Pittsburgh Independent Hi-Railers' Layout at Kennywood Holiday Lights 2021

Nice!  Kennywood's Open.  LOL!

You guys always do a nice job of promoting our hobby to the locals.

Look out,Kennywood's Open,hahaha

Norm

The amount of scenes you have that capture the public's interest is more than I've seen on any other club's layout.  Wow.  Something for everyone.  This has to got be very enjoyable to participate in.

@Andy Hummell, please post the set-up photo you posted previously; the bird's eye view.  It captures the immense size of your club's undertaking in a way the individual photos of various scenes can't.

@Pingman posted:

@Andy Hummell, please post the set-up photo you posted previously; the bird's eye view.  It captures the immense size of your club's undertaking in a way the individual photos of various scenes can't.

Here are several.  The first is after the second day of work, and the last are from the last full day of set up:

Andy

Thank you, for finding a place for Jim's Train Shop on your layout. Its a honor to be included in your display. 

@jim sutter posted:

Thank you, for finding a place for Jim's Train Shop on your layout. Its a honor to be included in your display.

Considering that you sold us a lot of the stuff on the layout, and many of the trains that will be running there, we just had to include Jim's Train Shop.

Andy

Thanks, @Andy Hummell; truly stunning in scope.

And for those who didn't scroll slowly enough to catch the significance of photo 37 (myself included), here's Jim's store:

Spectacular, Andy!

Peter

Wow very impressive and I hope Santa is okay 👍

Really spectacular, Andy and gang!

Very impressive.  Really enjoy the many humorous scenes.

Are your modules built to a published standard, or does the club use it's own?  Can you provide a copy of the specs?  Thanks.

@Mallard4468 posted:

Are your modules built to a published standard, or does the club use it's own?  Can you provide a copy of the specs?  Thanks.

While I am not certain as to the origins of the standard we use (I wasn't in the club when it started 23 years ago), I do know that it evolved a little over time.  Here is what we use now, from our handbook:

Module Specifications
1. The basic module size is 24" wide and 48” long. Widths may vary from a minimum of 24” up to whatever a member can carry.  Lengths may vary in 24” increments from a minimum of 48”, up to whatever a member can carry.  Any other size length module requires that two modules of the same length be constructed in order to balance the overall layout.  NOTE: At certain events, extra wide or extra long modules may not be used because they will not fit within the imposed layout size limitations.
2.  Each module must have a 1” x 4” frame around the perimeter.  Cross pieces of 1” x 4” are to be set 10” from each end with centerpieces divided evenly.
3.  Height from floor to railhead is 36" with legs adjustable plus or minus one inch.
4.  Sliding leg clamp is to be installed inboard of the first crosspiece on each end.
5.  A 1” x 6” front fascia board stained with Provincial must be used.  The rear fascia board is optional.
6.  Track must be Gargraves O-Gauge tinplate tubular in new condition.  The rail sides are to be painted to simulate rust.
7.  Each module has to have four main lines.  The first main line has the center rail 3 ¼” from the inside of the fascia board.  Each other main line has 4 ¼” center rail to adjacent center rail.  Track ballast for the four main lines is to be the same for all modules.
8.  Mainline tracks must have adjustable track 6" from the end of the module.
9.  Each module is to have a road located 1 ¼” from the inside edge of the 4th mainline track tie.  The road is to be 5” inch wide and can simulate any type of road surface from asphalt, concrete to dirt.  From the edge of the module, the road can go anywhere on the module as long as it returns to the 1 ¼” location at the other end of the module.
10. Each module must have an electrical bus running its length consisting of four paired wires no smaller than 12-gauge. It is recommended that the wire be soldered as follows: 1 = red for the front main center rail, 2 = white for the second main center rail, 3 = blue for the third main center rail, 4= black for the fourth main center rail.  Green wire for common is to be soldered to each of the outside rails of each of the 4 main lines.  Each main line on the module should be connected to the bus around the middle of the module.  A 12/2 with ground electrical line is also required for fixed 110 voltage.
11. Modules electrically connect to each other by a duplex outlet at the right end of the front of the module, with a separate bridge cable having a polarized plug. The bridge cable should be a minimum of 36" from the left end of the front of the module.  The fixed 110-volt connection is the opposite with the duplex outlet at the left end of the front of the module and a 36” bridge cable from the right end of the front of the module.  All bridge connectors are to be secured in such a manner as to not hang down from the module during transport.
12. Modules are structurally connected to other modules by C-clamps. Each module owner should supply two 3" C-clamps for each module.
13. All modules must be complete with scenery of the owners choosing.  No bare wood should be showing on the module.
14. Members are free to do anything they want on their modules so long it doesn’t interfere with the 4 track mainline operations.  Items such as grades, tunnels, bridges, curves, turnouts, etc. should be discussed at the business meeting for approval of the membership.
15. Modules should be fully operational before bringing to events.  Rusty, bent, damaged track, non-movable track ends, humps, dips; etc can be corrected during the work sessions between events.
16. Each module must have Velcro strips attached to it for hanging curtains.

Here is a shot of the under side of my module (before the 110v line was installed) showing our floating leg clamps and wiring:

Andy

WOW!! What a marvelous effort.  THANK YOU for displaying our hobby to so many folks.  Great job.  I love the mix of realism and humor (Santa in the windmill, Ghost Busters, etc) .  Super!!

Don

well, I was planning on visiting but I guess I don't have to now that you've shown us everything.

you guys always impress.

- walt

@walt rapp posted:

well, I was planning on visiting but I guess I don't have to now that you've shown us everything.

you guys always impress.

- walt

Beleive me when I say that these photos show a lot, but definitely not everything.  We are constantly adding details as the event progresses, so that there is always something new.  Some of Kennywood's employees on their breaks and some season pass holders make multiple passes trying find details they missed on previous passes, and we don't disappoint them...

Andy

Here is a passenger-view train ride around the layout -- two trips, one in each direction in order to capture as much as possible.  The second trip around is pulled by a conventional engine without sounds (other than the engine's motor and wheels on the track).

Andy

Andy and all,

Great layout and scenery, you made my day!

Thanks,

Lot's of great scenes, trains and die-cast.   I love the Ghostbusters Fire House and Jim has gone fishing.  A lot of great Corgi vehicles sprinkled through out.  Lot's of great work definitely appreciated by those that visit.