Preparing for a National Convention
Home Layout Tour
by Hank Kraichley
Overview
Over 2,000 NMRA Members and Their Families Attend The Convention
Many Different Countries Will Be Represented
The Layout Tours Are One Of The Chief Attractions Each Year
Over 70 St. Louis
Area Layouts Will Be On Tour
The Actual Operation
Over The Road Air Conditioned Tour Buses Equipped with Restrooms
Will Be Utilized
Each Bus Will Have A Tour Guide Who Will
Be Equipped With A Cellular Phone For Communications With The
Convention Staff
Provided Detailed Directions and Layout Specific Instructions
Will Manage The Tour Based on Each Owners Needs
Communicate Instructions And Directions To The Visitors
Maintain The Schedule
Only A Single Bus Should Visit A Layout At Any Given Time
Layout Owner Questions To Be Answered
How many Will Fit in The Layout Room?
What If It Rains?
Extreme Heat?
How Will I Handle The Tour Groups?
What Will The Neighbors Think?
How much help will I need?
Safety Concerns?
Security Concerns?
Actual Planning
Layout Capacity
Determine the number of visitors who will comfortably fit in the
layout room
If less than 43 (bus capacity) use one of the crowd control
techniques below:
- Have a bowl with poker chips/or other items
(equally the room capacity) at the entrance
- Tell the tour guide that the room will hold X#
of visitors and that as one leaves he/she should give their chip to the
next person in line.
Visitor Holding Areas
Determine the number of people that can wait in your house while
they wait to see the layout (remember it could rain or the heat during the day
could preclude their waiting outside)
If your home or garage or covered patio can't hold the 43
potential visitors less those who are seeing the layout, ask the tour guide to
keep 1/2 or more of the visitors on the bus until the layout room can handle
the next group of visitors
Preparing The Layout Room
Check for safety hazards and mark them clearly
Remove structures, locomotives and rolling stock close to the edge
of the layout
Clearly mark areas that are restricted
Consider removing any rare or extremely valuable items from the
layout room
Preparing The Layout
Test your layout prior to the tour arrival
If possible have one or more trains running on a continuously
(operations/switching is not recommended)
Clean the track spike turnouts that are questionable
Test each train to determine that all cars and locomotives will
run reliably
Clean all wheels on locomotives as well as rolling stock
Clean the rail
Radio control have fresh batteries on hand
Arrange For Help
Plan on having at least two people to run the trains and provide
security
The owner should be free to meet and discuss the layout with
visitors
If the visitors are passing through your home to get to the layout
someone should be stationed in that area
Other Considerations
Have a smoking policy and a provision outside for litter
Seating for visitors in the holding area (Good idea for older
members but not required)
Refreshments, again a nice idea since the visitors will be
traveling for 3-4 hours before returning to the hotel
Restroom, also nice idea but also not a requirement
Photo and video cameras; each host can elect to allow any camera,
only snap shots, no camera bags or no pictures
Handouts on the layout are helpful but not a requirement
Inform your neighbors that you are expecting large tour buses
during several time periods during the week
Insurance; the Gateway 2001 committee is arranging for insurance
to cover any mishap that might occur at a layout (personal inquiry not models)
(Layout/collection insurance is available).
