[BayLUG-Announce] BayLTC Opens Museum Exhibit

[William R Ward]

The Bay Area LEGO Train Club (BayLTC) has opened its latest train
layout, at the Amador-Livermore Valley Historical Society and Museum
(603 Main Street, Pleasanton, California 94566), now through July 11,
2004. This layout represents several "firsts" for the club: first
layout in a museum, first automated layout, and first layout attended
by non-club members (museum docents). In addition this is by far the
longest-running club layout, lasting 32 days.

BayLTC members set up the exhibit Thursday and Friday afternoons, June
10-11, and finished setup on Saturday morning, June 12. Pictures taken
just after setup can be seen on Bill Ward's Web site at:
http://www.wards.net/~bill/lego/events/train-shows/museum-2004-06/20040612/

The exhibit follows a theme of "Railroad in the Central Valley", and
features locally-based scenes ranging from the 1850s to the
1950s. Some featured models include a new farm scene by Paul Sinasohn,
new Old West town by Russell Clark, downtown area by Kenny Paul and
family featuring many new buildings, Ross Benz's Mission San Josi, and
Bill Ward's train station. In addition, we have traditional layout
elements including a "fantasy area" featuring Thomas the Tank Engine
and a static display train yard with rolling stock made from LEGO
bricks.

The layout is 15 feet square and features an electrical control system
that shuts off the trains for 10 minutes at a time every half-hour to
prevent overheating. The museum is open Wednesdays through Saturdays
from 11am to 4pm, and Sundays from 1pm to 4pm. It is closed Mondays
and Tuesdays. Admission: $4 per person (donation to the
museum). BayLTC's layout will be ondisplay through July 11, 2004.

Club members will be on hand much of the time on weekends, along with
docents from the Niles Canyon Railway and the regular museum docent
volunteers. Our display is one part of a larger railroad history
display in the museum which is running all summer long.

For more information visit our Web site at http://www.baylug.org/

-- 
William R Ward            bill at wards.net          http://www.wards.net/~bill/
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