Northwest Modeling Mecca??
- Thread starter upguy
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During an all night installation session enough of the work was completed to have the railroad up and operating before the Dairy Queen opened for business the next day. More information about the installation can be found in this thread....
http://www.the-gauge.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5558
In this picture the background is going up with the assistance of the carpenter who helped complete the display cabinet that would enclose the layout.
http://www.the-gauge.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5558
In this picture the background is going up with the assistance of the carpenter who helped complete the display cabinet that would enclose the layout.
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I'll try to get a current picture of the layout sometime today, so everyone can see the progress that has been made. Although our focus of activity has returned to our principal layout, there is still detail work that will be added from time to time to the Dairy Queen layout.
If you are ever passing through the John Day area be sure to stop in and take a look at the layout. Be sure to thank Pete for footing the bill for this model railroad. It is a great way to showcase a great hobby; display a little local history; attract new model railroaders; and, hopefully, attract a few more paying customers.
Now to work on some other businesses in the area to really make John Day/Canyon City the Modeler's Mecca that is mentioned in the thread title. Think tax deductions and hobby activity!
This was the last picture taken before leaving the night/morning of the installation. It will have to do until I can get a more recent photo.
If you are ever passing through the John Day area be sure to stop in and take a look at the layout. Be sure to thank Pete for footing the bill for this model railroad. It is a great way to showcase a great hobby; display a little local history; attract new model railroaders; and, hopefully, attract a few more paying customers.
Now to work on some other businesses in the area to really make John Day/Canyon City the Modeler's Mecca that is mentioned in the thread title. Think tax deductions and hobby activity!
This was the last picture taken before leaving the night/morning of the installation. It will have to do until I can get a more recent photo.
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Well done! A great effort put in to promote the hobby where it will be seen by so many who may not have otherwise given model trains a thought.
Very nice work. You will be amazed how many people will come in just to see that layout. I might have missed this from an earlier post, but who will be maintaining this and the other layouts as far as track cleaning and other issues?
On your mountains, did you paint directly over the styrofoam?
Anyway, hope this endeavor works for your town.
Great idea.
On your mountains, did you paint directly over the styrofoam?
Anyway, hope this endeavor works for your town.
Great idea.
Quite a ways out of the way. This looks like a mighty fine railroad and a good idea. Many tourists passing by would make a rest stop side trip, especially if they have children - free entertainment for cranky kids! (and when travelling with kids those entertainment bills sure do add up fast). They would need to be advertised in tourist center and motel type brochures, and maybe some highway billboards.
How many businesses have or will be setting up railroads? Is this the first?
So far the Dairy Queen is the first business to have a layout. There may not be any others that will be interested, but time will tell. It is currently the reponsibility of the business establishment to maintain the railroad and take care of any problems. This railroad is the property of the owner of the Dairy Queen. It is not an item for lease although that might be an interesting proposal for other business that don't want to own their own display.
There could be some real excitement for onlookers if a minor derailment turns into a massive pile up - all while the proprietor is busy serving icecream!! 
There have been a few mishaps, but most of the "bugs" were worked out before the display was installed in the restaurant. Once the train has made a few cycles of the layout without problems, it is be pretty safe to assume that it will make it through the day without problems.
On at least one occasion when Pete was gone for the day, the hired help forgot to turn the layout off when they closed for the night. When Pete got there in the morning, the train was still zipping around the track! (The hired help also tends to run the train faster than Pete does when he establishes the pace in the morning.)
On at least one occasion when Pete was gone for the day, the hired help forgot to turn the layout off when they closed for the night. When Pete got there in the morning, the train was still zipping around the track! (The hired help also tends to run the train faster than Pete does when he establishes the pace in the morning.)
Judy and i have some small display railroads, the most reliable one is made for unattended public running. click here to see
Has a dust cover (read 'little-finger guard'), mechanical limits on the throttle knobs to discourage would-be train racers, and the few turnouts are placed so the trains always enter from the frog end. No mishaps unless kids shake the table too violently, and some of them (mainly 12 year old boys) have been known to do this just to see the trains derail. Those are the ones whose parents never seem to notice what their little monst- er, 'darlings' are up to. Still need to get a 24 hour timer for it.