Hi:
Being one of those guys that still run "plastic trains”, i wanted to share my recent experience. Two other ACSG members and I set up a Christmas layout in the lobby of the Hampton Inn here in town. It was for an event called “Vista Lights” that showcases the arts community’s work and also brings people downtown the “Vista” section of the city to shop and eat. The city closes several of the roads to car traffic and turns the street over to people for the evening. Our layout was part of the American Institute of Architects exhibit on “Art by Designers”. Well, I don’t call my stuff art, but the AIA said “come on down!” when I called them to see if they wanted a train layout as part of their exhibit. So we set up a 10’ x 14’ modular layout.
Well, the wine and cheese crowd was thrilled. We had all sorts of folks in the community pushing buttons to load barrels, blow whistles, light up water towers and such. Saw a couple of my colleagues, very “serious” designers, standing back just looking at the layout and grinnin’. Even got a couple of them to walk around the layout and push the buttons. THAT was fun for both of us. The women who came by were a real treat. If you could get them started “helping us run the railroad”, they couldn’t stop until they’d gone all the way around and pushed every button. Had mom’s walking around the layout telling their daughters, some of whom had never seen a train layout up close and operable, about their “brothers” layouts that they had sneaked down into the basement to run when bro’ wasn’t home.
Of course, the kids were thrilled to see something that wasn’t a painting or a sculpture and that they could also touch. Most of the Hi-rail stuff may not have the scale details, but it does put a grin on people’s faces. It’s fun to operate and, in your imagination, it’s as real a ride down the rails into adventure as anything.
Happy motoring,
Ted