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Gallery: Events: Shows: 21st September 2002

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	REPORT OF SECOND NBLTC TRAIN SHOW – SOUTHPORT LEGO SHOW ON 21st SEPTEMBER 2002 (by Jon Reynolds) INTRODUCTION This was to be our second public show which was also part of the Southport Lego Show (organized on a fairly regular basis by Michael Pratt). There was a variety of displays and traders stands and with the reputation of previous shows drawing the public in we were expecting a busy day. SETTING UP Setting up commenced on the Friday night before the show so the opportunity was taken to part-assemble the entire layout's 8 modules with additional scenery and help arriving in the morning. There were extra exhibitors this time so we were shunted into an additional room which we had all to ourselves. We finished the assembly on time (!) as we had learnt some lessons from the previous show and built the modules using standard geometry. The overall layout used 8 modules forming a ring approx 4m x 2.5m (13ft x 8ft 6) with the two bridges joining the front and rear run of 3 modules each. Tony brought his recently built controller shelf which proved successful and allowed full use of the module surfaces for scenery. An information board was placed along the front to accompany the flyers which were forced onto the public by a visiting Dutch Security officer! LAYOUT DESCRIPTION It had to be a double track main line tailchaser of course. Along the front we placed Tony's station with it's impressive glazed canopy (we are taking bets on whether or not it will actually keep out rain). The station was provided with a passing loop on each main line so we could park trains in view of the public. At one end of the station, the track curved through a deep cutting featuring a safely isolated telephone mast stuck above a clump of trees and out across my widened 'Runcorn' bridge. The area under the bridge was in a bit of a time-warp with a working Lego 1960s battery train and one or two age related accessories. At the other end of the bridge, the track curved again and ran through a working remote- controlled barrier level crossing which was straddled by a signal gantry with 4 semaphore upper quadrant arms (three remote controlled). Unfortunately, the barriers could not keep up with the frequent passing of trains and prototypically, the trains also ran through signals at 'Danger'. Next to the crossing, Mark Palmer (NBLTC member) had lent us his excellent water tower for use on the layout but the only available space was on the main line! Needless to say, main line electric express trains rushing past this feature would have been frowned on by traditional railway modellers so just to upset them even more, we added a water crane between the tracks (offered by visiting Dutchman, Manfred Moolhuysen) Outside the water tower we had a complex of points leading to David's 3 road engine shed, the two main lines passing on the outer edge of the module. The engine shed was of the 'through' type which added additional interest the corner section beyond This was very popular – a row of Coronation St house backs complete with Satellite dishes. By an amazing coincidence, David had also built a telephone mast at the opposite corner to Tony's and they even looked similar – but why no fried heads on the Minifigs? After passing a football game in the park, the tracks crossed the infamous 'Canyon' section on David's double track bridge. This section was a treat to the eyes – deep canyon, river, road, house etc. all completely covered with Lego. It demonstrates the standard we should all be aiming for and is every bit as good at the sections we see on the American layouts. It also showed that a low section offers younger children (or someone in a wheelchair) a chance to enjoy the detail close-up. Rounding the curve back into the station, we found room to squeeze on the second loaned building – Michael LeCount's residential tower block. This 'monstrous carbuncle' stands 10 storeys high and was one of a pair (the other having been spectacularly destroyed by Michael in a LegoVille planning dispute). For added realism during the show, the Tardis and three Daleks materialized on the plant room roof. OPERATIONS Having two main running loops allowed us to always keep trains running save for the occasional mis-hap due to…um..Railtrack. Numerous trains were operated. Tony debuted his class 24, Manfred provided a mix of his own designs and some commercially available through Milton Train Works, Carolina Train Builders and BrickWorx, Mark Palmer loaned us his neat GWR 0-6-0, My class 37 and A4 almost stayed on the track and we even had David's 11-car Metroliner running – there was no shortage with Manfred eagerly placing new stock on the same track as a hurtling goods train! . All the controllers were manned by the operators – no members of the public having a go this time, which made things a lot easier and allowed a little time to chat but it still required concentration with two trains in operation. There was no fiddle yard as such, we just changed the trains unashamedly in full view of the public. Although the trains were staying on the track for most of the time, it was amazing how many Minifigs threw themselves onto the rails with disastrous results. The perpetrator has since been discovered and will be banned from playing trains at the next show! FEEDBACK The time flew by but we did have some interesting conversations with the public. I recall the main question was "How long does it take to build all this?" but there was also a Structural Engineer who asked several questions regarding the bridge constructions. Compared with the last Southport show, there noticeably more visitors which was encouraging and we even were accosted by the local lens-happy newspaper reporter. CONCLUSION Southport demonstrated the way to efficient set-up and running. We had standards in place which were largely followed, a track plan which we stuck to and above all else, we all knew what was being built on the next module. This eased a speedy assembly – even with more scenery and stock we had the layout up and running a lot quicker this time. We have now climbed a little higher up the learning curve in readiness for the next show (please see events page). In fact, the biggest menace was ourselves – playing trains whilst we should have been entertaining the public!

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