BayLTC Opens Museum Exhibit
The Bay Area LEGO® Train Club (BayLTC) has opened its latest train layout, at the Amador-Livermore Valley Historical Society and Museum in Pleasanton, California, 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.
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 José, 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.