Pittsburgh Independent Hi-Railers Holiday Display

More details can be found on Kennywood's web site:

http://www.kennywood.com/site/events.html

This year, they are offering season passes for only around $10 more than a single admission.

Andy

Here are some of the pix I took of the layout before the park was open:

And at the end of the night, some opening night fireworks:

Andy

Andy,

Great display and nice pictures.  Wish I was back up there!  Thanks for posting.

Bill

Very nice!

Andy, Since my hometown is Duquesne (Miller Avenue, Duquesne Place,) I especially appreciate your thoughtfulness in posting the website and those photos of Kennywood during the Winter. I haven't been in Kennywood for decades and surely never saw it that way when I worked in the employee's cafeteria 50 (!) years ago. So, thanks again for the feast-for-the-eyes and the update.

Frank M of LR 

Good luck guys!

Dave

Moonson:

And I'm from West Mifflin and don't remember Kennywood ever being open for Christmas.  I beleive they just started doing that in the last few years.  Can Andy or someone else please confirm?

Bill

This is only the second year for this event.  And judging by the crowds, I don't think it will be the last.  We probably get more eyes on the PIHR layout in one day at this event than at any two Greenberg train shows combined, and that may be understating things.

I plan on taking some more pictures and video, and will post as I get time.  I wish you ex-Pittsburgh guys could see the park with all the lights.  It is simply stunning.  And last night, we got a dusting of snow (at least around my house), and if it lasts through the day, the park should be even more beautiful.

Andy

That's awesome how much time your club members give up in order to spread the joy of the hobby.  Thanks for doing it and I hope everyone in the club enjoys it as much as we enjoy seeing it.

- walt

The club must be so excited when putting all that together for folks to enjoy. Sharing a layout during this time of year doesn't just entertain; it gives folks memories that last a lifetime, as we in this hobby of ours well know.

Frank M.

WOW Andy....that is a fantastic layout!  Thanks so much for posting the pictures...

Alan

Here are some more pictures from tonight:

A little On30 on the mountains (the trains are running in a tunnel below)

This is the exterior of the building we are in

And finally, a few shots of the park itself:

Andy

Looking GOOD!!    

Thank you for posting all the lovely pictures. I enjoyed them all.

Andy, Those shots of Kennywood Park itself are much appreciated, too! You've very kindly provided an opportunity to see things I may never have a chance to see in-person. For me, seeing all these photos has been a Christmas present, taking me back to a place dear to me. Thank you very much for your thoughtfulness.

Frank M.

Frank, you are most welcome.

It is a joy to share our hobby, and the people who come to see us appear to be enjoying it as well, based on their reactions, like pointing out little humorous details scattered around the modules, looking inside the passenger cars at the figures, taking photos and videos, and asking lots of questions.  Even the park employees come around to check us out on breaks and before the park opens.

And the looks on the kids' faces are priceless.

And on top of all of that, we are having a great time ourselves.

Andy

A few more shots from yesterday:

Andy

Andy,

   Great layout and real nice pictures, thanks for posting them.

I will try to make it over this Christmas season to see the actual layout.

PCRR/Dave

Well last eve while trying to get something out from under my module I knocked out the support that holds my mountain up. What a mess I had.It came crashing to the floor and I was under it.Thank God it is made out of foam. The only thing that really was damaged was a $80 1/43 car.Its now worth about $5. In a short time I had it back in place. I have to do some wireing and all will be like it was. I am going to come up with a better support before Fri.

WOW!  You folks must have every module out for this occasion. It looks larger then usual.

This year's setup at Kennywood is slightly larger than last year's, but from what I understand, the club members have more than enough modules to do two shows simultaneously (and it has been done on many occasions).

I think that clubs like ours (and the many others out there) are the best way to really share this hobby. 

Andy

Our group Has many more  straight modules and 4 other corners and always more in the works. this set up is nice size but we have done several larger.

Here is a video from last weekend showing some of the park lights and some train action with the Polar Express:

Andy

Andy, I think I've said this before but that Berk is one impressive machine!

