History Fridays: 2014 National Train Day

2014 National Train Day - New London Union Station

A few years ago, the HO scale contingent of the club participated in Amtrak's National Train Day. We set up a 12'x20' display inside the New London train station lobby which was open to the public from 9 am to 3 pm. The event wasn't well publicized so the crowds were a little light. However, many club members stopped by and helped with the layout. The HO scale Young Building module made it's second appearance (and what would turn out to be its final appearance) at the show.

This year, our G scale group will be setting up a layout at the New Haven Union Station as part of the National Train Day events on May 14, 2016. Their layout will be in the under ground tunnel on the way out to the platforms. Several other club's will most likely be in attendance as well with layouts setup upstairs in the lobby.

Young Building module on display at the 2014 National Train Day.

Exhibitor Thursday: Model Railroad Hobbyist

The Model Railroad Hobbyist Booth at the 2016 Railroad Hobby Show.

Exhibitor Spotlight Name: Model Railroad Hobbyist Display Style: Booth Type: Publisher Size: 2.5'x24' Current Location: Better Living Center Past Location: Mallary Complex Home Location: Woodburn, OR Website: Model-railroad-hobbyist.com Social Media:

One of the model railroad publishers fully embracing the possibilities of a digital only platform is Model Railroad Hobbyist.  This free to read web magazine has about 80,000 readers a month after launching seven years ago in early 2009.  Each issue offers in depth articles around a variety of model railroad topics and takes advantage of the online environment with embedded videos and direct links to useful resources beyond the magazine.  In addition, Model Railroad Hobbyist offers an active forum, podcast, as well as a YouTube channel. (In the interest of full disclosure, I've been an advertiser with MRH for a number of years.) 

One of the interesting spinoffs from Model Railroad Hobbyist has been Trainmasters.TV.  This subscription based video platform has combined broadcast quality programming and the hobby of model railroading.  From numerous how to videos, layout tours, show reports, and behind the scenes features, this video content platform is sort of becoming a Netflix for the model railroad community.  Trainmasters.TV has covered the last two Railroad Hobby Shows (2015 and 2016).  You can watch these videos through the links below:

2015 Railroad Hobby Show - http://trainmasters.tv/tmtv-show/2015-02-feb-2015-edition

2016 Railroad Hobby Show (Part 1) - http://trainmasters.tv/videos/2016-02-5

2016 Railroad Hobby Show (Part 2) - http://trainmasters.tv/videos/2016-03-5

To learn more, visit their website at: www.model-railroad-hobbyist.com

Wordless Wednesday: NBR&N Bridge

Layout Update Mondays: Mallary Pavilion

Working on Mallary Pond.

One area I have been stuck on for awhile with the layout is the area that was slated for the front of the Mallary Complex building.  I've been trying different arrangements to build a model of the front of the building and the dome and just nothing was working for the space.  In real life, the Mallary Complex was built after the track was pulled out.  In fact the track would have been under the pavilion and the dome.  Since the layout was meant to be a combination of what once was with the railroad and the present day railroad, I decided to eliminate the building.

Instead, the new plan is to model one of the ponds which is located near the parking lot and an open air pavilion area with a caboose on display - to be dubbed Mallary Pavilion and Pond.  From the old maps and photos I've been able to find of the Eastern States Exposition before the Mallary Complex was built, there was a pavilion or small building located in this area.  It seems like it was all removed when the race track was removed - but that is simply speculation on my part.  If anyone has info on this, feel free to drop me a line.

I like the feel of this revision - even though the recognizable dome won't be part of the plan any more.  At the show back in January, many people recognized the Young Building so I'm not too worried that folks won't be able to recognize what is being modeled even if the dome isn't present.

History Fridays: 2009 National Train Show

The HO layout plan for the 2009 National Train Show.

As many who have been following the blog know, my connection to the Railroad Hobby Show has been as an exhibitor with the Mohegan Pequot Model Railroad Club.  In just under a year, we will be celebrating our 30th anniversary at this event.  So, as a lead up to the 2017 show, for the next year during History Fridays I will take a look back at the history of the organization.

Over a span of three days, model railroaders from around the country gathered in Hartford, CT for the annual National Train Show.  The Mohegan Pequot Model Railroad Club's HO scale layout was invited to display.

