I'm putting this thread in the "Layouts" category as most of the pictures are of layouts. There will be a section on the contest room as well. I'm doing the layouts in the order I saw them and hopefully can match the layout names/owners correctly with the pictures. Some will have just a few, some have many, depends on what interested me at the time. These were taken with an iPhone which has a poor depth of field. Don't expect professional pictures like some people make (I'm looking at you, Jaime).
Jeff
The first layout is an N scale one of Collin Sullivan. It is the Minneapolis North Western.
Next up was the North Metro Model Railroad Club layout. It was HUGE. This is the view on entering the layout, which was in the basement of a large building.
It's great to have you back as the 'official event photographer'!!
dave
Thanks, Dave.
This station was an impressive scratchbuild with a long set of tracks for the passenger trains, but the camera really doesn't show that.
Jeff
I had to comment to the engineer that they must have been expecting me as this train was all tank cars (my favorite rolling stock) headed by a set of CB&Q FTs.
I take pics of other stuff on the layout. Things like their switch layouts, and this cup holder made from PVC pipe with a big screw in the lower end.
Jeff
A few pictures showing this yard and staging tracks. i think this was about 60 feet long.
This was a cool ore dock, unfortunately, it's almost on the floor and the supports ruin the illusion.
Jeff
Some interesting bridges/trestles.
A few last shots including an interior of a building built on the edge of the layout.
Jeff
Jeff, thanks for the pictures.
They are very good.
I'm always amazed at the detail on some N scale layouts.
That basement layout is huge.
Great modeling on all these layouts.
Jeff, great photos, lots of inspiration there.
Thanks for "putting us there", Dr. Jeff.
I trust it was a good convention. Is the next one at Hickory, NC?
Thanks for looking in, Ron and Rick. There are more pics coming.
Yes, Jaime, the next one is in Hickory, NC.
Jeff
The next road is the Santa Maria Valley Industrial railroad of Michael Jordan (not THAT one).
And a few more.
This next layout was my favorite of all the tours. The San Juan Del Oro by Eduardo Romo. It is HO/HOn3. The detail and finishes/scenery were incredible. The pictures don't do it justice. I think it's like the F&SM was done in the desert. It's a line in southern Arizona and northern Mexico. There are a LOT of pics.
More
More
More
Some more.
more
More, or should I say mas? ;D
More
More
Almost there...
A couple more. Again, this was my favorite of the tours and so there were a lot of pics. The details were incredible. I really liked the burro train a couple of posts back.
Jeff
Thanks for posting all the wonderful photos Jeff. Looks like you had a really busy time.
Plenty of talent on show. Cheers.
Jeff, I'm enjoying seeing your pictures and all the great modeling.
Thank you.
A mule team is one of those "more common on prototype than models", particularly for mining towns.
The overall color and presentation of that layout is outstanding!
dave
Outstanding Jeff. Thanks for taking the the time to share all these great scenes. I just found this thread. :-\
Jeff
Thank you for posting the photographs. I canceled the reservations while I was sitting in the Phenix, AZ airport for 12 hours waiting for a flight. I will be driving to Hickory and those that follow. Can you give us an update on future locations for the convention?
Glad you guys like them.
John, missed seeing you at the convention. The next four are Hickory, Denver, Nashville and Kansas City.
Jeff
The last layout I saw on Wednesday was the HO scale Central Minnesota and Southern of Kirk Juergens.
The house in the foreground has an HO scale layout in it's basement. He did mention it was non functional. I said with nano machines maybe it could be in the future. The "M" on the wall is for the Minnesota Gophers, I told the owner an Iowa Hawkeye symbol would look better. ;D
More pictures
This train wreck scene was pretty cool.
More
The last two.
The first tour on Thursday was the HO scale Bona Vista railroad of Gerry Leone. Double deck with a large helix. This layout was one hour from the hotel, there were a few in Wisconsin that were an hour and a half away. I didn't visit those.
Jeff
I often take a picture of their workbench area for ideas. This one was pretty well done. Lots of storage and an airbrush booth on top. I also liked the pleated layout skirting. Makes it look more finished (and hides anything below).
More
More
More. View of the helix. And I had to get a pic of the CB&Q reefer.
More. I really liked the graffiti on the bridge.
The final five. Great work on the transition between the backdrop and layout.
Next up is the Puffer Bridge Lines in HO scale by Seth Puffer. This was an excellent layout with many craftsman kits and details. His use of background flats was well done as well. There are a lot of pictures as this was another of my favorites on the tours.
Jeff
more
more
The fourth pic is his version of the FSM Jeffries Stave and Heading I started last year that still isn't finished. ::)
More. Again the use of the background flats really uses the available real estate well.
More
more
More
Almost there...
Final two pics. This was a wonderfully done layout. I told the owner this is what I aspire my layout to look like.
Jeff
Anyone else not seeing the photo previews in the post?
Quote from: chris.mincemoyer on September 12, 2026, 04:30:43 PMAnyone else not seeing the photo previews in the post?
