Essex Train Show 2009

The Essex Train Show 2009

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Another Essex train show has come and gone. We had a 16′ x 36′ setup this year with 20′ of staging in the center. The show was a huge success again. The layout ran the best it has at Essex, and our members all stepped up to help setup and tear down the layout. We ran a lot of trains and had a great time.

20090301-Essex-Layout-1

20090301-Essex-Layout-2

I’ll start off with a tour of the setup…

: This is HO Tower, originally built as a connection between a ‘free-mo’ style module and our three track system, it now serves as the entrance to the staging yard. Many members of the club have helped with scenery on this module, most recently, Geoff and Myles finished the station this year.

: All four of the original corner modules we built when the club started made the trip to Essex this year. This one was sceniced by a former member Bob.

: Oak Yard is a set of four modules owned and built by Fred Sr. and Fred Jr. and consists of an auto loading facility, car shop and intermodal terminal. This view highlights the intermodal terminal and container ship backdrop.

: The west end of Oak yard has a small automobile loading ramp and a car shop. Almost all the main line switches were replaced this year with larger hand built switches to help trains cross over more smoothly. The signals are also new this year.

: The potash plant is at the east end of Burden. The three modules that make up Burden were donated to the club by Bob and sceniced by various members of the club.

: A stamping and manufacturing plant occupies the west end of Burden. The building was donated by Ian D. and fixed up by Fred Jr.

: This corner, featuring an abandoned mine, was sceniced by Fred Jr. One day we may act on plans to re-open rail service to the facility… but we’ve been saying that for several years now!

: Rollin’ Hills is a group of two modules built by Ron G. The tracks swing to the rear of the modules through a pass in the hills with a small passenger station at the front. There are also Cattle and Coal loading tracks at the back.

: This corner was originally sceniced by Vic, but some of the buildings were replaced last year by the efforts of Ian, Fred Jr, and Carl, amoung others.

: Ridgeway is a club owned module with crossovers in one direction between all three tracks. This module has sceniced by various members of the club and normally has a grain elevator on it, but a small warehouse building was used this year.

: Jackson is a set of four modules owned by Curt H. and Paul Md. This is the east end, built by Paul, and the home of the B&O engine and shop facilities. The center portion of the modules is a small interchange yard.

: The west end, built by Curt, contains many small industries and the Jackson passenger station. This section forms the CN half of a B&O/CN interchange. Along with Oak yard, these are the oldest modules in the club, and were part of our first Essex show!

: This is another club owned module that was built and sceniced in about two weeks mainly by Ian and Myles when we realized the setup was short one module!

: Springfield Junction is the original club ‘filler’ module. It was built incase we ever had an odd number of modules show up. Now that the layout remains setup all the time, it is now serves an new purpose as one of the few passenger stations on the layout.

: Another original corner, this one was sceniced by Fred Jr and has the tracks passing through low rock cuts past a shallow lake.

: The last stop on this years tour is Hillside. It is the companion crossovers to Ridgeway and has a grain elevator and warehouse on it.

Here are some more photos of some of the modules:

Photos by Fred Jr.

And finally, some photos of some of the trains seen at Essex.

: Model By: Ian D. Photo By: Fred Jr.

: Model By: Paul Md. Photo By: Fred Jr.

: Model By: Paul Md. Photo By: Fred Jr.

: Model By: Fred Sr. Photo By: Fred Jr.

: Model By: Michael Photo By: Fred Jr.

: Model By: Mathew Photo By: Fred Jr.

: Model By: Fred Sr. Photo By: Fred Jr.

: Model By: Fred Sr. Photo By: Fred Jr.

: Model By: Fred Sr. Photo By: Fred Jr.

: Model By: Fred Sr. Photo By: Fred Jr.

: Model By: John J. Photo By: Fred Jr.

: Model By: Paul Md. & John J. Photo By: Fred Jr.

: Model By: Fred Jr. Photo By: Fred Jr.

: Model By: Fred Jr. Photo By: Fred Jr.

: Model By: Fred Jr. Photo By: Fred Jr.

: Model By: Fred Jr. Photo By: Fred Jr.

That’s another Essex Train Show in the books. Hope to see you at the show next year!