Suggestions for outdoor trains for few hours

Scott,I would set up tables and run the start up sets. As with my church I am sure you have plenty of tables at your church.
Romiller

Scott, I second the tables for the trains. If your church VBS is like mine, there were the small fry running all over the place. I would also go with just the starter sets as kids would not be into rivet counting or appreciating a 4-8 4 versus a 0-6-0.
Ray.

Defiantly tables.

 

 

My my wife tried stepping over this train and her pants leg caught on the locomotive and dragged it and 2 cars onto the concrete.  Fortunately no damage. 

 

 

Picnic Table Pacific RR beats Patio Pacific RR any day!

FWIW, I like the tables and starter sets idea.

Yeah you can string a few of those banquet tables together and get quite a bit of track to run on. I don't like the idea of a starter oval on a table, unless that's your only option. And starter set, or any unusual ones. Area 51, Thomas etc. Although those are both starter sets I guess. But even a custom train that they would get a kick out of. I've got an Unstopable 777. Anything thing or theme they can identify with will get their attention quick. Even something like the Minnions from another thread will add intrest and attention grabing.

 

PS I appoligise for my spelling, if I can tell then it's really bad. A little chemo brain I guess.

I have the complete Chick-fil-A train from MTH. That should be good for a church event.

Scott Smith

Definitely on tables. It makes it easier to see. As for sets, I'd bring mostly starter sets (and at least one loop that is just a starter set, so you can show what you get with a starter set), but maybe one or two high end engines just to shake things up.

At Halloween our church has "trunk or treat" in the parking lot.  

 

Last year I laid down an old picnic blanket and threw down two loops of track.

 

I ran a couple of starter sets with some old post-war accessories for lights.  The automated gateman was a big hit.

 

The kids (and parents) loved it and I didn't have any issues with them getting too close or touchy.

 

Having the trains up on tables would've certainly been easier on my knees, but I'll probably run them on the ground again this year.

 

 

Tables are not real easy to see for kids to see well unless they are low.

I remember that well from when I was young. I would hunt out, and drag chairs behind me long distances to see things better often when I was a boy. (Hey old farts, that's where your missing folding chair at the show went Nobody really "stole" it, it was kid-napped )

 

 But a train table too low, or on the ground, is an invitation to play without a barrier of some kind.

  Something like a little flower garden fence, should keep most kids from doing more than watching the trains if they are presented low.

Table....I used a ping pong table with an old bedspread for "ground cover". 

 

 

 

 

Peter

Definitely use tables. The City of Los Angeles sets up a 16'x8' table for us every year at the "Downtown on Ice" winter festival. Four boards on four tables. We set up two O-72 FasTrack loops along the perimeter with two or three O-36 starter set loops in the center and a few buildings and free-standing trees in the middle. They also give us the pop-up party shelters to provide shade. Be sure to bring plenty of shameless, self-promoting literature to hand out.

Matt- who makes those white passenger cars?

Peter and Matt,

Those are great tables!  As can be seen on my photo, the table is a little small, and a couple of boards are starting to warp.  Great however for a quick makeshift for some photos or when I get the urge to run some smoke.