Fun Runs at The Railyard

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

Hi all,

As you know, we have our layout set up in suite #628 at The Railyard Shopping Center.

We have announced (via the web site and posters in The Railyard) that we will be
running trains on October 25th and 26th (for the Austin Model Railroad Jamboree)
from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM) and every Saturday in November, also from 1:00 PM to
5:00 PM.

EVENT COORDINATORS
We have people who have committed to be event coordinators for October 25th,
October 26th, November 1st, November 8th, and November 15th.  These people
have committed to have the layout open and at least one train running from
1:00 PM to 5:00 PM on these days.  We still need people to volunteer for
November 22nd and November 29th.  We also anticipate having fun runs
every Saturday in December.  (I will add these dates to the schedule near
the end of November, when we find out from the management that they
haven't leased the space.).  If you want to volunteer for any of the open
November dates, or any Saturday in December, please send me an
email at ira_schneider@iname.com and I will put your name on the schedule.

ACCESS
You may run trains on the layout at any time.  The key is kept at The Collectible Caboose.
You just have to pick up the key and return it to them.  If you want to run at a time when
The Collectible Caboose is not open, you have to arrange to pick up and return the key
during normal store hours.

AIR CONDITIONING
The thermostat is programmed to automatically turn the A/C on at 6:00 AM
and turn it off at 6:00 PM on Saturdays.  It should be off (i.e. it is set to 85 degrees)
at all other times during the week.  If you want to use the layout at any other time,
and want to have the A/C turned on, you can set the temperature on the right hand
thermostat (the left hand thermostat controls the A/C for the offices upstairs).
Press the Cooler button until the desired temperature is showing on the display.
When you are leaving, press the Run Program button to return the thermostat
to program control.

TABLES AND CHAIRS
We don't have any tables inside the layout.  If you have a folding table
(of any size), please bring it to The Railyard and set it up inside the layout.
It is much more convenient to have our boxes of trains on a table when we
are setting up or packing up a train.  I brought two folding chairs.  It might
be nice to have more.

COMMAND CONTROL
Both TMCC and DCS appear to be working fine.  The MTH TIU is connected
to tracks 2 and 3, so we can run ProtoSound 2.0 engines on either of these tracks.
Track 4 can easily be connected also, if necessary.  Conventional and TMCC
engines can be run on any of the four tracks (using the Cab-1 controllers).

SWITCHING TRACKS
The switching module is in the layout.  Using this module, you can switch
trains (carefully!) between tracks 2 and 3 or 3 and 4.  To switch the turnouts on
the module, press the appropriate button on the control panel (clamped on behind
the module) and hold the button until all of the turnouts switch to the correct positions.
Unfortunately, I didn't know the turnouts wouldn't all switch simultaneously when I
designed the control panel, so the lights on the control panel only reflect the state
of the turnouts on the three-way switch.  You have to look at the lights on the
actual switch machines to determine when they have completed switching.
Please remember to press the center button to set all of the turnouts back
to their straight-through positions when you are done switching a train.
The turnouts are all wired for non-derailing operations.  However, the DZ-2500
switch machines are relatively slow moving, so I don't trust them to automatically
switch fast enough in response to an approaching train.

CARNIVAL RIDES
The carnival rides are set up.  When there are visitors to the layout, please turn them on.
They are controlled by the two Accessory switches at the lower left corner of the
switching yard control panel.  When there are no visitors in the room, you may turn them
off, since the repetitive music gets to be annoying after a while.

HAVE FUN!


Ira