch and train running. As many as 60 people may show up at a meet. We have no officers, communication is by newsletter that is mostly distributed by e-mail, and our volunteer secretary writes that newsletter. We have no thoughts about building a group RR. You would be welcome at our next meet which, coincidentally, is at my home on Feb 19. Rain, which seems likely according to the latest 10-day forecast, postpones to the 26th. More information is at www.gcgrs.com
Wendell, I belong to two clubs in So Cal. I belong to the Upland Garden Railroad Society and Lancaster North West Rail Road, How about the Fairplex group?
I do agree with you that it seems like some people lose interest after their layouts are done. The Lancaster group now has a club layout in Palmdale and I do think that exposure is helping the club -,
Don’t you out there in Palm Desert have a club to go with the layout?
Doug Arnold said:
Wendell, I belong to two clubs in So Cal. I belong to the Upland Garden Railroad Society and Lancaster North West Rail Road, How about the Fairplex group?I do agree with you that it seems like some people lose interest after their layouts are done. The Lancaster group now has a club layout in Palmdale and I do think that exposure is helping the club -,
Don’t you out there in Palm Desert have a club to go with the layout?
by the way Mr. hill great pictures and glade you had a nice time at the open house. There always fun.
David;
Hey let me know when your next open house is I’ll try to get down if I don’t have to work.
I’m not too far from you, I live just outside of Milton.
Work at the Famous Chef Boyardee plant in town.
Retired NAVY.
I’ll bring my B&O Railbus.
David
David Kapp said:David, were you an Airedale, a Bubblehead or a Surface Warrior?
Retired NAVY.
There are a few of us aboard this site.
It’s nice to know another one. The place seems to be overrun with doggies. :lol:
Steve Featherkile said:David Kapp said:David, were you an Airedale, a Bubblehead or a Surface Warrior?
Retired NAVY.There are a few of us aboard this site.
It’s nice to know another one. The place seems to be overrun with doggies. :lol:
Geoff,
I thought the group out at The Living Desert was a club? I could be wrong, its a real nice outdoor layout.
http://www.livingdesert.org/G_scale_model_train_more.html
Today my shipment from Eaglewings arrived today…my 15x21 indoor layout/workshop will expand to the great outdoors tomorrow!
John
I take it your snow has melted?
If you’re headed outdoors you’re often going to need a snowplow!
Doug, its the LaNina effect we are seeing. There is a chance of something coming down south mid next week, so I need to get this Wye installed so at least i can say I have taken the plunge.
However, my plows are at the ready for my loop on my back deck.
It should be a nice weekend for laying track. I spent most of the day outdoors working on the layout. I’m planning an open house in September and have a lot to get done.
Hello Art, Geoff, Doug, David, and John,
To answer your questions:
David Hill’s club experience?
Thanks, David, for your response. Your 20% participation fits what we experience – unless the open house is at a new RR or one that is exceptionally imagined. One example was the open house by a Disney executive whose yard was a large scale model of a section of Disneyland. Yes, Thunder Mt., the Magic Castle, and monorail. The scale was large so the yard was very dramatic. Some 50 families attended that five hour period. Otherwise, 6-10 families and friends is an average number. We leave the food to the hosts – usually simple snacks and soft drinks. The open houses are promoted via a monthly newsletter. One guess as to the drop is, as you also noted, the layouts are complete so the challenge and time consumption is now very reduced. Plus, there are lot’s of competing activities in the LA basin – let alone driving across town! If you, or other readers, have any other thoughts, please offer them. Thanks.
Gold Coast?
I didn’t include Gold Coast only because it is not in the LA area. I have heard that it does well with attendance, as noted by G.C. member Art. Thanks for the invite, Art. It has been a while since I was back to Goleta - I was at UCSB in the 60s. When the open house is further south, that would be easier for me and family, please let me know. Thanks.
Fairplex?
With Bob toohey at the helm, this is a group dedicated to further developing and maintaining the huge detailed garden RR at the Los Angeles County Fairplex – located east of the junction of the 57 and 10 freeways. I didn’t include it only because it has a different purpose vs. generating member open house visits. As with the Palm Desert layout, Bob welcomes help.
Palm Desert’s Living Desert giant garden RR display?
Joe Schnieder is the desert museum employee that manages the layout. The labor force is mostly volunteers - such as with the Fairplex layout. The museum (all outdoor essentially with animal and plant displays per the major world deserts) is open from October to May 9 - 5 PM, with the “Wild Lights” operating in the winter evenings (check schedule). the summers are hot and the park is open from 8:00 AM to 1:30 PM. Work is done starting very early.
Volunteer to help? Call the “tower” (yes, there is an RR operations tower) by callilng the park at 760-346-5694 and ask for the RR tower phone. Joe takes messages at the tower. Likely, if calling during park hours, especially on the weekends, there will be an operator to give you data on what the status is of volunteer personnel. I usually simply let Joe know I’m coming and spend my time in the giant repair barn lubing, repairing, and problem solving the locos and rolling stock. Help is always welcomed, just call and attend and take those volunteer assignments based on need. The park is located at 47900 Portola, Palm Desert. Check the website for more data. There are train photos on the site. I would estimate 4,000 feet of track.
Thanks all.
Wendell
sws
Steve Featherkile said:David Kapp said:David, were you an Airedale, a Bubblehead or a Surface Warrior?
Retired NAVY.There are a few of us aboard this site.
It’s nice to know another one. The place seems to be overrun with doggies. :lol: