@rcgrier3406
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Locomotion Weekend is confirmed for 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. So the shifts in the Event sign up are correct (10-1 and 1-4 each day).
I also just put in to Nicole our formal request for 11 six-foot tables per the layout plan. Thank you.
@timf, we’d actually like 13 tables, 11 for the layout and 2 for the back tables against the wall to hold the excess rolling stock and to do train maintenance. She gave us 13 last year, so hopefully they’re all still available.I have (2) 32×32 ponds still together from last year that I’ll bring. I also have a 32×32 Classic Train station and a couple of 16×32 buildings. I was waiting until we see how things fill out before claiming spots for them on the layout.
Here’s an updated layout with today’s additions. Still (10) spaces left for 32×32, plus (10) for 16×32, plus John has offered to share his 32×32 MOC spaces.
Just post here with the space numbers that you want for your MOC or build.
We’re about a month away from this event, so it’s time to start filling out the display. Here’s the current layout. There are spaces for a total of (33) 32×32 MOC’s (light gray squares numbered 1 through 33) of which (12) have been filled, leaving (21) still available. There are also spaces for a total of (13) 16×32 MOC’s (light green rectangles numbered 34 through 46), all of which are still available.
If you want to display a MOC or build, simply respond in this thread and let me know what size MOC(s) or build(s) you have, what space number(s) you prefer, and what each MOC or build is.
Just a footnote, your MOC or build will be sitting between MILS’d bases for track or roadways, so the preference is that you MILS your base so it lines up. Nominal MILS height is baseplate + 1 brick + 1 plate.
I will not be able to be at tear down since I’ll be driving to Amanda’s parents for the holidays.
1) anyone want to list out what needs to be taken for locomotion and take it?
2) @laura is anything remaining good to be picked up at some to be determined point in time?
@joshhall, @timf, @laura, I’ll plan on coming down on Sunday for teardown and take what we need for Locomotion Weekend. All of it will be MILS stuff (track, roads, and some but not all of the blanks).I was able to upload some pictures from this event from Discord (thanks @argonvesher and @gabevistica) to the Gallery. To view them, click on the “Gallery” link at the top right corner of any page, and then click on the “2024-12 Winter Trolley” album.
Thanks @gabevistica, I uploaded these to the Gallery into folder “2024-10 Beaver County Library Con”.
What are the dates and times for this event?
@emperorofthenorthpole, dates for this event are March 7-16, 2025 at the Convention Center. Fridays and Saturdays are 10 am – 9 pm, Sundays are 10 am – 6 pm, and weekdays are 4 pm – 9 pm.Sorry to hear that you can’t make it to Locomotion Weekend, but hopefully you can make it to some of the days for this one!
@knb112, I was planning on discussing this with @timf and the rest of the group at the meeting on Saturday, but I would say the more the merrier!
Here’s last year’s layout as a starting point. I think this layout worked pretty well for us and would suggest we go with it again unless someone has some improvements to suggest. With this layout we had (8) things running concurrently (6 trains, the Incline and John’s Trolley).
On that layout, we had space for (33) 32×32 MOC’s (light gray squares) and (13) 16×32 MOC’s (light green rectangles), which is where we have the opportunity to change things up. I left John’s Winter Village (6 squares) and my Incline on for now, which leaves (25) 32×32 MOC squares and all of the 16×32’s to fill.
Last year, the venue provided (13) 30″x72″ tables, (11) for this layout and (2) for the back tables for excess rolling stock and maintenance. The venue also provided all of the table covers (in black).
We used (10) of our stanchions to cover the perimeter. The layout itself is 18′ wide x 10′ deep, plus another 6′ in depth for the back area, so 18′ x 16′ overall. We put 4 stanchions across the front and 3 down each side giving us roughly 24′ x 18′ coverage (about the same as we just had in Cranberry).
What color are the tiles used for the ties? I can’t tell if they are reddish brown or some shade of nougat from the pic.
@mrmain18, they’re reddish brown.@rcgrier3406 I sent you an album in Google Photos. Feel free to use and much or little as you like.
Thanks @knb112, I added a bunch of them to the Gallery! Some different angles and good closeups that I didn’t have! Click on the “Gallery” tab, and then on “2024-11 Cranberry First Stop” to check them out!!
To add on to what @greg said, this event went very well. Even though it was a rainy, dreary night there were lots of people in attendance as you can see from the “behind the fortress” panoramic below. I think we had 11 or 12 LUG members participate or attend, and we had no trouble filling the table space we had, so thanks to all who participated and helped make this event a success!!
In my opinion, we had the best space in the house for this event. We were in the newly renovated Council Chambers space at the front corner of the Municipal Center, which is much larger than the previous space and has huge bi-folding garage doors that open out onto the Armstrong Great Lawn. At 7 pm, they opened up these garage doors for the arrival of Santa and the lighting of the Christmas tree, which is why you’ll see some of us in winter coats in the pictures!! More importantly, what that did is funnel most of the people at the event right through our space, which was great!!
Couple of footnotes for future reference for next year’s event:
* The venue provided tables were 2 ft. x 5 ft., which were much smaller than the previous years but there were plenty of them available. They were brand new and had locking wheels which made them easy to move around and then lock into place. Most importantly they were level with no sags so we didn’t have to do anything to level out table heights for running the trains.
