Photos from Kennywood Holiday Lights 2015 (final pix added 12/30)

And here are some photos from yesterday's work session (11/18):

Andy

It's looking very nice Andy and everyone!

Looks great Andy! We'll be stopping out in the weeks to come.

Does one ZW-L power the whole layout?

Mike

Mike,

One ZW-L powers all four tracks for the whole layout.  The layout is roughly 48' x 30' on the long dimensions.  Lights and accessories will be powered by separate power supplies.

Andy

Looking great, "squirrels" and all! Keep the updates coming. Nice shape as well.

I'm sure from being a member of two former modular groups, you find this season to be the long and short of it. Long with the amount of time you have to spend at Kennywood, and the short of it fitting in other family Seasonal events. I wish I didn't live on the other side of the state so I could see your set-up but for me any year this Season seams soooo short.

Good luck with your fifth anniversary showing, sorry about the squirrels.

Looking good! My B&O GP35 should fit perfectly... 

You guys are a great group......love those 4 Mains!

Peter

Some new pix from yesterday's work session (11/21).  The big job for the day was building and setting up the shelves for the ceramic building section.  There are approximately 63 lighted building in this section.

Most of the modules only need minor details added (cars) before they are ready.

We also occasionally test equipment or run experiments.  Here, one member is running and experiment to see how his three MTH Steelers 2-8-0's work together in a conventional environment.

We often add small event-specific details to the layout:

Since the space we are given is asymmetrical, we have to use custom fitter sections:

This stand-up is just outside of our building, and is just another reason for train-lovers to come :

We just have one more work session this Wednesday night, and then last looks on Friday before opening.  We are getting excited now! 

Andy

Andy,

    Fantastic stuff, congrats on a fine job once again!   Hope to see you guys when my wife and I visit.

PCRR/Dave

Tonight is opening night!  Details of the event can be found on Kennywood's web site, and in case of bad or borderline weather, they post closings on their Facebook page (usually by 3 p.m.).

Here are the last batch of "preview" photos from Wednesday night's work session:

Here, the parade is beginning to form, and the ceramic buildings are almost ready (need a few replacement bulbs).

This year, a third Coaster Dynamix ride has been added to the amusement park (the Rocket Ships ride).

Also new this year are a number of Menards buildings.

Above the entrance corner is a mini On30 layout with a logging scene and a quarry scene.

We are all excited, and we hope to see all our local friends at Kennywood!

Andy

Andy,

  The Kennywood layout Looks fantastic as usual, the On30 logging set up looks very interesting, especially with the dual Shay Engines!  Real nice addition.  Hope to make it over this weekend.

PCRR/Dave

Andy,  looks fantastic !!!!!!!!!!!

Alex

Andy that's a great looking display!!!!

Very nice. Looks like some of the new Menard's buildings made it to the layout.

Here are some pix from opening night.  Crowd was close to 7k people.

Kennywood made us this nice sign to help people find us.  We havebeen told on occasion that people have missed seeing us there because we are in a building that is normally a cafeteria.  Now there is no excuse.

What was running the first night:

Once it got dark, the crowds were steady all night.

New this year in the park is their 90-foot Christmas tree.

Andy

Andy,

   Great layout, how about some Tin Plate Trains for the Christmas season!

PCRR/Dave

I'll have to ask if anyone has some to bring.  Although I have some modern tinplate cars, I don't have a modern tinplate engine yet.  And my pre-war set hasn't run in 40 years (not that it would fare well on the layout due to slider pick-ups on the engine).

Andy

Here are the pictures from last night:

The exterior of our building:

What was running last night:

The Kennywood Police car in front was a gift to us from park security several years ago.  We added the LED lighing.

Rumor has it that Minions have been spotted on the layout.

The Polar Express 4-D Experience was awesome!  The 4th dimension includes vibrating seats, (real!) snow, water spray, air blasts, wind, bubbles, flashing lights, and the scents of hot chocolate and pine all injected/triggered at appropriate points during the film.  I would love to see this done for the whole film!  I plan on going again on another slow night (if there is another).

Outside of the theater, Kennywood has found a creative way to block off access to a closed section of the park:

Looking forward to tonight!

Andy

This is such a treat, Andy, seeing the cafeteria once again, where I earned money for college as an adolescent, living just across the Kennywood Bridge, in Duquesne Place, very near the park. And to see the welcoming and joyful layout you folks have worked hard and skillfully to share with others, adding to the joy of their Holiday, is a treat in itself, too, to witness here on OGR, of course. I even noticed the park's wonderful and historic Merry-Go-Round in the background of one of your shots and appreciated seeing that once again, as well, as a bonus.

It was wonderful having Kennywood as so significant a part of my growing-up. I went there nearly every summer's day, as a boy and as a teenager, working there at 16, 17, & 18 in the cafeteria itself. You've brought a lot of memories back for me, as I am certain you do for visitors to the train layout. Have a safe and healthy Christmas and New Year. Be happy and have fun. Always.

Thank you. Thank you, for the thrill.

FrankM. of Miller Avenue, once upon a time, long, long ago.

Andy,

   To guys like me who use to eat in that building as a kid, just seeing the building being used for something so great makes my day.  The picture of the old building with all the Christmas lights looks fantastic.  Simply a great old building for your clubs Train layout!

PCRR/Dave