A couple weeks ago I made it to The Model Train show - the annual train show put on by the Atlanta-area chapter of the National Model Railroad Association - the Piedmont Division.
Train shows are a heavenly combination all things trains: a railroadiana swap meet with hundreds of vendors, historical society booths, model railroads on display, and tons of railfans of all ages. Here's the Piedmont Division's online trailer for the event:
At this point train shows are also great opportunities for me to run into old friends. I ran into a great friend and ally from my time in the mining industry, years ago already. We'd found our shared love for trains that was revealed when I came to work with him on one of the top floors of a 15 or so story office building in Tucker, Georgia, that directly overlooked the CSX mainline that connects New Orleans and Washington DC. It was such a treat to run into him.
I also hung out with some old pals from the Central of Georgia Railway Historical Society That booth is the ultimate treasure trove of historical information, model railroading items, and railfan gear for friends and fans of the Central of Georgia.
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Here's a great little layout from the booth of a vendor of model railroad scenery supplies and tools. It was great - stuffed with details and little scenes all the way around, everywhere you looked.
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This Central of Georgia RS-3 is making time with a short freight train on the Georgia Garden Railway Society's club display. That Aristocraft locomotive is a unique item, a special run that was made when Aristocraft sponsored a train show in Georgia several years ago.
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Best of all, I picked up a pair of Bachmann "North Star Express" Christmas coaches from the Piedmont Division's white elephant table for $15 each! These will look great running on the Tallulah Falls with a figure of Santa to ride on the back platform and a gondola car filled with wrapped presents.
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BONUS:
Here's a nice showcase of club layouts from the 2011 NMRA show. Be sure to check out the amazing military troop and equipment train that lumbers past for more than a minute starting at 1:18 in eye-popping Large Scale.