* We went with a “u-shaped layout”, with 4 double tables (2×2) on each of the 3 sides and each side leg placed on the outside of the front section. This gave us an 18 ft. frontage, with 10 ft. on each leg and 4 ft. in table width all around.
* We used a total of 10 LUG stanchions (4 across the front and 3 down each side) which fit the table layout perfectly and gave us both a place to string Christmas lights and blocked off access into the LUG space inside the “U”.
* We used @timf’s dark green tablecloths and had plenty of them to cover the table space.
* We used (3) of the LUG Logo table runners, one on each side.
* Set-up took just under 4 hours in total, with some of that dependent on when members were able to get there. In addition to several members bringing their carts, the venue did provide one cart for us to use which was helpful because unloading and parking is now all in the back of the building. With everyone’s help we were able to tear down and get everything packed back in the cars in just under an hour.Pictures from the event have been uploaded to the Gallery. To view them, click on the “Gallery” tab at the top right corner of any page, and then click on the “2024-11 Cranberry First Stop” folder. I know other members took photos as well, so if you post them here or send them to me I’ll get them added to the Gallery.
@knb112, I have (1) of those 2×4 curved slopes with 4 recessed studs and (4) 2×1 curved slopes with 1 recessed stud, all in red. Don’t know if that will work for what you’re building, but I’ll bring them on Friday.
@rcgrier3406 do you need 9-v track?
I should be there between 2:30-3:00 pm Friday.
@timf, yes please bring your 9v track if you can. If you can also bring a speed controller, power supply and connecting wires that would be good.Not sure what we’ll be doing for track layouts yet, but I figured we’d be doing something and I don’t have a lot of 9v straights. Thanks!
For space planning and coordination purposes, here’s what I’m planning to bring on Friday:
* Christmas “Currier & Ives” Farmhouse MOC (4 baseplates, 2×2 pattern, all white baseplates).
* Duquesne Incline (2 baseplates). I don’t think we’ve ever had the motorized Incline at this event, so I decided to bring it.
* Pittsburgh at Night Microsaic (32″ w x 27″ d). Just completed, and this will be the first time out on display for my latest MOC.
* 9v steam engine, coal tender and 3 rail cars.
* 9v speed controller, power supply and connecting wires.
* (16) 10″ segments of 9v R40 curved track.
* (7) 10″ segments of 9v R40 straight track.
* Extension cord and power strip.
* (10) LUG Stanchions.
* Partial box of LUG business cards, and small bottle of hand sanitizer.If you’re coming to this event and looking for things to do while you’re there, or you want to just come and hang out, I’ll have Project Support supplies there if you want to help build MILS single and double track bases or to ballast some track.
Finally, there’s a report out that “Micro Santa” was spotted over downtown last night scoping out his route to Cranberry!!
P.S. I also plan to get there around 2 pm on Friday.
@greg, here’s what the layout looked like in 2022, the last time we did this event. U-shaped with double tables on 3 sides.
We’ve never done MILS plates for this event (it’s only 2 hours long), plus as far as I know all of the MILS stuff is down at the Trolley Museum anyway. We’ve always just run track on the tablecloths. @timf is bringing his dark green tablecloths again, and just put a white sheet down over top of that in the one area you can see in the photos. If you have white sheets or tablecloths you should bring them if that’s what you want for your area.
We will have stanchions this year. I’m going down to Josh’s to pick them up tomorrow (11/15). Plan is to string lights on the stanchion belts.
@mrmain18, here’s a cross section of the LUG MILS base with the ballasted track on top.
This is looking great Michael!! Even without the mechanism working it would still be an impressive build!! Can’t wait to see it in action!!
I also agree that leaving the technic holes exposed gives it a more “industrial” look. Not quite “riveted” construction, but it has that “old school” look and feel!!
I’ll bring my Christmas Farmhouse MOC (4 baseplates, 2×2 pattern) for sure. I can bring other non-Christmas stuff to help fill out table space if need be.
I’m in as usual @timf.
@joshhall sent me some pictures from the first weekend of this event, which I’ve added to the Gallery along with the one from @argonvesher above. To view them, click on the Gallery link at the top right corner of any page, and open the “2024-10 Fall Trolley” folder.
Any more pics, send them my way or post them here and I’ll add them to the Gallery!
Finished or unfinished, it’s still a basement! It’s considerate of you to reach out and ask, since obviously someone brought it up, but I personally haven’t noticed any real issues in all the years I’ve been coming down there. All of us that own homes have occasional “visitors” (a couple of weeks ago I found a 12″ garden snake in my finished family room!), but that doesn’t mean it’s time to retreat to higher ground or call in the “Bugbusters”!! Thanks again for opening your home to us and providing the LUG with space to store all of our “stuff”!
@greg and I did some swap-outs and shifting around this afternoon. Greg added his Dia de los Muertos MOC, and I modified the HP Quidditch Pitch to the “wands up” tribute to Maggie Smith (Professor McGonagall) per @timf’s suggestion. To make room, we shifted a few things around, and Greg pulled his “Breaching Whale” MOC.
Some pics are below, and I’ll be adding them to the Gallery folder. Beth was appreciative and complimentary on how easy we are to work with compared to some others that use these display cases. She also said that she would have her social media person take new pics and share them on their social media platforms.
@timf, that’s an outstanding idea!! I hadn’t heard that fans did that down at Universal over the weekend. Certainly appropriate!! Thanks!!!
