2001 NMRA CONVENTION
St. Louis, Missouri

These photos were taken at the 2001 NMRA convention in St. Louis, MO.  All photos copyright 2001 Len and Carol VanderJagt, used with permission.  Click on a photo to see it full-size; the photos range from 53K - 135K in size.  More close up photos can be seen here.

According to Len, "The backdrops were 'sliced & diced' to camoflage the repeat, and buildings cut out and pasted on with artists board to give more layers of depth.

"The trees are created by Carol from scratch, and also from Neal (Neal's N-gauging Trains). Micro Engineering code 55 track on the mains, code 40 in the yard and station tracks. All are now wired for DCC.

"The modules are meant to evoke New York State's Southern Tier, along the Erie Lackawanna, with a melding of farmland to the west, Gang Mills (the engine facility), and Corning (the city).

"In technical terms, the scene is 'prototype inspired', but still 'freelance'. e.g. this scene never really existed, but all of the parts did, on the EL.

"The signs are Bar Mill's, and Art Fahey spent quite a bit of time with us (Mr. BM). I guess you could mention that the signals are prototypical and operating, including diverging indications at West Interlocking and Manunka Thunk Tunnel. The positioning of the signals is prototypically correct, and between you and me, that is rare on a model.

"(The Lackawanna had Manunka Chunk Tunnel, not far from my home, but I hit my head on the underside of the module putting in the track, so.....An alternate story is that that signal system and interlocking took a lot of thinking - I thunk and thunk about it.)

"The name of the Award is officially the ConCor Award - this is its 26th year, so I guess it's the 26th CCA. We got lucky! They don't repeat the award, so maybe we were 26th best!!!!"

Len and Carol greet ConCor President Jim Conway.

  The west end of town & the station.

The view from the old abandoned right-of-way.

The station complex, engine terminal, and interchange yard.

Len and Carol pose with their layout.

"The Big Picture", all 12 feet

Closer view of the station and city.

The west end Interlocking, with operating signals.

Westerly view, toward the Interlocking and Mununka Thunk Tunnel.

It's the 60's, and the town & RR are in decline, but the view is great!

N-Trak founder Jim FitzGerald taking photos of the layout for a future edition of the club publication.

More close up photos can be seen here.

Contents Copyright © 2001-2004 LaNTrak.