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Springfield Train Show Pictures

January 24, 25, 2009

Springfield Train Show

While at the Springfield train show last weekend I took a few pictures, well, 650 to be precise.  I narrowed that down to 50 or 60 of the more interesting ones, which I will post here.

This is a collection of what I saw and did at the show.  There is much I missed, as this is a huge show and covers lots of space.  When I did manage to get away from our booth, I took a few pictures.  All the images are clickable for a larger version.  If you are on a slower connection it is best to wait until the entire page has loaded.

Enjoy.

Springfield Train Show

Springfield Train Show

We got there early on Friday morning.  I really wanted to beat the set up rush, plus I was hoping for some time to wander around.  When we set up we were pretty much the only ones there.

Here, Clark and I are setting up some of the track on my layout.

Springfield Train Show

Springfield Train Show

Springfield Train Show

Doing a bit of socializing while setting up.  Talking here with the owner of Allied Model Trains in California.  One of the nicest people you will ever meet.

Springfield Train Show

The Bronx Terminal all set up.  This goes quite quick, takes about 45 minutes.  Currently.

Springfield Train Show

Around this time all the other vendors and displays were starting to show up.  This layout, in the back of a pickup, started out as a summer scene.

Springfield Train Show

Fast Tracks booth all set up, ready for the hordes.

Springfield Train Show

With the booth all set up, I did a bit of a walkabout.  Not far from us was Scenic Express, their booth was very interesting to browse.  Lots of scenic stuff, mostly O scale, and very cool.  They must have set up very early as it was completely up when we arrived.

Springfield Train Show

Springfield Train Show

Springfield Train Show

Springfield Train Show

Springfield Train Show

Springfield Train Show

This O scale brass lift bridge model was built in 1938!  Could be as old as the prototype.

Springfield Train Show

Springfield Train Show

Hundreds of bugs

Springfield Train Show

Springfield Train Show

Springfield Train Show

Springfield Train Show

The cows seem to be enjoying the show.

Springfield Train Show

I thought they were going to use these instead of golf carts to get around.  They didn’t.

Springfield Train Show

The Dry Hill club modular layout.  A very impressive set up with a HUGE yard, capacity for several hundred cars.  This modern layout was very well modeled, they managed to capture the look of this scene perfectly.  Don’t think I have seen roads accurately modeled, but they managed to do it right.

Springfield Train Show

Springfield Train Show

Springfield Train Show

Clever…

Springfield Train Show

Springfield Train Show

They were kind enough to set up tents between the four buildings.  Saved people from having to walk outside.  They were nice deep freezers.

Springfield Train Show

A nicely lit model.

Springfield Train Show

The required fire scene on every layout.

Springfield Train Show

Springfield Train Show

Springfield Train Show

A very nice collection of vehicles for sale.  I was surprised to see at the end of the show that not too many had been sold.  I thought $45 each was pretty reasonable.

Springfield Train Show

Early Saturday, the crowds arrived.

Springfield Train Show

Clark, Terry and Andy showing off the tools.  Clark froze, every time the front doors opened we got a blast of frozen air.

Springfield Train Show

Springfield Train Show

Some of the crowd early Saturday.  This was one of four buildings.

Springfield Train Show

A few people having a look at the layout.

dsc_2816

Ted(?) Lew White, from Tony’s Trains Exchange had a great model of CNJ 1000, the oil electric locomotive that worked the CNJ Bronx Terminal for several decades.  He was kind enough to let me display it on the layout during the show.  Its very well done, painted correctly and had a DCC sound decoder installed.

Springfield Train Show

Springfield Train Show

I left my brass loco with one of the installers from Tony’s, he will be installing a sound decoder in it for me.

Springfield Train Show

A good summary of the mood.

Springfield Train Show

Me photographing Clark photographing me photographing him.

Springfield Train Show

Back to the Dry Hill layout.  This time with rolling stock.

Springfield Train Show

A great model from Seaport Model Works

I bought one for the layout, looking forward to getting started on it!

Springfield Train Show

Springfield Train Show

Its the Turbo Tree!

Thanks Turbo Tree!

The Narragansett Bay Railway & Navigation Company.  A fantastic On30 modular layout.

Springfield Train Show

Springfield Train Show

Springfield Train Show

Springfield Train Show

Springfield Train Show

Springfield Train Show

Springfield Train Show

It took a while to realize why I liked this layout so much.  It was because they have used Fast Tracks turnouts!  I thought I recognized the design of the ties.  I drew them.

Springfield Train Show

Springfield Train Show

Springfield Train Show

With the show over, and 19,200 people through the buildings, we started the tear down.  With all the extra help we had, this was done in less than an hour!

Springfield Train Show

Springfield Train Show

We all decided to have dinner after the show at a local Mexican restaurant.  A good time was had by all.  Jean and Dan from Rapido Trains joined us for dinner, their table was right next to us at the show.

Springfield Train Show

They are making guacamole fresh at the table,  very tasty!

That pretty much wrapped up the show, except for the 7 hour drive back home.  The drive was uneventful and boring….

Springfield Train Show

There was a long reunion with the dogs upon our arrival late Monday night.  All was right with the world.

-T.


About the Author:

I'm your host, Tim Warris, a product developer in Port Dover, Ontario. Since March of 2007 I have been documenting the construction of the former CNJ Bronx Terminal in HO scale. For my day job, I design track building tools for Fast Tracks, a small company I own and operate. Fast Tracks makes it fast and easy to hand lay your own trackwork. Stop by our website to learn more!

Posted by: Tim | 01-27-2009 | 11:01 PM
Posted in: Latest Posts | Next Show

6 Comments »

  1. Thanks for the photos. (In exchange, here’s my set: http://www.earlyrail.org/Springfield09). I’m very sorry to say that somehow I missed visiting your booth…

    dave

    Comment by David Emery — January 28, 2009 @ 11:27 am
  2. Nice photos guys ,wish i was there maybe next year ,thats looks like a real train show compared to a fla show ,which are lame..##########

    Comment by lazerman — January 29, 2009 @ 4:46 am
  3. Nice photos, Tim. Brings back nice memories of my first visit to the show last year. After I retire next year, I may rent a van and make a party of it and come up with some friends. Glad to see your Mexican did not have one of those “seasonal” liquor licenses (2 of the 3 we patronized did).

    JT

    Comment by John Teichmoeller — January 29, 2009 @ 6:22 am
  4. Your trackage products and Layout are absolutely amazing!I was really happy to see(over the many shoulders!)the Bronx river/Harlem river layout.Being in O-scale I spend quite a bit of time wondering if I should switch to HO as the Rail-marine products are so Available.Do you make any trackage for O-scale?
    I want to thank you for the Springfield photo documentation,I did Not have a camera with me.
    It really was a pleasure to see your work.

    Comment by Pierre Marki — January 29, 2009 @ 11:13 am
  5. Fabulous photos – loved the over-water turntable, and the Tomato Patch. Now I’m trying to think where I can put similar features.

    Comment by Jeff Law — January 29, 2009 @ 10:11 pm
  6. Great photos Tim. Thanks for taking the time to put them up.

    Comment by Shane — January 30, 2009 @ 5:38 am

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