RE: Holiday Downtown Layout

["Michael Graziano" <mgraziano@austin.rr.com>]

Thank you Ira for sending this out.  

I'll be working at the store Saturday, and can stop in to help set things up
and get the heat going if necessary.

Also, please remember that we are also allowing the public to run 1 train
set (currently on track 3).  It's $5.00 for 10 minutes.  Please remember to
collect a driver's license and credit card (as collateral) before handing
over a CAB1 remote (easier and less expensive than the cab2's).  We'll have
to power up the track, and set the engine to #95 or #21 (steam or diesel)
for the customer (following form, the last 2 digits of the engine numbers).
Show them the throttle, bell, and horn/whistle buttons.  Oh, and add smoke
to the engines.  The fluid is on the layout towards the back of the store.

I currently have the NYC RS-3 on a dead siding in the back of the store, and
a NYC 4-6-6T tank engine on track 3.  The public can choose whichever engine
they want to run.  

Can someone remind me how to set a maximum speed for TMCC engines?  My books
are packed away at the moment and I'd like to take care of it before this
Saturday.     

Please run the track 3 stuff even if no-one is using it so the layout looks
active.  I am going to add a flat car this week to the set with a billboard
that reads something to the effect of "Run me for $5.00" and another with a
billboard that says "Try your luck with our $5.00 raffle").  You are welcome
to put the "raffle" car on whatever train you are running.  I plan to use
the 4x8 layout billboards and some rubberbands.

Lastly, remind me to put out the A frame on the corner so people know we are
there.  This is going to be a big weekend, so it would be great to have at
least a few members running trains.  

Thanks,

Michael



-----Original Message-----
From: ttat-members-owner@aoot.com [mailto:ttat-members-owner@aoot.com] On
Behalf Of Ira Schneider
Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 7:08 AM
To: TTAT Members
Subject: Holiday Downtown Layout

We need someone to commit to running trains on our downtown layout this
Saturday,
November 21, from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM.  Please let us know if you plan on
being there.

The layout is powered up by plugging the single cord from the power strip
into the outlet on the floor.  This will power up the power cart and the
accessories
(i.e. my carnival rides and Scott's accessories).  You can turn on the heat
at the
thermostat at the back left corner of the store.

If anyone has a folding table (i.e. picnic table, card table, etc.) which
you can
keep at the layout we would appreciate it.  Right now, there is only one
small table
inside the layout.

I left two folding chairs in the store.  I noticed a parent took one of them
and had
his young son standing on it.  This is dangerous.  If you see this, please
discourage children from standing on the folding chairs.  They could easily
collapse and we don't need any children injured at the layout.

If anyone has some nonfolding chairs they can leave downtown, that would
also be appreciated.

We are funning a raffle.  The raffle set is kept at Mike's Store (The Home
Retreat)
during the week.  If any visitor asks about the raffle, you can sell him a
ticket
($5.00 per ticket) and place the ticket in the plastic jar.  The tickets
(and money)
are in the brown box on the table in the middle of the layout.  You can get
the
raffle set and sign from Mike's store and put it on the module at the front
right corner
of the store.

There is a donation box to be placed on the layout.  I left the box in one
of the
cubby holes behind the counter.  Put the box out where visitors can see it.

If you haven't been downtown yet, the layout is at 117 Lavaca Street, just
north of
Caeser Chavez Street.  Immediately next door is the entrance to the loading
dock.
If the gate is down, park your car in the driveway, go to the call box
(north of the driveway)
and ask security to open the gate.  When you are finished unloading your
trains,
you may park in the parking garage immediately across the street from the
loading dock.
Parking is free on Saturday and Sunday until 5:00 PM.  Make sure you leave
the garage
before 5:00 PM (or you will be charged for parking) and repark your car in
the
loading dock so you can load any trains you brought with you.  Do not leave
your car
in the loading dock all day.

They key for the layout is kept at The Home Retreat, which is immediately
north of the
loading dock on Lavaca Street.  The light switches are in the back room and
the
termostat is on the wall in the back left corner of the store.  When you
leave for the day,
make sure to unplug the power strip, store the donation box out of sight,
turn off the heating/AC system, turn off all of the lights, and lock both
the front and back doors
i.e. the front door of the store and the door leading to the loading dock).

Most of all, have fun running trains and interacting with the visitors.

Thanks.


Ira




------
TTAT members reflector.