Courtesy While Visiting A Layout

I like what Gary said about asking questions then listening to what those involved with the layout have to say. It's their show, let them show.

Our club has "open to the public" events three or four time a year and I it's rewarding to talk trains with people at whatever level they or we are at. We've had some very talented and experienced modelers visit. We've exchanged ideas and received constructive remarks but that's totally different than the "expert" saying "Well...MY trains and MY layout and MY...blahblahblah...". What a turnoff.
We've found the vast majority of visitors to be extremely careful and courteous around the trains.

If you are invited to bring your own locomotives, be SURE they're bulletproof reliable and totally ready to run.

The worst visitor experience I ever had was when an NMRA chapter president showed up the morning of our first show to run with a shoebox of engines that he was kinda sure might have run maybe sorta OK four years ago the last time he tried them.
The ensuing derailments immediately sent two of his Katos to the floor. He then placed his engines which have now been reverted back into kit form (lotsa pieces) into his shoebox and left never to return. Too bad for everyone.

Above the entry door to our HO layout there's a sign: "Unattended children will be given an espresso and a free puppy." So far we haven't had to give away a single one.

Thanks for a great thread

 

Thanks for the words of wisdom

Excellent!

 

I could add:

Please don't decide to "help" unless you ask AND are given permission.

Please don't let your children grab the edge of the layout to pull their selves up higher for a better view.

Do not slam the controls to warp speed to, "See what these babies can do."

Please keep food and beverages away from the layout. Yes, this means anything sold at Starbucks.

Custom painted engines and cars are not free souvenirs.

Just because you see lighted buildings and/or engines on the layout does not mean you can just turn out the room lights to see what things look like in the dark. Please ask first so a warning can be given before the lights are turned off.

 

I had an acquaintance who was like one of Mel Brooks cartoon characters. Whether or not he purposefully launched himself into store display stands or threw his arms about was questionable, at best. Many times the steps and actions he took resembled a clown routine you might see at a Ringling Bro's Show. He was a professional clown following in his dad's footsteps. His problems and behavior may have had something to do with a motorcycle accident in his late 20's. Hard to tell what was an act and what was real. Not to mention he had sticky fingers. Kind of a game to him...of sorts.

Getting him to abide by any rules at a train show or while visiting someone's layout was next to impossible. I was asked by hobby shop staff to take him elsewhere and not bring him back. Other times his purchases out weighed the damage done.

I guess the point I'm making is, there are times when you will get a guest who isn't able to handle abiding by any rules. Club layouts and personal operators need to be prepared for such a guest and have a plan that can be implemented quickly. He or she will be one in a thousand but when they show up you need to have a plan in place to shadow and assist such a guest. Allowing him or her back into the inner workings of a layout should be taboo.

Just something to think about as we prepare for those open houses and layout tours.

 

I strongly believe that parents when vising via family to a layout should exercise control over their children when viewing the layout. It seems parents see the layout as a toy for their kids to wreak havoc, rather than a carefully crafted showpiece.

I had an unfortunate experience at one of our Christmas parties. I had locked the door to my layout, but one loudmouth said "Ken has trains, and all of a sudden the entire party wanted to see it, and being as gracious as possible, laid out the rules, and showed the layout and ran trains until they got bored, which was all of 5 minutes. All went OK, and one of the kids saw me put the key back, sneaked and retrieved it and secretly went into the room. After a few minutes I saw light under the door, and went to investigate.

Four fifth grade boys had sneaked in, and were running my trains at full speed, putting some of my loose structures in the way and creating train crashes. I was immediately angered, and demanded each kid surrender his pocket gameboy and the if they wanted them back, their fathers had to ask me for them. Only one father was contrite and offered to pay for repairs, while the others had a basically "suck it up" attitude, demanded return of the gameboy and protested what I did. Needless to say the party was a disaster, I threw the gameboys out in the front yard, asked the parents to leave at once, and banished all of them from our house forever. Surprisingly because my wife and children realized the damage, and how much work I put into the layout and how much work it would be to repair, supported me all of the way.

From that moment on, I was very careful as to who to let in the layout room and increased security and controls thereafter.

Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman

 

Ken, I understand your position in the matter. I also had a party and the time came to show off the trains. During the show time 3 pieces of my favorite rolling stock disappeared, of course i did not notice it at first or during the party but the next day. I was angry that my own relatives would sink to that level and to make matters worse it was 3 kids who according to them their parents said it was ok to take something. How dare they think it was perfectly ok to take something from the layout. Hey!!! it's only toys was their response when i confronted their parents and asked them if they ok'd this act of stealing. All 3 kids returned the cars and offered their apology---nothing from the parents. All 3 of the kids have been invited back to help and learn to run the trains---the parents are non-gratis.

Dave

 

I should clarify my statement a little. I always ask before doing anything and I always go to great pains to be careful, but it wouldn’t bother me in the least if someone were to pull out a camera at my house and start taking pictures of my layout, unless of course they were taking photos of my mess or personal stuff.
I’m reminded of a time at work when I was in the middle of a huge project that I was quite proud of and this guy was taking photos of the trash can which was full from all the empty parts boxes. I did get a little upset over that, because I couldn’t understand his intensions. I felt like he was trying to discredit me or something. It was odd that I had such a beautiful installation and he was taking photos of my trash.

 

I've met guys like you. Their trash far exceeds my layout construction! The guy taking the pictures was probably just confused.

 

Kids can definitely be a problem. I remember one Christmas when a nephew sent my Lionel “Polar Express” Train off the tracks and into the wall. Not only did I have broken parts on my Berkshire Loco and tender, but I had a hole in my wall. His mother beat his butt pretty good, but I was left with the expense of the repairs. We still had a great Christmas party and everybody still talks about it so I guess it was worth it.

