The National Train Show opened this morning, first to convention attendees (9-Noon), and then to the public from Noon to 6 pm. We wandered around the train show and shot perhaps 1.5 hours of video interviews with various vendors. Here's a few highlights!

Microsoft Train Simulator 2 ... coming!

 I was delighted to see a major corporation like Microsoft displaying at the National Train Show - it shows they feel the hobby is doing well enough it's worth investing their time in products for train hobbyists!

Microsoft unvieled their first public showing of the new-and-improved Microsoft Train Simulator 2, expected by Christmas 2009. Rick Selby of Microsoft explained to us that they're hoping to get helpful feedback from model railroaders at this show, and to see what people think of the next generation MS Train Simulator! (Click photo to enlarge.)

I had to do a double-take as I watched some of the action on the monitors as people tried their hand at running a loco. I found the action to be very smooth, the simulation physics feels like it's right on the money, and the image quality is photo-realistic at a level not touched by MS Train Simulator 1.

I know I can't wait!

Fast Tracks

 Tim Warris of Fast Tracks introduced us to their new Infinite Tracks system. It includes new jig fixtures, new snap ties, and new thin roadbed materials. The new system literally allows you to lay track with far fewer rail joints, hence the term "Infinite" to describe their new system. The lack of rail joints can be especially helpful on curves to eliminate the likelihood of kinks.

The new system includes some clever tools to make track planning and marking out subroadbed super easy, and it even includes flexible tie and roadbed sections to make inserting easements as easy as using any other part of the system. (Click the image on the left to enlarge.)

Fast Tracks continues to demonstrate their out-of-the-box thinking with regard to clever trackwork materials, methods, and tools!

Athearn

 Athearn showed us several interesting new products. Of the products we saw, we found the most impressive to be the new UP Turbine (no specific release date yet). Athearn is announcing this exciting new product for the very first time here at the 2008 Anaheim Train Show. Their prototype shows great tooling and detail, and Athearn plans to release both tenderless and tendered versions - consistent with how the UP actually operated the turbines. (Click the photo on the left to enlarge.)

Athearn also plans various versions, with different screens and louvers as the UP experimented with ways to improve the turbine's performance. The model will have a heavy diecast frame, and will include a sound system option. This looks like it's going to be a beautiful model and we believe it's sure to excite many 1950s UP fans!

 We also asked Athearn about the new MT-4 Mountain steamer they have announced. Athearn assured us they intend to model the MT-4 in all its incarnations and detail combinations, including the ability to add the skyline casing along the top. In fact, they have completed the tooling on the skyline casting and showed us a sample!

Athearn also has the finished pilot model version of the Mountain steamer on display, allowing modelers to study it to see the details they plan to include. (Click the image on the left to enlarge.)

Nice job, Athearn!

Tangent Scale Models

 We found Tangent to be doing a bang-up business and having brisk traffic at their booth. They're here in force, with a fabulous new product: the Pullman Standard 4000 series covered hopper (with round hatches) in 6 different paint schemes. (Click the image on the left to enlarge.)

Tangent founder, David Lehlbach, explained to us the Tangent distinctive service they try to provide modelers with sample photos of the car, and additional decals to help you model different reporting-mark variations of the cars and to get a realistically weathered car. Their kits go well beyond the shake-the-box approach with fine detail, Kadee couplers and metal wheels to give you a great car that doesn't need a lot of extras to be ready to go on your layout!

Other Vendors, and Tomorrow

We also interviewed a number of other vendors today - all the vendor interviews will be posted in the MRH Theater area for free viewing!

Tomorrow, we expect to shoot another 1.5 hours of video interviews of vendors at the train show. We expect to begin putting up the interviews next week in MRH Theater, so those of you who could not make the National Train Show this year can see the highlights of the show.