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Hello Tinplate world ...you've all seen , heard, read about the graying of the model train hobby and the best days are behind us ...you'd find no sign of those dire predictions at Milwaukee's Trainfest this past weekend ...some 20K + attended ...lots of families with many kids all fascinated by toy / model / scale trains . The show is heavily weighted for youth interaction ...hands on activities and the opportunity to run trains. Show has some 70+ layouts ... mostly HO ..then N , O , S , G/ 1gauge, Lego , and one Standard Gauge ...manned by SGMA. The center of the show has all the big and many small manufactures of trains and modeling supplies ... lots of historical societies and local clubs all with invites for new members to come join the fun. How one bridges from this show to your typical falling attendance buy/ sell show sparsely lined with the graying crowd is unknown. Make an opportunity to support your hobby .....there are lots of folks ( young and old) grateful to learn about your passion for trains. Plan on attending next year's Trainfest ...they are planning an expansion ( opposite of contraction) of the show due to the attendance of traveling layouts coming in from Europe and Asia ..... come and join us at the SGMA layout ..more hands the merrier .

check out some video links ... and photos ..

 

Cheers Carey 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftZAZF6hO6o

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDkWS0K2Rh0

 

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That bridge was spectacular!  And it was placed where you couldn't miss it when you entered the show from that end.  Our group just said "we will meet you at the great concrete arch bridge at X time."

Another great Trainfest is in the books.  This show just keeps getting better every year.

Art

Regarding my visit to TRAINFEST! Model RR Club of Milwaukee showing John and son Tony! Really glad to see that shot. Those two are great guys and strong supporters of the Club. This is the O scale Club that started it all, for those who do not know this. Charter members like A.C. Kalmbach, and Wm. K. Walthers; and I believe the once Mayor of Milwaukee to name a few. This is where it all began, and this is where standards were discussed and where the start of the NMRA came from. Visit the O scale Club when you are in Milwaukee. It is worth the stop. You will see a layout that has not changed a lot, they are  keeping things historical! The Club started at this location in 1937! And they are still there. And one of my ties to the Club was back in 1970 when I was able to purchase their 10 stall roundhouse and 28" turntable because they were planning on a larger complex to service a Members Big Boy, which never came to pass. This roundhouse was built before 1940!! I'll attach a photo of it on my layout that I am building; and I'll attach a photo of the roundhouse in it's first location on the Club layout. You will also note the outside third rail in this old photograph; and some of the pegs to hold the outside third rail are still located in my roundhouse, as I do not want to change too much of this historical piece. This winter we will be installing replacement stacks.  I was sorry I couldn't make their Open House on Saturday night of TRAINFEST; but next year I will return.  Jeff Haertlein former Milwaukeean and proud of it!

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Images (3)
  • Roundhouse at Milwaukee O Scale Club: Early shot of the house in the first location
  • Layout roundhouse work: My friend working on the roundhouse as we laid HO track down for the center rail for 3-rail operation
  • Roundhouse and Jeff: Me behind the house, mainly taken to show the size of this historical piece

Hello all ..thank you for your kind words ..the show is a wonderful place to see families interact with the trains ...

 

Tunkannock.....is just marvelous ...some 20' long in HO scale ....  brought back great memories of climbing it many moons ago ..

Green set is a Jerry Brown  Green Diamond .... 1983-4 ..rumored 3 - 4 were made before Jerry passed away.....it ran beautifully . 

Yes the bare diecast pieces were in the Lionel booth ... 

Bob you are going to need a few acres to set up the Smith round house ...

Jeff that is quite a round house ...see you next year at the Club layout ...  Yes Tony and his father have done a lot to bring the club back up .... they recently had over 2000 visitors during the Open Doors of Milwaukee event ...great exposure for the club, O scale and model trains in general ..  second year they were part of it ... 

 

Cheers Carey 

 

 

Carey Williams posted:

Hello all ..thank you for your kind words ..the show is a wonderful place to see families interact with the trains ...

 

Tunkannock.....is just marvelous ...some 20' long in HO scale ....  brought back great memories of climbing it many moons ago ..

Green set is a Jerry Brown  Green Diamond .... 1983-4 ..rumored 3 - 4 were made before Jerry passed away.....it ran beautifully . 

Yes the bare diecast pieces were in the Lionel booth ... 

Bob you are going to need a few acres to set up the Smith round house ...

Jeff that is quite a round house ...see you next year at the Club layout ...  Yes Tony and his father have done a lot to bring the club back up .... they recently had over 2000 visitors during the Open Doors of Milwaukee event ...great exposure for the club, O scale and model trains in general ..  second year they were part of it ... 

 

Cheers Carey 

 

 

Carey,

You are correct.  I will need "acres" of space!  But I have had the kits so long that I am tired of looking at them.  And I certainly have the time, so why not build something?  That said, I wonder how many SGMA modules I will need to display and use the assembled roundhouse and turntable at a SGMA show?

Bob Nelson

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