Reply to "There be TRAINS Running @ the Biltmore Estate!"

c.sam posted:
The Biltmore Estate has a really nice outdoor RR operating through the first week of Sept in the Antler Village section near the Biltmore Winery. A regional cub, The Piedmont Garden RR Society, was asked to help staff the display to assure good operation for the guests. A handful of us volunteered and had to officially become Biltmore employees to function in that capacity. It was involved with a drug test, background check and a two day on site orientation that was quite interesting and fun. We took an OSHA class as well as back room tours of the main house and winery so that we can be better informed of the place to talk with guests. Us 'older' fellas were in stark contrast to the large groups of 17 - 25 year olds who were hired through various education programs or for regular positions. The grandson of George Vanderbilt who built the estate who was grandson of 'Cornelius' Vanderbilt talked with us on day 1 for about 30 minutes. He was quite an interesting man and I sensed that he genuinely cared for his employees and it showed in the programs available to us and genuine feeling of 'family' that prevailed among the established employees. If I were a young person I would consider becoming involved in some capacity. Great company!
The display was created by Applied Imagination, a nationally-recognized, award-winning crew of artists, botanical architects, and landscape designers. Depicting the history of the Vanderbilt family and George's marriage and honeymoon, it is very nice and an eye catcher. 5 independent loops wind through the lush landscape. Many flowers are beginning to bloom and the whole thing has a magical, whimsical feel to it. Asheville area has been getting a LOT of rain this past week and today it only let up for a few minutes at a time. Quite a few guests came in spite of the weather and many little faces beamed as they ran around the display, dressed in raingear in wonder.
The layout opened last Friday in the rain and we have been adjusting the locomotives and cars experiencing numerous derailments and breakdowns. Today was a better one - I started the trains by pulling track cleaning cars for 8 - 10 laps on each loop and then let them run with their consists. They performed flawlessly with nary a glitch! In the rain. Without a break. It was a good day...