Carnegie Science Center - Pittsburgh, PA - more pix added 07/20

Thanks for the pictures!!  We went in October while visiting the city only to find the layout closed for reconstruction.

 

Jan

Yes!  Closed in October...as a member, can you tell us if the layout will be open in October, 2013?

 

Thanks!

Very nice set of photo. At lot of the dioramas are Pittsburgh Landmarks.  Forbes Field (Pirates), Frank Lloyd Wright Falling Water, Mon-Incline,   Homestead High Level Bridge under construction (New??).  I like your photos, in that they show change and additions to the layout.  Always, clean, well maintained, and in excellent work condition.

Thank you   

Thank-you for the photos!! Been awhile since I've been "home". Always great to see CSC!!

Nice photos. Thanks for sharing. Must get there one day.

 

The layout is always closed from the beginning of October until Thanksgiving (it re-opens on the Friday after Thanksgiving).  This is the time they need to do maintenance on the layout - track work, repairs, cleaning, additions, installation of new models or scenes, etc.  The closure is a small price to pay for keeping the layout in such immaculate condition.

 

The CSC sells a video about the layout that was made a few years back.  I highly recommend it.

 

I think that my favorite models on the layout are of the Westinghouse Castle, the ship hotel, Fallingwater, and Fred Rogers' house from "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood."

 

Nice pix, Vidkidz!

 

Andy

Thank you! Thank you! Thankyou! I haven't been home in years and much enjoyed the miniature tour.

FrankM

Excellent pictures, you can also see 105 animations which we check every morning before the crowd arrives.  Two favorites include Mr. Spifs and his dog puddles lifting his leg, located by Mr. Roger's house (just hidden in picture #40 under the tree by the trolley) and hand stand man (on top of a 12+" pole in picture #55 in front of "Leap the Dips" roller coaster).  Fun time for the whole family, always happy to show you around and answer questions, and yes it's real water. 

Patty Rogers is a great modeler!  Her 'Falling Water' and 'Forbes Field' are masterpieces!

 

Dave

I know about the center but have never visited.  Wow! It looks like a terrific layout and 'diorama' of Pittsburgh and the surrounding area.   I will have to make a trip there soon!  Those are great pictures, showing an extremely well done layout. 

I enjoy seeing something other than the Lionel "starter sets" running on the layout.  As I noted, last weekend when we went, they had a N&W J running pulling a number of large PRR coaches.  Seeing the Blue Comet running around the large loop yesterday was a treat!  I'd probably die if I saw a large articulated running. 

 

 

 

Brace yourself... It has been know to happen on rare occasion :

 

This was from the OGR night back in 2010 (not my engine).

 

Andy

 

 

From talking to one of the volunteers last weekend, it sounded like they have a few articulated engines in their collection but don't run them that often.  According to the guide, the motors in the larger steam have issues running non stop for hours a time on the layout.

Something to think about is, this layout is running on average about 60 hours a week.  Think you have problems obtaining parts, or keeping your track and wheels clean.  How often do you have to replace worn out track, motors or light bulbs.  We have a light system that changes from day to night about every 7 minutes, leds were installed last year in the Amusement Park during shut down (Luna Park pictures #56 thru 60).  It's Patty's behind the scenes effort and logistics that keeps this beauty running.

 

Jack    

 

AWESOME!! Thanks for all the photos.

Andy...thanks for the "re-affirmation" of the closure in October.

 

I took the kiddies to the CSC again today -- they had a set of Santa Fe F's pulling the PRR passenger cars on the outer loop.  I added 35 more pics to the gallery -- I would have taken more but my battery died in the Nikon.  

 

 

VidKidz, again your pictures are over the top, shutdown usually begins the last week of September and reopens Thanksgiving week every year.  With blueprints and pictures in place, Patty and the gang have started on this year's addition, which has been chosen from the response of our survey.  In addition down the line a bit, some other surprises will be added.  Can't let the cat out of the bag just yet.

 

Jack   

Great Pictures.   I love seeing the layout at "home."  As a kid, every year I was always excited to go see the layout after Thanksgiving when it was in Buhl Planetarium.

The first time I was there with a railfan friend, we were given a tour. I commented on the quality of the buildings, and was told that over a dozen people work on new buildings, and all buildings include fully detailed and lit interiors as well as exteriors. I was shown a "closet" with floor to ceiling buildings on shelves, all of them museum quality.

I also asked our tour guide what they used for water...

He told me that it was real water. I asked him if they ever had problems with it, and he did comment that in their history they did have to drain the entire system to repair a pinhole leak.

This display is one of the finest model train displays you will ever see....

Thanks for the photos. That is an awesome layout.

Truly a gorgeous layout.  Looks like we need to make a return visit for another expanded photo feature, and even an OGR video.

 

The photos Steve (VidKidz) provided are excellent.  If he's interested, he could certainly handle a magazine photo feature for us if that type/quality of photos can be made available in high-res versions.  An easy and fun way to earn $400 since he already knows his way around the place.  All that's required is an e-mail to me indicating interest.

Love the FLW Falling Water model......got to visit FW and Jimmy a few years back.

This is an amazing layout.  I didn't realize that it was O-gauge until I started to look at the track!! 

 

Guys....the pictures are incredible when you see them as full page views.  Right click on a picture and then click on "Open Link in New Window".  You will be blown away!

 

Alan

Terrific photo tour of a classic layout. Many thanks for posting all of the photos.

If I get to go to LOTS Convention next year I will have to see this great lay-out. I'm sure LOTS will have the Lay-out on one of the tours or some other event figured in with the convention.