2011 Great Train Expo

Again in 2011, we set up at the Del Mar Fairgrounds the first weekend of December for the Great Train Expo. This year it was held in the larger O'Brien Hall so everything was more open, less crowded.

We broke down the layout and packed it all up on Wednesday so moving in on Friday morning was a breeze. We arrived before noon and were one of the first groups in the hall. We got set up and had everything operating in time to get home for dinner at the normal time.

New for this year's show were Christmas lights on the talking station ...

and the Christmas doghouse ...

and the cow-on-the-track became the reindeer-on-the-track!

We loaded up the yard with four different trains and alternated running one after another.

As always, the layout was a big hit with kids and their parents! They particularly love blowing the whistling billboard, and unloading the race car and Christmas presents. We're so glad we made the layout interactive.