RE: Show Summary

["Ira Schneider" <ira_schneider@iname.com>]

I would have just sent this to Ed for the next newsletter, but since Scott asked for it, here it is:

                                          The Great American Train Show in Austin - January 10-11, 2004
                                                                               Ira Schneider

The event was a very auspicious beginning for the year 2004 for the Tinplate Trackers of Austin, Texas.

This show marks the first time The Great American Train Show has been held in Austin in several years.
The facility was very convenient for us since it was so close to home.  Also, they let us drive the trailer
and our cars right onto the show floor to unload and load.

We had a phenomenal turnout at this show.  Buddy, Adrian, Ron F, Randall and Ryan, Mike and Hugh,
Ira, Scott, and Ed unloaded the trailer and set up the layout on Friday night.  We had a large area
and set up an 8 x 3 layout.  This is the longest layout we have been able to construct since I joined the club.
We used almost every module we had in the trailer and used all the legs and clamps.  We couldn't
set up a larger layout even if we had the space!

The layout included a wide diversity of member's modules, including Ed's Hellgate bridge, Adrian's
oil fields, Scott's accessories (including a new module), Coca Cola and farm, Steve and Adrian's
transfer table and industrial modules, Ira's carnival rides, and the trolleys.

Ira had a new wireless camera which he "hid" in a tank car and pushed or pulled around the layout
most of the weekend.  People, especially the younger visitors, loved seeing themselves on the screen
as the train rounded the corner where the laptop was displaying the video.  Several people commented
that no passenger train would ever push a "Liquid Oxygen" tank car since it was so dangerous.
You can't please everyone!

Ira also brought two new MTH trolleys.  They run very well, but have trouble with the turnouts on the
trolley modules (surprise!).  Since the trolleys refused to follow the turnout settings, it was impossible
to run both trolleys simultaneously, so we only ran a single trolley.  Some day this will work as designed!

On Saturday, the members included Buddy, Adrian, Randall, Mike and Hugh, Ira, Scott, Ed, Joe,
Jim, and Rick.  Two new people joined the club at the show - John and Ryan.  Hugh did a great job
as "Assistant Fat Controller", keeping the schedule board up to date and making sure we all got a turn
at running our trains.

On Sunday, the participants included Buddy, Adrian, Ron F, Randall and Ryan, Ira, Scott, Ed,
Mike and Hugh, Jim, Rick and RIcky, John and Ryan, and Ron B.  Mike and Hugh weren't expecting
to come on Sunday, but Hugh had such a good time on Saturday that he convinced Mike to come on
Sunday morning.

The system ran fairly well.  We had our normal share of electrical problems (flashing accessories,
intermittent TMCC and DCS signals, brownouts around the layout, etc.), derailments, and engines
ending up in the middle of trains (i.e. the end of the train uncoupled and was met by the engine when it
came around again).  Overall, things ran fairly smoothly.

We held four workshops during the show.  On Sunday afternoon Scott gave a workshop on lubricating
an engine.  There were many people gathered around the table watching Scott take apart a
postwar Lionel engine and showing how to lubricate it properly.

There were several television and newspaper reporters visiting the show, taking pictures and interviewing
participants and visitors.  Ed was interviewed by a reporter from the Austin American Statesman
and excerpts from his interview appeared in an article in the newspaper on Sunday morning.

This was a great event and everyone had a good time.


Ira