Today was the setup day for the National Train Show, so I didn't make it to any clincs at all. On the other hand, I got to see many hobby manufacturers and retailers as they set up their displays and also many of the modular layouts being assembled - there are two very large FREEMO layouts as well as a huge N-Trak layout.

Oh... interested in some news? Athearn has demonstrator shells of a new GP9 (this is no widebody) in 4 diffferent versions - two of them appear to be SP from the light kits, one with the torpedo tube air tanks (assumed to be a passenger version) and the other without.

Oh - and they've got a U50 too. According to one person, it looks like it practically drops in on top of the Turbine frame - which certainly would save them a lot of money and time.

All together first (I apologize for the quality - I was using my camera phone):

Now for the U50:

I'll have the full 8mp versions uploaded to my home photogallery server soon. I'll post the link when they're up.

Oh - they had this SD70ACE hiding behind the rest on their display:

Now, I mentioned seeing a lot of vendors setting up as well as the layouts - a few sample photos (and like the above photos, the full size versions, as well as many more photos, will be on my home server... which will hopefully not crash under the load).

Craig & Monica setting up the BLMA stand:

There are two Free-Mo layouts, end to end here:

13 clubs contributed to creating this Free-mo monster layout - which was one of at least two Free-mo layouts at the NTS '10:

I believe this layout was only one club, Northwest Train Masters: 

An interesting distinction I've noticed with Free-mo modules as opposed to modules built to other standards is that frequently the scenery is oriented to the inside - IIRC, the modules are completely reversible, which might have something to do with it:

The gentleman who scratchbuilt this building did so off a photograph he took as he chased a particular Airslide Covered Hopper from it's origin to it's destination, discovering that it was in captive service to this bread dough plant. The silo tanks at the end were for sugar and  flour. He also scratchbuilt the air conditioning unit on the roof using small locomotive fans:

Imagine That Laser Art continues to do amazing things with lasercut wood:

N-Trak, as always, was out in strength with a multi-club layout that I can't wait to see the long trains running on:

There is also an S-Scale modular layout here:

Here a Walthers employee is setting up the display stands:

Well, this is an interesting diorama. Seems to be missing something in the middle of all those palm trees though:

Ah - there it is! Walthers just announced Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal (now Union Station):

Okay, that's enough photos for this post. BTW, stay tuned for some important announcements from the NMRA.org - Joe Fugate interviewed NMRA Director Tony Koester this afternoon and hopefully we'll have that video up in MRH Theater soon.