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So it took me a while but let me go ahead and do a short write up of our sucessful steamup at "The Worlds Greatest on Tour" (http://www.wghshow.com) It was quite a steep building curve, getting the track built in the time between Cabin Fever Expo and this show. Dan and I had schemed for hours together before buying the first piece of wood or hardware. But we got the loop done the day before setup opened, and I had assembled it twice inside my garage (1/4 of it at a time only!) We actually laid the track Friday PM and were ready to roll for the morning.
The doors open and we got engines running, 32mm and 45mm. Yes, they BURN butane, alcohol and coal, Yes, they boil the water, Yes, they can burn your fingertip, NO, they are not dangerous...
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The questions did not stop and Dan's voice was shot BEFORE the doors opened.
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I told one boy we were connecting two locomotives to run together, he must have been at most, 8 years old. He shouted to his Dad "They're gonna double-head 'em!" So never talk down to anybody, you never know what their skill set might be. I actually wound up talking to two full scale engineers.
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The crowd thickens, Ken Johnson of the Train Department extoles the virtue of live steam, Dan prepares for topping off his Accucraft Mortimer.
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The kids loved it when we opened the smokebox door and they could actually see the fire. For some folks it took seeing the flame before it all added up to what the heck was going on. Some people seemed to think we were using a propellant or a type of compressed gas. Maybe we need a sign to answer some of the most basic question, but I really got a kick out of talking to all these folks.
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Even the show manager, Randy Bachmann, got into the spirit by firing up his Roundhouse Sammy.
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If you want to help grow this hobby, it seems as if the traditionally sparkie oriented shows are becoming more receptive to live steam participation. It's up to us to help spread the word. I'd go to more shows but my wife would probably change the locks while I was away.
The doors open and we got engines running, 32mm and 45mm. Yes, they BURN butane, alcohol and coal, Yes, they boil the water, Yes, they can burn your fingertip, NO, they are not dangerous...
The questions did not stop and Dan's voice was shot BEFORE the doors opened.
I told one boy we were connecting two locomotives to run together, he must have been at most, 8 years old. He shouted to his Dad "They're gonna double-head 'em!" So never talk down to anybody, you never know what their skill set might be. I actually wound up talking to two full scale engineers.
The crowd thickens, Ken Johnson of the Train Department extoles the virtue of live steam, Dan prepares for topping off his Accucraft Mortimer.
The kids loved it when we opened the smokebox door and they could actually see the fire. For some folks it took seeing the flame before it all added up to what the heck was going on. Some people seemed to think we were using a propellant or a type of compressed gas. Maybe we need a sign to answer some of the most basic question, but I really got a kick out of talking to all these folks.
Even the show manager, Randy Bachmann, got into the spirit by firing up his Roundhouse Sammy.
If you want to help grow this hobby, it seems as if the traditionally sparkie oriented shows are becoming more receptive to live steam participation. It's up to us to help spread the word. I'd go to more shows but my wife would probably change the locks while I was away.
