Cooperation 'N' Success: the Capital City N'gineers
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MARCH 2011 Volume 1 • Issue 9 www.trainfest.com Cooperation ‘N’ Success: The Capital City N’Gineers What’s Inside The Capital City N’Gineers have become a regular fi xture at Milwaukee’s annual Trainfest. There’s good reason for it too! If Memory Serves... Their dedication to the local event is extraordinary and their regularly displayed ability to provide a high quality layout has PG 3 even earned them additional presentation space. From the Caboose In 2010, the club was granted the space at Trainfest to PG 4 present a 48’x20’ oval-shaped layout. We recently spoke with Gary Seymour, Layout Coordinator for the Capital City Kitbashing with Al Crisp N’Gineers, and he explained what the N’Gineers are doing today, what they have done to get there, and what they PG 6 have planned for the future. Seymour’s Lifelike The current layouts presented by the Capital Scenery Tips City N’Gineers will vary from a 20’x40’ oval- PG 12 shaped layout to a 30’x50’ U-shaped layout, depending on the Train Adventure PG 11 see CAPITAL CITY, page 5 Trainfest Infl uences Product Development PG 14 40th Anniversary Logo Unveiled PG 15 Eric Meyer’s WW II modules. Expands to two-day show and Trainfest starts as a single day model 1974 moves to the 11,000 sq. ft. Family railroading show on 6th St. 1972 Living Center at WI State Fair Park. 1978 Moves to north half of the South Exhibit Hall at WI State Expands to cover the Fair Park to expand display area to 21,000 sq. ft. 1976 entire South Exhibit Hall—42,000 sq. ft. 1986 Expands to include the 1991 Show moves into the Family Living Center Trainfest grows into the North Exhibit Hall featuring a canvas tent East and North Exhibit occupying 67,000 sq. ft. 1997 heated walk-way to Halls with 75,000 sq. ft. connect it with the North of exhibit space. and East Halls providing 86,000 sq. ft. Trainfest takes over North, 1999 South and East Exhibit Halls—117,000 sq. ft. Achieves another record Trainfest is the first weekend attendance with 23,467 persons show to exhibit in the newly 2010 marking the 9th consecutive year opened WI Expo Center with now 2002 Trainfest is largest weekend event 200,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space! held at WI Expo Center. 2011 Trainfest celebrates 40th Anniversary! nfes i ® 40 Y t a NG EA TI R r A S R T B E L E C • O G F IN 40 D M O OA DEL RAILR 2 We’ve asked Trainfest Committee If Memory Serves and Wisconsin Southeastern (WISE) By Richard Cecil Division Board Members to answer “Remember When Trainfest…?” I attended my fi rst Trainfest (then known as an “Open Over the next few issues, House”) in 1975. At the time we’ll share their memories. I thought it would be nice to introduce the hobby to two of my sons in hopes they might get as interested in model display. What a mess. Fortunately, we were successful in railroading as I had been as stopping the roof demo, but not before it ruined a white a child. To that extent, it did leather coat of one of Walther’s employees. the job – I was back in model When you’ve been active with an organization for nearly railroading…and I haven’t four decades as I have, there are some shining moments stopped since! which make you proud. One such for me was after the The very next year I participated in the show as a 1985 NMRA National Convention when I was elected volunteer, taking tickets and doing odd jobs. Before I Superintendent (aka President) of the local NMRA division knew it, I was a member of the National Model Railroad (WISE). That in itself is an honor which makes me smile. (NMRA) Division Board of Directors and an integral part But it’s what I was able to accomplish while Superintendent in planning the event. which make me extremely happy to this day. As the show grew in popularity, we kept adding exhibit Before we knew what was happening, large amounts of space by moving to different locations at Wisconsin State dirt, dried asphalt and “who knows what” was raining Fair Park. From the Family Living Center to taking part of down on the Walther’s display. What a mess. the old South Exhibit Hall to more of it, changing to the North Hall, adding the East Hall – it fi nally culminated in My “day job” at that time was working with the City of taking the entire Expo Hall (which is only about 60% of Milwaukee Division of Economic Development. As part of the space we use today). Each move meant new plans my responsibilities, I was involved in