Re: TCA Train Meet and Show

Agree with Ira and would like to emphasize that I felt that the layout really "showed" well. Ira had to work fast to redesign it when the original footprint turned out wrong and he came up with a winner. The crowd seemed much larger than last years and they really seemed to enjoy it.

I would also like to add that only five guys showed up for setup. So, a layout of this size took a very long, tiring, five plus hours to set up. Hopefully it will work out in the future that more of you can find the time to attend setup the next time we do a layout of this size. I think we really need at least 8 guys and 10 would be better -- to make setting up a layout of this size anywhere close to enjoyable.

But, again. The layout did the club proud!

Bill

On Sun, May 15, 2011 at 5:16 PM, Ira Schneider <ira_schneider@iname.com> wrote:

Hi,

Here are my impressions of yesterday's TCA Lone Star Division Train Meet and Show.

We arrived on Friday evening and found that the space available to us was not
even close to the space they said we would have. Instead of an 18' x 50' area
we ended up with a 26' x 40' area. We built a 6 x 3 L-shaped layout, similar
(but reversed) from last year's layout. Attached is the layout diagram.
There was only one other operating layout at the show. They were
right next to us, next to the notch in our layout diagram.

While we were assembling the layout, we were having a problem with the
passthru module. We finally noticed "outisde" marked on the inside
of the base, so we disconnected the module and turned it around.

By the time they chased us out we had the mainline assembled.

Saturday morning, we attached the power cart and started testing the layout.
We quickly noticed that tracks 1, 2, and 4 were apparently shorted together.
After unplugging all of the intermodule cables, which reduced the apparent
problem to only tracks 1 and 2, and unhooking the end of the yard from the
corner, we still had the short. We closely examined the passthru module
and saw that the tracks were apparently wired incorrectly. That is when
we found a small notation "outside" on the inside of the deck. Apparently,
the notations are small enough on both the base and on the deck that we
didn't notice them. We again unhooked the bridge, reversed the deck, and
hooked everything back together. Everything was now working correctly.
We then completed assemling scenery, Plexiglas, and the skirts.

Since the number of members attending this show was relatively small, we
had ample track time all day. We ran our normal mix of freight and passenger
trains. The attendees to the show seemed to enjoy watching our trains,
and we had fun running them.

Several of our members sold items at the show, and were pleased
with the results.

The show ended at 4:00 PM and we were packed and ready to leave
around 5:15 PM.

There had been some indication in the past that the lights on the trailer
weren't working properly. Ed had the trailer hooked up to his truck and
tested all of the lights, the directional signals, and the hazard warning.
The only lights that weren't working were the two marker lights at the top
of the trailer (front and rear) on the driver's side. All of the other marker
lights and the directional signals worked correctly.

Overall, this was an enjoyable show. It is too bad it only lasted one day.

Ira