The show, which is held in conjunction each year with the NMRA National Convention, drew modular layouts from all over the Northeastern US and even one all the way from Georgia.  The show was held at the Connecticut Convention Center located in downtown Hartford, CT.  This years show featured over 21 layouts and displays.  These ranged from Z scale to O scale and featured mostly scenes from the northeast.  Over 15,000 people attended the three day show held from July 10-12, 2009.

To learn more about the show, visit: http://mprr.org/trainshow/nationaltrainshow2009

Exhibitor Thursday: Bar Mills Scale Model Works

Bar Mills Scale Model Works table at the Railroad Hobby Show.

Exhibitor Spotlight Name: Bar Mills Scale Model Works Display Style: Booth Type: Manufacturer Size: 13'x32' Show Location: Young Building Home Location: Bar Mills, ME Website: www.barmillsmodels.com Social Media:

Bar Mills Scale Model Works is a manufacturer of craftsman kits in N, HO, S, and O scale.  The company offers a varied line of kits from the smaller, affordable line of craftsman kits to limited edition collector kits.  In addition, the craftsman kit line is supplemented by numerous detail parts.  The Bar Mills website includes lots of great how to videos showing how to produce the best results when building one of their kits.

At the show, Bar Mills Scale Model Works is located inside the Young Building across from the Heros and Legends Cafe.  The company has a bright yellow display with numerous dioramas of finished kits and also has a demonstration area where clinics are offered discussing the ins and outs of craftsman kit construction.  This past year at the show, the commemorative gift for exhibitors was an Amherst Railway Society Billboard kit from Bar Mills.  I haven't had a chance to build it yet but my plan is to put it on top of the railroad headquarters building on my layout.

To learn more, visit their website at: www.barmillsmodels.com

Module Monday: CT Valley MR Show Recap

An overview of the 2016 CT Valley Model Railroad Club's show.

Over the weekend, my club headed north to the Granite State for the Connecticut Valley Model Railroad Club's 5th Annual Darthmouth/Lake Sunapee Model Railroad Show in North Sutton, NH.  The club brought a 20'x40' HO modular layout featuring many of the modules which will be heading out ot the National Train Show this summer.

In addition to our layout, the show featured eight other layouts including the host Connecticut Valley Model Railroad Club's HO modular layout and N scale Crawford Notch portable layout (which was at Springfield this past year).  In addition, a Z scale layout called the Vermont Midland was on display along with the New Hampshire Garden Railway Society, Concord Model Railroad Club, and a local Lego group.

To read the recap, visit: http://mprr.org/trainshow/ctvalleytrainshow2016

History Fridays: 2015 CT Valley MR Club Show

The M&P's HO layout at the 2015 CT Valley Model Railroad Club's show.

As many who have been following the blog know, my connection to the Railroad Hobby Show has been as an exhibitor with the Mohegan Pequot Model Railroad Club.  In just under a year, we will be celebrating our 30th anniversary at this event.  So, as a lead up to the 2017 show, for the next year during History Fridays I will take a look back at the history of the organization.

One of the recent shows the club has been able to participate in has been the Connecticut Valley Model Railroad Club's Annual Dartmouth/Lake Sunapee Model Railroad Show.  We were able to participate last year and will be setting up the HO layout again this coming Sunday (April 17) at the Kearsarge Regional Middle School, North Sutton, NH.  We will have a 20'x40' modular layout with many of the groups newer module sets.  The show is fairly relaxed - which is a nice pace to setup an enjoyable weekend.  If you live in the area, this would be a fun event to attend and support the Connecticut Valley Model Railroad Club.

To learn more about the 2016 edition of the show, visit: http://cvrr.railfan.net/cvmrr/shows/show2016.htm

Layout Update Mondays: Construction Barrels

Construction barrels for traffic control.

Last week's project was a set of construction barrels for the entrance to Gate 9 and along Memorial Avenue.  These are used for traffic control to help the lines of vehicles enter the fairgrounds in an orderly fashion.  The barrels were 3D printed and then hand painted.  The road surface still needs its final painting and weathering plus it needs a few vehicles - but I think it will be a nice detail when the scene is done.

A close up of one of the construction barrels.

History Fridays: 1994 Railroad Hobby Show

The M&P HO Scale Layout at the 1994 Big Railroad Hobby Show.