The lights look good too.  I made it to this event last year but it doesn't look like I will this season, so an extra "thanks" for the video and pics.

And here are some shots from tonight, including some new additions to the layout in the form of a construction site, a very appropriate amusement area featuring Coaster Dynamix versions of Kennywood's Turtle and Thunderbolt, and Thom's latest custom car - a Heinz truck on a short Heinz flat car.

The crowd tonight was HUGE!

Andy

Hi Andy,

Great video and beautiful photo's , I really enjoyed this whole thread.

Thanks for sharing.

Alex

The Turtle and the Thunderbolt... just when I thought it couldn't get any cooler...

I think that the coolest thing is the sheer number of people that we had come through last night.  For a long stretch of the night, we could barely move around outside of the layout for all the people that were there.

I was running my scale Polar Express engine with a consist of all the scale Polar Railroad freight cars, and it was almost as big a hit as the consist of the PE passenger cars.  To quote one little girl that I overheard explaining to her mother, "That's how Santa gets his supplies."

Oh, and for the other modular clubs out there, the Coaster Dynamix rides were a pretty big hit with the crowds.  Just sayin'...

Andy

60 outside last night sure did bring the people out for a good time. Weather is to be nice again today. They even keep the Park open after 9pm.

Can't get anybetter than running trains and seeing so many people having a Great time.

The park told us that last night's attendance was between 9,000 and 10,000 visitors!

More pictures and video to come...

Andy

Bill, Bill, Frank, Dave, Walt, Alan, Jim, Dave, Dennis, Mike, and Alex, thanks for all the kind words! 

Here is a link to a local newspaper article about Kennywood Holiday Lights from last week:

          Kennywood lights up the season in new ways

And a few pictures from last night:

Last night, the Kennywood Park Police stopped by with this gift of a perfectly-sized Kennywood Police cruiser (and the PIHR would like to again extend our thanks and appreciation to the Kennywood Park Police for this gift)

Here are a couple more of Thom's custom cars:

Andy

Great shots Andy. We will have to make you the Offical Picture taker of the Club.You are getting every angle of the display. Great Job.

Its hard belive we have done 2 weekens already.

You can look at the pictures but seeing it all in person is really something. The lights all over the Park make the place take on a different look.If you a able and can make it to Kennywood I think you will enjoy the Park in a differnt way than you have in the Summer. Three more weekend to catch it all before Christmas and 5 days after.

We are ready for weekend number 4. The weather last week was Rain 2 out of the 3 days but this weekend 50s so Kennywood should have a nice turnout.

Found another recent article in the local papers on the KHL display:

http://triblive.com/neighborho...nywood#axzz2F8A0A1OC

Of course, the relevant line in the article is:

... the Pittsburgh Independent Hi-Railers have provided an impressive model railroad layout, which is on display at the Parkside Cafe.

Andy

Andy:

Thanks for all your posts and videos of this layout. I particularly liked your shots of the PE. Very nice job.

Andy, Thanks for all the great pictures and the video!!!!!!!

The crowds just keep on coming!    Some more shots from this past weekend.

A new addition to the miniature park.

Looking forward to more running this weekend, and then comes the long stretch after Christmas where we will be running every day from Dec. 26 through Dec. 30.

Andy

Andy:

The layoutlooks great! Are there any Park rides operating?

Do any of the locals recognize the Mon Valley Locomotives on the layout?

Presentations like this and the one at Altoona's Lakemont Park are great for the hobby.

There are a number of park rides operating - the Paratrooper, the Kangaroo, the Turtle, the train, the Auto Race, the carousel, the Ghostwood Estate and a bunch of the kiddieland rides.  In addition, there is a petting zoo somewhere near the Log Jammer (haven't made it over there yet to check it out).  And last, but not least, the Potato Patch Fries stand is open!   Plus lots of other food, snacks and hot beverages (hot chocolate and hot apple cider) all over the place.

