Thank you to all who came to help with the set up!  Even an hour helped make a difference.  We started unloading at 11:45 and had everything connected by 3:45.  Casually checking DC and DCC, we called it a wrap by 5.

In the dark evening hours on Wednesday, a second walk-off of the space revealed that the recently modified layout plan was a tad too ambitious.  Having dealt with a major issue in the morning, this was a bummer.  But in the end, we accommodated everyone who pledged a module in a 31 x 25 space.  Thanks to Mark Bandy for the last minute diagram as yours truly was clandestinely pacing off the space-real time feedback.  And thanks to some who were told bring this one, no that one, not he first one for their understanding.

I can’t speak for the vendors, but I appreciate the work Howard Zane and Ken Young and the Turf Valley Hotel did to ensure everything they agreed to was in place for us; tables, space and a nice flat [cart] to assist in the load-out from our wide-door, semi-private entrance.  While I appreciate the wide-open spaces of Timonium, it was wonderful to set up the layout in a nice, carpeted room!

Our trains ran and ran well.  We seemed to have a very young, enthusiastic crowd of all who were amazingly well-disciplined.  I saw no small 0-5-0 assists while I was at the layout.  Fro the most part, I suspect there were some of the usual Baltimore area RR fans and a local crowd coming down to see what it was all about.  They had a great show provided by BANTRAK.  All of the club members were friendly, patient and informative with the mixed crowd.  It’s what we’re about!

From the comments I had, our club members enjoyed the experience and were complimentary about the venue.  We were packed up by 5:15.

I hope the Turf Valley Show continues. Many thanks to all who contributed to this terrific holiday show!