 

That’s pretty funny, because the big joke at the office is if I’m going to pull it out of the trash after they throw it away. They wait until I’m on vacation and then raid my storage shed. :tb-biggrin:

 

Heres one: Always play by the rules of the moment when operating on someone else's or another club's layout. I don't know how many times I have came upon a situation where some basic knowledge of their operating rules needed to be referenced to when operating, but all at once it didn't matter anymore.

Example: I was operating a freight extra heading west bound and my track warrant onlay said to meet Extra 3386 Eastbound at "xyz". Now before the session started the club president said when two trains make a meet the west bound train ALWAYS goes into the siding. So I stop at the switch, my conductor lines it for the siding and I proceed at restricted speed and close the switch behind me. All of a sudden, the eastbound's engineer, a long-time club member and well known in NMRA Div.2 Mid Central Region, questions me wondering why I am in the siding. I try to explain that I was following the operating rules. Ultimately, I had to back the whole 28 car train out of the siding and let him into it and continue on the main.

Example 2: Same operating session. The club president also mentioned to not leave cars on the main during switching operations if there is a siding you are switching from. I was operating a priority passenger train and came upon a caboose and a pair of flat cars sitting on the main while the rather small extra train was in the runaround track and switching an industry. He was clear of the mainline except for the last three cars. The club rules specifically stated not to leave cars on the main at this location. He was supposed to have flag men out protecting the cars on the main and notify the dispatcher. Anyways, My train came out of the tunnel and hit the cars. Nothing derailed but I felt a little bit of heat for that one too.

I never went back there again. Rules change at moments notice, they violate every common sense law in the book.

 

I don’t blame you, that’s crazy. Can you imagine if it were a real train situation, wow?

 

Hemi, I just love it. Wow. I have heard horror stories just like all the previous posts, but so far (knock on wood) none of it has happened during an open house or club (social) meeting that I was hosting. I guess I'm lucky. I remember during one open house a couple and their son came by. The father asked if their son could take pics of the layout. I didn't have a problem with that except the poor kid couldn't see the layout as my track work is 50+ inches above the floor. Since it wasn't crowded at the time, I just let him use a step stool. I guess I have been lucky. However, if someone did some of the things that have been mentioned, I wouldn't have a problem showing them the door.

 

Johnny and of course all tuned in,

My comments were meant to be a compliment toward you and your family. I don't mind saying this publicly here in this forum. I'd trust you and your wife Cindy with my layout and home anytime. Far different from the friend / acquaintance that used to frequent my place, grab a locomotive and slide it down the front of his pants...where I'm not likely to frisk him. He wasn't welcome here and has since passed. I don't know if God can rest his soul...not my problem.

There are others I would trust with my equipment and the interesting thing about it they aren't family. Figure that one out.

Security and a watchful eye is required when visitors that are unknown to you or family you do know is present.

It was my cousins on my mother's side that destroyed a large hook and ladder fire truck and my American Flyer passenger train. You have to wonder why, scratch your head and go on. I made the repairs as best I could but the engine was gone. I took it to a repair facility and the cost to restore it...well...I might as well buy a new one.

Like you...stay the WELL out of my trash can. There's nothing there for you not even recycle stuff. Me thinks some guys do go looking to create trouble. I bumped into a few of these while exercising my supervisory responsibilities in a hospital. They didn't work there much longer...after I figured what they were up to.

Have fun and a good weekend. Got to get and oversee a sound system. Training day. Not trains, I have to train a sound techee or wanna be.

 

Talking about losing items, I read a thread a year or so ago about someone losing a rare and expensive Steamer. They found out who took the steamer after it was put up for sale. It turned out to be a teenager who was visiting with his dad. I don’t remember all the details and I can’t remember if it was returned or not.

Oh, Rick I wasn’t thinking anything different. It just occurred to me that my original statement sounded like I would take such liberties.

 

Johnny,

I understand and no I didn't take it that way. I know you won't take liberties...I mean both of you asked if you could take pictures. I felt I could walk away from my layout and not worry about my equipment.

You are the kind of friend one wants visiting your layout.

 

Some interesting stories here. I don't have much to share, as most visits to my layout are virtual (i.e. photos posted on trainboard and the ensuing conversations). Funny and sad that some parents would make up a silly story that they told their kids it was okay to take something rather than just admit their kid was a thief. Yikes....

 

Great thread Rick.

This thread includes many reasons there are so many lone wolf model railroaders. Here in the Inland Empire of Southern California few people fess up as to thier location and open thier layouts for others to visit or even start relationships because of the issues mentioned. Its to bad as I am sure there are many here. I have found a few modelers nearby and we all seem to have similar fears.

With the ready to run generation, of which I am a part of, our efforts are not respected even within our own small community. :thumbs_down:

As much as I like to talk about my layout and interests I try to focus on the host and his layout when visiting as I am visiting his layout not bringing mine along to steal the show. I try not to hoard his attention either causing other visitiors not to have a chance to ask questions and have dialog.

Something for another thread may be how to avoid putting your layout and its features at risk. Basic rules like extending the edge of the layout away from the tracks and structures. Mounting any manual ground throws in a way that reduces the risk of knocking down cars and bumping structures. This goes for uncoupling to. Having ample aisles and know the maximum number of people one should allow into the layout space at a time. I cheat here as I have an L-shaped layout and there are no aisles to worry about.

This said I am still always open to visitors so come on over.:tb-biggrin: