2013 World's Greatest Hobby
Train Show
Just in time for the show, we got the new lift bridge module complete and working. And I do mean just in time: Mike and Raulf finished fixing the last of the issues as the rest of us were packing up everything else to go to the show!
When not open, the lift bridge module looks just like a new, undecorated module that is still under construction. See the crew working on it?
Our layout was located along the back wall but straight in from the front door, past the Canfield Circus, so we got a lot of visitor traffic.
Enthusiastic traffic! Button pushers love the interactive side of our layout where they can operate Gilbert accessories from the 1950s.
You have to love that look of wonder in youthful eyes. The operating accessories on the Gilbert Siding are always a hit with kids (of all ages).
Man down! Man down!
As at other shows, a lot of layouts got built with our module tiles.
In addition to operating our club's modular layout, we hosted a booth for the National Association of S-Gaugers. The table to the right offered a variety of NASG, manufacturer, and club information to visitors.
The table to the left displayed a variety of passenger and freight equipment made in recent years by the leading S-Scale manufacturers:
- Christmas Geep and selection of Christmas cars from American Flyer by Lionel
- GG1 and streamlined passenger cars from American Models
- American ModelsSanta Fe Pacific locomotive pulling a string of S-Helper Billboard reefers
- The Denver & Rio Grande Western streamliner set from American Flyer by Lionel
- The Southern Pacificn streamliner set from American Flyer by Lionel
- An S-Helper diesel switcher pulling a consist of freight cars from S-Helper, American Models, and Downs Models
- A Union Pacific Mikado pulling a string of Union Pacific Pullman Heavyweights, all from American Flyer by Lionel
- The Southern Railroad Baldwin Work Train Set from American Flyer by Lionel
Framing the display was a loop of American Flyer FastTrack by Lionel running an S-Helper diesel switcher pulling a consist of S-Helper and American Models freight cars.
At the center rear of the booth were two of the club's modules with our newly-made step displays. The top step displayed Northerns Thru the Decades: 4-8-4 locomotives by Gilbert, Lionel Flyer, American Models, and Omcron. The second step displayed more recent steam locomotives: a Lionel Flyer Big Boy; an American Models Pacific; a Lionel Flyer Challenger; and an Omcron ____. The inner mainline displayed Diesels Thru the Decades: Gilbert Baldwin and GP-7; Lionel Flyer GP-9, SD-9, and U33; and American Models ______ _____ & _____. The left side of the outer mainline displayed a model of the New York Central Train that brought the reflecting mirror of the 200-inch Mount Palomar telescope from New York to San Diego; this model was made by Jay Schwabe, a friend of the club, and is frequently on display at the Mount Palomar Observatory. The train on the right side of the outer mainline is the NASG work train, released between 2002 and 2006 as the Association's annual club car.