And yes, people have noticed the Mon Valley locos and other steel-related cars and engines.  Many of them commenting that fathers, grandfathers, uncles, or cousins worked in this mill or that mill.  They are probably the second most commented-on trains on the layout after the Polar Express.

We have received tons of complements, and are having a lot of fun.

Andy

Couldn't agree more!

We are getting a lot of questions about where to buy trains, where to get old trains fixed and how to get started in O gauge, so these kinds of displays definitely do help the hobby.

Any pictures of the Lakemont Park display floating around out there?

Andy

Terrific job by all.  You're great ambassadors for the hobby.  And, man, does #1225 smoke!

Thanks,

Ron

Check out the brief video of the Pittsburgh Hi-Railers modular layout during the LCCA's 42nd Annual convention held in Norfolk VA this past summer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7mu37IX1mQ&sns=em

Al K, 

Andy

I have a question about the roller coaster. How big is it? Does it run from a power supply? Where are they available? Please reply to my email in my profile.

Thanks

Jim Troutman 

E-mail sent.

And in case anyone else wants to know, the roller coasters and Turtle ride are products of Coaster Dynamix:

          http://www.coasterdynamix.com/

Andy

Thanks for the posts Andy. Truly magnificant.

The warm nights are done and the rain has stopped. If you are comeing  Dress warm.

Here are some shots from last night:

The following two buildings have custom interiors.

In this picture, if you look close, you can see a clever use for some leftover bits that many modellers just discard.

Every once in a while, I forget to change the settings on my camera and end up getting something I did not intend, but still interesting in its own right.

Andy

And some shots from Sunday night (Dec. 23):

Hmmm.... there looks like there is something in the water below the bridge...

Merry Christmas everyone!

Andy

After a couple of cancellations due to a snow storm, we got to run some trains tonight.  Only two more nights to go (assuming no more cancellations due to weather).

The park is a magical place with snow on the ground!

Little did the drive-in patrons suspect...

Andy

Andy,

   Simply fantastic sir, what does it cost just to see your incredible trains, and how long will you be there at kennywood.  Will you be there after the new year or just till the 30th.  $14.99! to get in the gate?

PCRR/Dave

Great Job!  The layout looks great!

Andy,

OUTSTANDING!!!! Thanks for posting all of the photos and for getting the message out there that this hobby is so much fun.

Kennywood Holiday Lights ends on Sunday, Dec. 30.  Only two nights left (weather permitting).  Giant Eagle supermarkets have discount tickets ($2 off).  Admission includes all the rides that are open (paratrooper, kangaroo, turtle, auto race, train, ghostwood estate, carousel, a bunch of kiddieland rides) and the petting zoo.

Andy

Official word is that, despite some more snow last night, Kennywood will be open tonight (Dec. 29) for Holiday Lights (and trains, of course ).

Andy

WOW!!!  What a GREAT show!! Man, I'm thinkin' I'm homesick! Maybe have to come up next year...   All involved did a fantastic job!! Have a great New Year!!

Even with all snow and cold the crowd was really good this eve. One more night to go and we have 3 weeks till our next set up at the Monroeville Greenberg Show.

The folks at Kennywood are tops at snow removal.

Some shots from tonight:

The scale Polar Express took a long freight to the North Pole (Santa needs major re-stocking after Christmas...)

Meanwhile, her little sister took up passenger duty for the evening...

Andy

Just a reminder for our Pittsburgh area friends - tonight (December 30, 2012) is the final night for our display in the Pakside Cafe building at Kennywood Park.

Also, we now have a Facebook page for those who wish to follow us there:

       https://www.facebook.com/Pitts...IndependentHiRailers

Andy

Andy,

   Great stuff, next year I will set aside a couple full nights of viewing your great layout with our Christmas company, thanks for the fantastic effort and the great pictures!

PCRR/Dave

Good job guys! Thanks for posting all the great pictures.

Happy New Year,

Kennywood Holiday Lights 2012 is now officially just a memory.  The layout is about half down now, with the rest to be packed up after the New Year holiday.

Here is my final set of pictures:

Andy