As many who have been following the blog know, my connection to the Railroad Hobby Show has been as an exhibitor with the Mohegan Pequot Model Railroad Club.  In just under a year, we will be celebrating our 30th anniversary at this event.  So, as a lead up to the 2017 show, for the next year during History Fridays I will take a look back at all of the different modular layouts we have displayed each year at the show.

At the 1994 Big Railroad Hobby Show, the club once again display four layouts at the show in HO, N, O, and G scale.  The HO layout, shown above, was once again setup in an L-shape and included the popular TV module (upper right) as well as a new set of modules by club member Bill Evans named Crazyville.  In addition, some other new modules were making some of their early appearances at the show - like the new Transition and Staging module, Tom Lawson's Coal Mine, and Stu Dom's Dom Yard.

This would be the last year the show would only be held in one building (the Better Living Center) before expanding into the Young Building in 1995.  Almost 17,000 people packed the building during the two days of the show on February 5 and 6, 1994.

To see more about the rest of the 1994 BIG Railroad Hobby Show, visit: http://tributetospringfield.com/railroadhobbyshow/1994

Exhibitor Thursday: The N Scale Architect

The N Scale Architect display at the 2016 Railroad Hobby Show.

Exhibitor Spotlight Name: The N Scale Architect Display Style: Booth Type: Manufacturer Size: 10.5'x16' Show Location: Young Building Home Location: New York Website: thenarch.com Social Media:

Located inside the Young Building, The N Scale Architect offers a wide range of craftsman kits, detail parts, and building materials.  Despite the name, The N Scale Architect offers more than N scale products.  In fact, the O scale model of the Young Building I have been working on for the Tribute to Springfield layout is using three different O scale sheet products for the walls - the brick sheet, concrete block sheet, and decorative block sheet.

Started in 1991 by Russ Kaufman, the company originally focused on selling N scale craftsman kits.  By the early 2000s, the product line was expanded to included HO and Z scale kits.  Today, the company offers a wide range of building kits plus building sheet material and detail parts.  The newest product lines include etched brass detail parts as well as "Trackside Series" kits which are a complete mini-scene for a layout.

To learn more, visit their website at: http://thenarch.com/

Wordless Wednesday: Danbury Railway Museum

Layout Update Mondays: Billboard and Scenery

New Billboard to, hopefully, inspire progress!

Well, after a two month hiatus, the Tribute to Springfield layout is final setup back in the shop. I worked on two quick projects over the weekend to get back in the groove on the layout. The first was a new billboard, prominently featuring the next event for the layout - this summer's National Train Show in Indianapolis, IN. I figured this would keep me motivated every time I look at the layout.

The second project was to add some more scenery details to the layout. At the show, I visited Scenic Express and purchased lots of detail items to enhance the scenery on the layout. One of my favorite items are the cattails from JTT. I had already installed one package worth on the layout in some of the drainage areas which didn't look dense enough. Hopefully, the two additional packages will help.

Cattails from JTT.

History Fridays: Breaking Club News

Rendering of the show floor layout for the Young Building at the 2018 Railroad Hobby Show.

With the 50th anniversary of the Railroad Hobby Show approaching and our club's 30th anniversary at the show arriving next January, a private donor has stepped forward to fund a massive expansion of the HO scale modular layout to celebrate.  The donor's dream was to see a large classification yard - like the one in Selkirk, NY - be re-created as close to scale as possible. In exchange for the club’s help in building the module set, a new club building will be constructed and several trucks and trailers will be donated to the organization to be able to move the layout from show to show.

An initial rendering of the project, shown above, gives a glimpse at the magnitude of the expansion of the layout.  For the show in 2018, the entire Young Building will be filled with 1,832 feet of modules - 272 feet of which will be the new yard module.  As it will be the highlight of the layout, the new yard module set will be featured prominently at the entrance across from the Better Living Center so visitors can enjoy the working model of the hump yard.  In total, 68 - 3'x8' modules will make up the yard.  The club will also add 310 new modules to its current roster of 82 to fill out the 26 scale miles of mainline around the Young Building.  A new computerized dispatching center will also be constructed to control all of the trains.

The club will need a lot of new members to help with the project.  Stop by at any of our club meetings to volunteer - just use the project's code name: Lirpa Sloof Ya(r)d!