Train Display at Kennywood Holiday Lights 2013 (Pittsburgh, PA)

Nice Pictures…
Your Display looks like a real  Crowd Pleaser.
I like the 40’Duck under the bridge. My Daughter follows that thing…
She ran down to Pittsburgh to see it and sent me this picture..



Thanks for Posting

K.C.

Thanks, K.C.  The 40' Duck is the reason that the smaller version has been appearing on our layout.  We like to put fun stuff on the layout for people to find.  I don't know how easy it is to make out in the photos above, but one such fun feature can be seen in the photos with the campers and the lumberjacks eying up the campers...

 

Here are some shots from opening night.  We had a lot of people come through.  At times, we could hardly see the layout!

 

 

The latest custom car by Thom (DOC):

Thom's first Holiday Lights custom car:

A one-year-only water tower by Thom (Guess what day Christmas falls on this year? ):

The On30 section is even running this year.

 

At one point, we had people lined up the whole way across the other side of the building waiting to see the layout.

 

Andy

Here are some shots from day 2:

 

 

Another custom car by Thom (DOC):

This year we expanded the amusement park area beyond the Thunderbolt and Turtle rides from Coaster Dynamix:

It was another fun day, and we are looking forward to it again today, and for the next 3 weekends to come.

 

Andy

Andy, I bet your scale PE train is a big hit with the folks.

It certainly is - both with kids and adults (although the kids get MUCH more excited about it when they see it).

 

Here are some shots from tonight (day 3):

 

Andy

Found this article on Holiday Lights on a travel blog.  It includes a lot of nice pictures of the park and one of our layout (and I'm even in the background ).

 

The park was closed last night due to the weather, but running resumes tonight, and with fresh snow on the ground, the park will be gorgeous (it will be cold, though)!

 

Andy

We had another great night last night.  The crowds were pretty big (probably due to the event being cancelled Friday night and the high probability of a cancellation today due to weather).

 

Here are the pix from last night:

 

 

 

 

Some new additions:  "Balloons" for the parade:

 

 

 

And a new custom car by member Bob Wheeler:

 

 

Andy

After cancellations on Sunday of last week and Saturday this week due to weather, we were running again Friday night and last night.  Had good crowds all evening, and had a little assist from the Steelers in getting the park cleared out by closing time.

 

 

 

Some updates and new additions to the layout:

 

 

Sadly, we only have one more weekend to go, but it has been a blast!

 

Andy

Looks like an amazing layout.

It's times like this I live on the wrong side of the state.

Great job guys.

Despite a little rain, the turnout last night was pretty good.  Tonight is the last night for Holiday Lights and we are a little bummed about that, but we had a blast and are already thinking about next year's set-up (we like to mix it up so that it is not the same from year to year).

 

Here are some shots from last night:

 

 

 

Andy

Andy,

   As usual an incredible job, especially for the kids!

PCRR/Dave

Just Super!

Dave,

 

Perhaps the best part about doing this event is the excitement we see on the faces of the kids. 

 

Andy

Andy thanks for all THE WONDERFUL PICTURES!!!!!!

Andy:

 

Nice work and photos.  Kudos to your entire group for promoting the hobby so well.

 

Re that Isaly’s Divco truck, is that a commercially available product or a custom job by DOC or someone else?

 

Thanks,

 

Bill 

Andy - Great job as usual!!

That is one of my custom jobs. I like to do local items that you just can't get.

Thanks Andy for posting all the wonderful photo's.  All I can say is WOW!  What a great layout and show.  It is truly amazing.

 

TEX

Steve

Thaks for all the kind words everyone!

 

Last night was the final night for this event, and we had unseasonably warm weather, so the park got record crowds - somewhere in the neighborhood of 10,000 people!   They even had to open extra rides that are not normally open for this event in order to keep the lines down, and they stayed open a little later than normal to accomodate all of the people there.

 

We had such a good time, we really didn't want to see it come to an end.

 

Here are the pictures from last night:

 

Santa Claus is certainly busy this time of year.  He stopped by to join his sasquatch friends in observing an investigation, and they even managed to spot Batman as he cruised by...

 

Santa then stopped by to see his friend WALL-E and check out a bald eagle's nest...

 

And to pose with some presidents.

 

And there's always time to stop by for a Skyscraper Cone...

 

And to check out some cool bikes while still keeping an eye on the Penguin.

 

Then he stopped by the tree lot to make sure the Christmas trees were up to his standards.

 

Santa always finds time to check in on his favorite road...  I wonder why he likes the Santa Fe so much?

 

He thinks trestles are cool...

 

And "Hump Day" water towers, and Jeeps, too...

 

And Santa always finds some time to do some railfanning...

 

And to give a shout out to his K-9 friends...

 

And Santa certainly loves good cooking...

 

Keeping Santa's favorite passenger extra on time is always a top priority...

 

As is standing guard over undelivered presents...

 

Because you never know what threats are lurking just behind the hill...

 

The lights in the park were positively magical!

 

At times, the lines of people waiting to see the layout were out the door and wrapped around the building! 

 

The crowds were pretty steady all night, even up until closing time.

 

And here are some of the club members (Bob W., Jim, Bob P. and Thom (DOC)) in the "command center"- can you tell that we were having a lot of fun?   (I didn't get any shots of Dave, Matt and Jack, but they were having just as much fun)

 

How'd this shot get in here?

 

And the final shot of Kennywood Holiday Lights 2013 as the Polar Express begins its journey to the North Pole...

 

  Merry Christmas everyone! 

 

 

Andy

We had a Super time doing the show again this year. To bad it is over already.

Thom:

 

I suspected that Isaly’s truck was your handiwork - another great job!

 

Regards,

 

Bill

You supply the Divco and I will do it for you.

What a terrific set-up fellas - Job well done.

That's a most attractive facility too which just adds to the uniqueness of your display!

Made it out with the grand kids.  The weather was great and so were the crowds like Andy says.  Long lines, but the kids got to ride some rides in kiddy land and were able to decorate their Christmas cookies.  Line was out the door for the trains - nice to see some interest.  I got my corn dogs so not all was lost.  Potato patch was swamped so no fries this year.  Light show was excellent.

 

 

 

 

 

\

 

This venue is perhaps our favorite setup of all.  The people that see us at train shows are mostly train people, but the tens of thousands that come through the gates at Kennywood are mostly "train civilians" and kids, and we love the fact that we are getting this hobby out in front of so many. 

 

Merry Christmas everyone! 

 

 

Andy

Yes Merry Christmas to all my Train friends. Andy I love this Cut and paste picture.

It was a very nice time at Kennywood. 4 weeks just went buy so fast.

Well the 2014 shows start in 3 weeks. Spring is coming also I will be glad when summers is here.

Hey looks like a bunch of yunz pixxburgherz havin' some fun!   Good job gentlemen!

I did see one Lionel PRR J1 in the mix, so it's right!   Enjoy!!!

Thom: Will do.  I will look for one and have it sent directly to your address which I have.  Thank you and Happy New Year!

 

Bill