Touchless Halloween Candy Delivery System Using a Train

Now all you need are some dump cars!

Consider putting the engine on your side of the train--for some additional security.

I was told I could not put up the garage Halloween layout this year because of covid, big bummer, the kids love it.

Hey Joe,

How about running that train at “Thor” speed ? Lol!

John, who "told" you?

I just moved my stuff out of the basement and will be putting it together this weekend.  I plan on running from 12 noon to ~8 PM, Trick or Treaters permitting.  Social distancing should not be a problem as I will be using either a Cab1 or Lionchief.  If I get shut down, I just close the garage door.

@palallin posted:

John, who "told" you?

That would be the CEO,CFO, and field Marshall  Wifey !  she is most likely correct, having a family with lots of scrubs running around the house we get the latest from them and the real skinny.

@John Pignatelli JR. posted:

   

That would be the CEO,CFO, and field Marshall  Wifey !  she is most likely correct, having a family with lots of scrubs running around the house we get the latest from them and the real skinny.

Did you think of putting up the layout and installing some kind of barrier between the layout and the public?  Maybe like a clear plastic tarp or a window screen barrier.

Ted,

I prefer ludicrous speed.😀

One hopes that the RR equipment doesn't become part of the "treats".

I'll just hand it out like always but add a facial mask and gloves to the routine.  The train looks like it could be a lot of fun though.  I'll be interested in seeing how it all works out. 

@third rail posted:

Did you think of putting up the layout and installing some kind of barrier between the layout and the public?  Maybe like a clear plastic tarp or a window screen barrier.

We will be doing close to the same layout as in past years but there will be some changes. This year it will be much closer to the garage door and when the door is open  the fence will be as close as possible to the door w/o interfereing with the door open safety light. That way no guests in the garage and all the ghouls & goblins as well as their chaperones will outside. The BetterHalf will be handling treat duty with a long pair of tongs for treat distribution. In past years other neighborhood  empty nesters would join us to also pass out treats but this year it appears it will be verbotten.

@John Pignatelli JR. posted:

   

That would be the CEO,CFO, and field Marshall  Wifey !  she is most likely correct, having a family with lots of scrubs running around the house we get the latest from them and the real skinny.

Ah!  SWMBO!  I *get* it!

I toyed with the train idea, but I can’t see a way to do it without a whole lot of derailments.
I have always sat in my driveway, and I give kids a choice between candy or diecast cars. This year I am putting tables between us, and I whipped up some chutes using old melamine shelves I had in the garage. That way I can do the distance thing, and have a little fun at the same time.

@John Pignatelli JR. posted:

I was told I could not put up the garage Halloween layout this year because of covid, big bummer, the kids love it.

You still have that Godzilla figure? I wondered if you had taken it with you when you left California. By the way, he's pretty accurate for O scale.

I will be running the 40x60 Halloween layout under a 10x10 pop-up canopy at the foot in front of our porch stairs. My LionChief 0-6-0 engine will be pulling three ore cars. Each child gets 3 pieces of candy. My wife (w/ mask and gloves) will be loading candy on the cars. I will stop the train w/ the remote so each child can collect their candy.

Monday will be a pre-run at our church preschool. At that event, teachers/aides will be loading the candy on the train. I'll just be the guy with the goofy outfit operating the remote.

Wear masks? Kids do it every year on Halloween. Distance? No problem maintaining 6'+. Touchless? A washed gloved hand putting factory sealed candies into a toy train car is about as safe as it gets. Children deserve a sense of normality. It's OK to be careful. Just don't go overboard. If you have suggestions on how to make this safer, I will accept feedback.

The munchies that we will be giving out will be the "Welch's Fruit Snacks". Easy to handle and you don't need to worry much about allergies.

@Gilly@N&W posted:

I will be running the 40x60 Halloween layout under a 10x10 pop-up canopy at the foot in front of our porch stairs. My LionChief 0-6-0 engine will be pulling three ore cars. Each child gets 3 pieces of candy. My wife (w/ mask and gloves) will be loading candy on the cars. I will stop the train w/ the remote so each child can collect their candy.

Monday will be a pre-run at our church preschool. At that event, teachers/aides will be loading the candy on the train. I'll just be the guy with the goofy outfit operating the remote.

Wear masks? Kids do it every year on Halloween. Distance? No problem maintaining 6'+. Touchless? A washed gloved hand putting factory sealed candies into a toy train car is about as safe as it gets. Children deserve a sense of normality. It's OK to be careful. Just don't go overboard. If you have suggestions on how to make this safer, I will accept feedback.

Gilly

I think you have it covered.  Thanks for being sane through all this craziness.

@third rail posted:

Did you think of putting up the layout and installing some kind of barrier between the layout and the public?  Maybe like a clear plastic tarp or a window screen barrier.

The field Marshal says no...way...no how...NO! My daughter is Deputy Dictator she 100% agrees.

That's really neat Joe!

-Greg