NMRA 2005
Attendees
- Scott Sanburn
- Stefan Garcia
- Victoria Garcia
- Tony Hedglen
- Grace Hedglen
- Amy Hughes
- Chad Smith
NMRA 2005
Attendees
Report
We got in at about 12:30 on Wednesday, checked in at the hotel, and went over to the convention center. After negotiating traffic, we secured passes, unloaded, and waited around with Paul J. while the other merchants took their sweet time unloading. Larry P. and Troy C. got in and unloaded, and were quickly shooed back out by Paul. Indylug arrived and we helped them unload. Eventually Scott arrived, then Amy, and Chris L for MichLUG. Scott's tables were unloaded and thanks to our new extra large tables, we had the tables set up while MichLUG (who arrived an hour later) was just starting to get unloaded. Portions of CUT, RTL, GFLTC, and CoLTC arrived. By the end of setup at 6, a good half of the layout was set up. Half of our (Michiana-LUG's) layout was complete, and we all headed over to the hotel. We agreed to meet back in the lobby at 7, where we would pick a spot to go eat. After some debate and much walking, Chris L. spotted a Big Boy in the distance, and needless to say, that's where we went. After a very good dinner, several of us decided to go over to the real CUT and see it. We'd hoped to get inside, but it was already closed. We spent some time with the builders of the Lego version telling us about the different details, and by the end all of us were quite eager to see the Lego version which was then lying in several crates back at the convention center. We all walked back to the Ramada and split up to go to our various rooms.
The next morning our group convened in the lobby around 8:30 to eat breakfast at the hotel. We all piled into Scott's Tahoe, and took a decidely scenic route around to the convention center. We got there and after snooping around for a parking spot for some time, piled back out and went inside. Many of the clubs were already hard at work, and we set about finishing our area up. All the areas except for Amy's were done by about 2, while the rest of the huge layout slowly took shape. Soon enough we all started getting hungry, and after a bit of debate, settled on the nearest Cracker Barrel. After much adventuring and wondering if we'd have to push the Tahoe, we reached the Cracker Barrel and settled down to a nice big lunch. It was more adventures as Scott tried to manuever his Tahoe into the gas station. It'd been well over an hour, so we headed back to the center to see how things were coming along. Things, it turned out, were coming along quite well. CoLTC had erected a full downtown as had MichLUG. In the distance, Indylug's and CoLTC's mountains towered above the lower sections of the layout. GFLTC had a fair sized downtown situated at the edge of RTL's modern cityscape. Amy settled down and finished off her section, and Tony and Scott set about testing trains. The day passed, and at 7 we headed back to the hotel. Most everyone else was still setting up, and shortly after we arrived back at the Ramada, Paul called saying he'd pushed the social back one hour to give everyone some extra time. Well, apparently they didn't need THAT much extra time, because when we got down there there was already a full room. We found seats, and Paul and Steve Barile gave some speeches about how things were going. Paul was awarded a BNSF locomotive for his efforts, and rightly so. John N. also distributed the ILTCO shirts, which are very snazzy. We decided to wear them tomorrow, and club shirts the day after. The pizza arrived and we commenced chowin' down. Once the pizza was distributed the group dispersed rather quickly. Scott, Tony, Chad and I went up to scott's room to play Burnout 3: Takedown.
The next morning we met for breakfast, along with Chris L. and Lester witter. The all of us headed out and got to the center to find everyone prepping for the first public day. Soon enough all the trains were running, with only a few minor wrecks throughout the morning. Eventually, we found out a nearby vendor was selling Lego, and at 15% off no less. Needless to say, we gave them a few sales. When the day ended, we went out to Cracker Barrel again and hit a Target and Wal-Mart along the way. The Wal-Mart clearances were pathetic, but target yielded a few half off sets. Arriving back at the hotel, we were all very tired, and went to sleep to prepare for the next day.
Arriving about 10 minutes before the door opened, we waited around for a while, chatting with Ondrew Hartigan. Once the trains were running, I got my last loops of video track, and then dumped the files so I could go take pictures of the rest of the layouts and mine them for ideas. About halfway through the day, MichLUG decided to take issue with Michiana-LUG's secession, and launched an invasion across our baseplates. Michiana-LUG mustered it's two aircraft in retaliation. The rest of the day proceeded quickly, and before we knew it, it was time to leave. The same two people who hosted the ILTCO social were hosting a party that night, and they had passed around flyers with directions to their house. Scott didn't want to go, so he, Mom and I, Tony and Grace, David K., and Chad went to eat at bob evans. Afterwards, Chad, Mom, and I went to the party while Scott, Tony, Grace and David went back to the hotel to relax. The party was a blast, everyone had a lot of fun, especially during the pass the brick game. While that was happening, one person from the other clubs went around and pulled a representative of each club off to the side. We went outside, and were led to his trunk, where he pulled out 3 free pieces of the lego. Those free pieces were a 4561, a Santa Fe, and a Stakebed Flatcar. Needless to say, we were all thrilled. Later, we went back inside, and set up my laptop so people could watch the vids I took. Billy put them up on his home network, and piped them through the TV, which was very cool to watch. Once the vids finished, most of us went home.
The next morning we went downstairs for breakfast, and left to find a parking spot at the center. We started up the trains and prepared for the last day of the show. The last day passed rather quickly and uneventfully. Towards the end of the day, several people had a little fun with the trains, putting different items onto the trains or motors and letting them whiz around. Eventually, 5 o clock rolled around, and anxious to get home we started packing things up. While anxious to reach home, we were all sad to see the 2005 NMRA Show come to an end. It was a great time for all, and Philadelphia and Detroit may see more L-Gauge layouts.
Thanks
Paul Janssen - For coordinating the show.
Everyone who attended and helped with the show.
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