NorthernToddler had a wide-open schedule yesterday. When he was asked what it was that he wanted to do, he replied, "Go to a street fair." NorthernDaddy was a little at a loss; one, because he was caught unaware and wondered where that desire of Toddler's came from and, two, because there just aren't any street fairs to be found in Vermont in March. Trying to gloss over the whole street fair thing, Daddy suggested a visit to a Model Railroad Show at the Expo. Well, Toddler jumped on that idea like stink on a skunk - of course he wanted to see the trains!
The whole Northernclan hopped into the NorthernToddlerAdventureMobile and made tracks to the show. It turns out that one can find some very different people connected to the world of model railroading. NorthernDaddy commented on the high percentage of nerdy, pimply, just-plain-weird teenagers involved in operating the layouts. NorthernMommy was much, much nicer, and commented on the fact that there were many nice older retiree/grandfather types running trains. Toddler? Toddler didn't even realize that there were people running the trains! (Shows what Thomas the Train has done to the brains of little kids...)
It should have come as little suprise to NorthernDaddy, but there were a whole lot of model train layouts at this show. Tons of them. The layouts ranged from the very simple - short figure eight with an on/off switch to the complex - twelve trains on multiple tracks going every which way controlled by digital keypad radio transmitters that allowed the triggering of all sorts of accessories like smoke machines and Ferris Wheels. There was even a layout with a scale-sized functioning ski lift with gondolas -crazy!
There was a nice layout built with LEGO blocks - complete with a LEGO train that ran automatically. There was a second LEGO train layout that had more of a freight-handling theme. It even had a gantry crane for moving freight - very cool!
Of course, you-know-who made an appearance....
This is an example of the smallest commercially available model railroad. You can see the how small it is by comparing it the size of that guy's wristwatch. This thing is tiny! You could lay out a whole city to the scale of this train in about a three square-foot area (assuming you had super-incredible vision and a Lilliputian-sized toolkit!)
How did NorthernDaddy track down Mommy and Toddler? He just looked for the highest balloon in the room!
Give him a balloon and a button to push to make a train go 'round, and he will be the happiest boy in the world!
2 comments:
That Lilliputian set is known as z-scale. One summer during college (back 'home' where my parents had moved and I knew no one else), I attempted to make an N-scale setup (one size up). I got as far as laying and wiring track before I gave up. I don't think I'd have the patience for making all the scenery anyways.
Before my parents moved, my Dad had a multitrack O-scale latout taking up a third of the basement. I it fun to play with especially adding in the G.I. Joes. Now he just has his Lionels up on display.
Kevin,
We think the tiny set was actually T-scale (1:450). The thing was tiny! I agree with the making the scenery comment - no way I'd have the patience. That makes it all the more impressive when one sees a layout where the builder got it perfect...
As we were walking through the show, we had the thought to run a train track around the ceiling of Toddler's room. After more thought, we realized that would be a bad idea - he would be running trains all night, or having his stuffed animals riding around, or some other crazy thing....
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