Pittsburgh Independent Hi-Railers' Layout at Kennywood Holiday Lights 2022

I've been to Kennywood 50 times or so, but haven't been there since around 1996.  I never saw a train exhibit unfortunately.  I'm glad to see the park is still going.

How long do you have for setting up before the opening night, Andy?

Andy, does Thom Shepler still meet with you?

@Mark Boyce posted:

How long do you have for setting up before the opening night, Andy?

Opening night is Saturday, November 19, 2022, so, counting Monday, we have 12 days total (one day more than last year).  We hauled 4-5 more trailers full of modules in yesterday and last night, and we are building a new yard module tonight.  We have to get all the big stuff in before Kennywood crews start on putting up the lights in front of the building (due to the cherry-pickers, it restricts our access to just a man-door and what we can carry through it).  This coming weekend will be the all-out blitz to get the layout together and operating, then evenings next week will likely focus on getting the scenery in place, curtains up, and the plexiglass installed.

Andy

@jim sutter posted:

Andy, does Thom Shepler still meet with you?

Yes, but he doesn't do the Kennywood setup any more.

Andy

Andy, thank you for that information. Good luck with your display. I'm sure you will make a lot of people happy. Most of all have fun.

Thank you Andy!  Work safely everyone!

Andy;

Your annual Kennywood thread is one I always look forward to. I love watching your videos despite getting long train envy I particularly look forward to the whimsy your group always adds to the display (my current favorite - Santa running afoul of the wind turbine!!!).

Looking forward to more pics.....always a spectacular event......all the hard work shows!

Peter

Very cool that stuff like this still happens in some places

Andy, the module construction looks very interesting.  Have you ever posted the construction technique?  The table tops seem wider than most modular construction and the legs remind of Mianne benchwork construction even though they are obviously different.

@coach joe posted:

Andy, the module construction looks very interesting.  Have you ever posted the construction technique?  The table tops seem wider than most modular construction and the legs remind of Mianne benchwork construction even though they are obviously different.

Our modules start at around 32" in depth and go as deep as the owner wants and can carry (mine is 48" deep).  Basic modules are 4 feet long, but we have and use modules that can be up to 12 feet in length and as short as 2 feet in length, not counting smaller filler pieces we use in odd-shaped layouts like Kennywood.

The legs are just 2"x2"'s held together by leftover plywood or scrap wood with eye-bolts installed in the bottom end to use for leveling.  The legs are attached to the modules with floating-board clamps built into the underside of each module.  You can see this in the following pix:

We use polarized 2-prong plugs to carry the track power around the layout, and most modules also have a 110v in the back to allow accessories and small transformers to be plugged in as needed.

For normal 1-2 day setups, modules are just clamped together and we adjust and shim the ends of the track as needed.  For Kennywood, because of the duration of the event, we take the extra measure of pinning the modules together so that we don't have to constantly adjust track as modules shrink & expand due to temperature changes (the building is heated, but was never insulated -- the heaters were installed just for us when we moved from the cafeteria building).

Here are pictures from our work session last night where we built a new yard module.  In the pix you can see the basic frame, installation of the luan plywood, routing of the edges and velcro groove in the fascia boards, installation of the fascia boards and chalk-lining the track locations.  The track will be installed later, on site at Kennywood.

Andy

Andy, it looks like photographs 1,2, and 5 don't show up.  You gave a great explanation of the process.

My daughter who loves Kennywood said “Hey Dad, do you know they have a big train display at Kennywood for the holidays?” I said of course I do. I know all those guys. Good luck with the display!

Here are some progress pix from the weekend.

Friday:

Saturday:

Sunday:

As of the end of work Sunday night, all mainline modules and the two big yards are connected, and work has begun on scenery.  Five days remain to complete the scenery, get power and control hooked up, get mainlines tested with running trains, and get the curtains up.  Saturday, November 19, 2022 is opening day, and we will be fine tuning the layout all the way to the minute first visitors come through the gates, but that is not the end of it.  We add new details nearly every operating day so that repeat visitors will always have something new to find.

Andy

Andy, you fellows are hosses!  I know you have it down to a well oiled machine, but there are always wrenches that fall into the works!  Congratulations thus far.

How does this layout compare in size and scope to the last few Kennywood layouts?

@Mark Boyce posted:

How does this layout compare in size and scope to the last few Kennywood layouts?

This is our biggest Kennywood layout so far.  We are getting a better handle on filling up this asymmetrical space.  We could have added two more 4-foot modules to this layout if they had been available.  They will be next year, but we are already thinking about changing up the layout plan to add even more, if we can figure out a plan that works in the space.  There have been rumors floating around since last year that they may enclose one of their pavilions, add heat and give us an even bigger space to fill.  If that happens, we will rise to the occasion.

Andy

Sounds great, Andy!  Thank you!

Andy I was going to ask if that enormous space was dedicated to the layout or if you shared the space but I interpret your previous response to Mark to mean that entire space is the layout's to fill.  Your club always rises to the occasion so I believe your layout will be right at home in a larger space.  BTW heat is always a nice bonus in the winter.