I took some pictures during the first day I was at the train show and decided to share them. I had a few hours before the public was allowed in that I could shoot with somewhat less distraction. Even so, someone with giant shoes, a stuck-on nose, and giant red hair would always climb out of a little tiny car in front of me just as I was shooting. I did my best. I shot these using available light. Often focus and composition is questionable. However, I feel they give the flavor of what was there. I hope you find these enjoyable and are not already over-saturated with convention images.
These thumbnails link to 1024x1024 (or some fraction thereof) images. Where possible., I linked the title to the organization. I apologize in advance for any photos incorrectly credited. I also apologize for modules not represented. In some cases I missed them, in some cases I just didn't get a usable image hand holding in available light.. even with Nikon VR. There were pools with nice light, and pools of less light. It depended on where the module was in relation ot the overhead lights..
This was a real nice On30 layout done using FreMo style modules. It had a very consistent look and feel to all the modules. I felt the static grass job in the cow pasture was very well done (static grass being a particular passion on mine right now..). The wood causeways and bridges were wonderfully done. What? You don't see pictures of the bridges? Sorry. They didn't come out without being somewhat out of focus or with distracting clowns dancing next to them.
I really liked the size and feel of the On30 stuff. However, I would have trouble finding a prototype to my taste for a larger home layout. Being able to participate in the scale vicariously through a modular club would be a fantastic way to dabble AND operate!
As far as I am concerned, the HO CNYMOD layout was best of show. The level of modeling was consistently high with some modules being spectacular. The second day of the train show I spent a lot of time here without my camera just soaking in the details.
The first seven pictures are particularly special. They are from Bill Brown's HO scale Lehigh Alliance of Rail Carriers. A fire destroyed his house and all its contents. Well.. all except some tools leaning against one wall of a garage. Very sad. He gave a clinic about his LARC, its past and present. Included was lots of good stuff to know about home owner's insurance in the event of a fire. The portion pictured here was a removable section that could be brought to shows. Fortunately, it was not in his house at the time. The old layout is featured in Railmodel Journal, September 2007 , Model Railroading, December 2003, and Model Railroader August 2006. His new layout will reflect a growing interest in the Tennessee Pass in Colorodo. Thats something I can understand, I saw some wonderful photos of that area during this years Collinsville CT RPM Meet..
Chester & Becket Railroad
This was a great Large Scale, not sure exactly WHICH large scale, pair of modules at the show. I did not see it operating. It did have some nice dramatic lighting. I did some research after the show.. I think its based on the Chester & Becket that became part of the Boston & Albany that was a granite hauling line.
A nice series of HO modules. Despite being a N scale guy for various reasons, I am really beginning to feel that larger scale, HO or more, have a nicer impact at train shows. This is sort of ironic since N scale has traditionally been the "show module scale". Not so much anymore.
Another great HO modular club..
Triple track modules are not my cup of tea.. nor are the disconnects in theme. However, NTRAK is a marvelous way for lots of modelers to come together and create huge modular layouts and run huge trains. Always a crowd favorite as well as a fantastic showcase of modeling skill.. NTRAK modules are the bread and butter of train shows small and large. Some of the modules I saw were stunning examples of modeling skill for any scale.
To be honest, I am not sure all of these are NTRAK. If I have incorrectly assigned them just because they happen to have a triple track mainline please let me know and I will move them appropriately.
I hope you have all enjoyed my images. Its a lot of work to upload and thumbnail the images using the MRH blog and image software. I am not sure I will repeat this in the future.
My next blog entry will show my tremendous improvement in ballasting (still a lot to learn!) as well as my first horrific attempt at a bottle brush tree...
Regards,
Chris
“If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older.” My modest progress Blog