the naming, launching and logistics…but it was worth it. and growing of the great music festival, Summerfest. Taking a page of what I knew from those activities and what the Back then volunteers didn’t go hungry thanks to the wife vision was for the “City of Festivals” as Milwaukee was ® of a Director who made Sloppy Joes in a Nesco and then known, an event name was everything. So one of my various sweets for dessert. She knew we couldn’t work earliest initiatives as Superintendent was to suggest that we on an empty stomach. needed a catchier name than “Open House.” I suggested that we call the show Trainfest. It was embraced. After Early on, we did not have the sit-down dinner that we now all, Trainfest was, and is, as much a Milwaukee tradition enjoy with the many folks who help put on Trainfest: the as Summerfest. organizing crew, the volunteers, layout operators, hobby dealers, and manufacturers. (Truth be told, there just wasn’t Having the honor of naming Trainfest is just one of the enough room in the old Expo Hall to even contemplate a many wonderful experiences I’ve had in the nearly 40 years sit-down dinner.) Back then volunteers didn’t go hungry of working with the event. The memories continue to serve thanks to the wife of a Director who made Sloppy Joes in me well. It’s been a ball and the time spent has been a a Nesco® and various sweets for dessert. She knew we worthy investment. It’s a great hobby and the friendships I couldn’t work on an empty stomach. have developed are priceless. As with any large endeavor, there were always problems Richard Cecil has been a member of the Wisconsin and challenges, but none were insurmountable. There were Southeastern (WISE) Division Board of Directors” off a few that came close. The one that comes to mind was and on” for nearly 30 years and an active Trainfest when a roofi ng company started to remove the roof of the volunteer since 1976. old Exhibit Hall during our set-up day. Before we knew what Share your Trainfest memory with us, email editor@ was happening, large amounts of dirt, dried asphalt and trainfest.com “who knows what” was raining down on the Walther’s 3 Don’t forget to visit trainfest.com for up-to- the-moment information on Trainfest 2011 Trainfest From the make sure to get your tickets early as Caboose we expect to sell out. (Remember tickets Sponsoring Publisher are limited to the first 200; and include Wisconsin Southeastern exclusive admittance to the manufacturers Thank you again for making Trainfest (WISE) Division, Inc., NMRA display area, a special catered dinner, 2010 the best attended Trainfest ever with and admission tickets for both Saturday 23,476 attendees. In fact, because of you, Publisher and Sunday.) we broke all time single day attendance John H. Tews, MMR records on both Saturday and Sunday. Tickets for Trainfest 2011 Friday [email protected] Product Showcase are at the printer. When Trainfest started in 1972, it was You can purchase them direct from a dream to have so many people enjoying Contributing Editors Trainfest starting in June or at your local the show. Now it’s come true. This makes Joshua Hoppert hobby store as listed on our website. planning the 40th Anniversary of Trainfest Bonnie Topczewski even more special. Plans are well underway. While waiting for the next Trainfest in Dan Collins Some manufacturers are working on November, visit the WISE Division’s free Jody Delie special commemorative items – it’ll be fun monthly model railroad meets. You can to see what they come up with! find a list of dates on the Wise Division Newsletter Design, website at www.wisedivision.org. Web & Advertising We will be getting a sneak peek of what Mercury Communication In the spirit of model railroading, and how manufacturers are going to Partners, LLC Clear Signals Always, celebrate the 40th Anniversary at our 262-782-4637 special Friday Product Showcase event. www.mercuryww.com Traditionally we hear comments like: “it John was really great to be able to spend time John H. Tews, MMR Photos Contributed by with the manufacturers without the push of Executive Director–Trainfest Bill Hambly the weekend crowds” and “the food was Ruth Johnson great” (special catered Friday supper) and Trainfest EXPRESS is sent free via “it was really nice to see the new products email as a PDF and can be seen on the and talk about future product ideas.” This Trainfest website in an interactive, online Let us know your thoughts year, we expect to hear more about the paging-style format.