It's a common problem in forum software packages (not just this one!) that photos often take 10-15 minutes or more before they show up in-line in a post.
dave
It's weird. I just came to this page and the last 10 didn't show. I hit refresh and 9 of them appeared, then hit it again and they all show up.
Jeff
Quote from: Zephyrus52246 on September 13, 2026, 10:40:19 AMIt's weird. I just came to this page and the last 10 didn't show. I hit refresh and 9 of them appeared, then hit it again and they all show up.
Jeff
Yeah, it's some strangeness in how forum software renders photos when drawing a webpage. But as I've observed, forum software packages in general seem to be rather poorly designed.
dave
This layout is the S scale Minnesota Heartland Centralsota railroad of Ken Zieska.
More
More
More
Last pictures of this layout.
Next up is an HO CB&Q layout, so of course I had to visit it. The CB&Q River division by Dave Hamilton.
Jeff
The first pic is a scratchbuilt model of the CB&Q LaCrosse Station.
The walls were covered with items like this old calendar. He stated he had acquired all them from the 20s thru the merger.
The last two pics show his swinging door to get into the layout.
Jeff
My last layout on Thursday was the HO Scale Minneapolis & Northland of Lester Breuer. I often take pictures of the layout front and how the builder uses car cards, etc.
Jeff
more
And two more. Next will be Friday's tours and then the Contest room and layouts at the convention hall.
Jeff
Jeff, thank you.
Keep'em coming.
I'm glad you're enjoying them, Rick.
My leadoff on Friday's tour was the Twin City Model Railroad Museum in St. Paul. This large Lego layout and figure greets you on entering.
Jeff
There were many layouts here, i didn't count them, but they range from Lego to Z. Many of the displays like the Lionel one had buttons to operate some of the famous Lionel working accessories.
Jeff
This wall had several layouts on it.
Jeff
In the center was a large Hi Rail layout.
Jeff
In all, it was a pretty cool place. It was more for kids, but we're all just big kids, right? ;D I think my grandson would spend a whole day here. The last pic is a dog transporter. I don't think our dog would like it very well.
Jeff
Next up is the HOn3/HOn30 Colorado and Rio Grande Southern of Dick Jorgensen.
more
More
More
More
The last two.
Jeff
Quote from: Zephyrus52246 on September 13, 2026, 10:40:19 AMIt's weird. I just came to this page and the last 10 didn't show. I hit refresh and 9 of them appeared, then hit it again and they all show up.
Jeff
Jeff
It took three refreshes but I got them all to show up. Thank you so much for posting these pictures.
Next up is the HO scale Missabe Northern Railway of Jeff Otto. This layout is HUGE. These first pics show some of the sidings will hold a bunch of cars.
Jeff
The layout is designed for operation. I often take pics of how the owner does car cards, shelving, etc.
Some idea of the size.
I visited this layout years ago. One thing which interested me was that the layout is mostly finished to at least landforms. This is basically the old "hardshell" scenery. Brown craft paper over rolled up papers/cardboard strips, with some paint and greenery over it. This would get the landforms in quickly.
Jeff
And even without details nor trees, it looks pretty good.
Jeff
So many ore cars, there area over 1100 of them on the layout.
Jeff
Some more pics.
more
The last pics. A really cool layout.
Jeff
Next is the HOn3/kHOn30 D&RGS/GJP&MPRY of John Niemeyer
And the last few.
I always like to see work-in-progress photos.
dave
Dave, the convention had listed layouts by incomplete or mostly complete. I visited only the ones that were mostly complete.
Jeff
My last layout on the tours was the HO/HOn3 Minneapolis, Santa Fe and Pacific of John Hotvet. This was in the attic of an absolutely lovely Victorian house.
Jeff
More
The layout is DC. Here's some pics of a very impressive control panel. The attic also had many old signs which were pretty cool.
Jeff
Last pics. I noticed many custom/resin cars. He stated he had about 150 of them on the layout. Next up will be the convention center layouts and the contest room.
Jeff
But usually people don't photograph the unfinished parts.... ;D
dave
A few pics of the layouts in the convention center. I didn't take many pics of these for some reason.
Jeff
Finally, the contest room pictures. I have no idea which were winners.
Jeff
More
More
More
More
More
More
More
More
more
More
More
More
More
More
The last two. That's all I've got from the Convention. I doubt I'll make the one next year, so someone else will need to pick up the baton.
Jeff
Thanks VERY MUCH for the inspiring and length photo essay.
dave
Thanks Jeff!
I'm hoping to go next year since it's close.
MJinTN
Thanks, Jeff. Also thanks MJ; your comment motivated me to look the 2027 location up: I've visited Hickory NC a couple of times, it's less than an hour from where several of my wife's family live. So if everything else aligns, I can commute to the 2027 NNGC while my wife gets family time.
Quote from: jbvb on September 21, 2026, 10:23:42 PMThanks, Jeff. Also thanks MJ; your comment motivated me to look the 2027 location up: I've visited Hickory NC a couple of times, it's less than an hour from where several of my wife's family live. So if everything else aligns, I can commute to the 2027 NNGC while my wife gets family time.
That's what I did for the first Hickory NNGC convention. Wife had family near Henderson, NC, I dropped her off and went to the convention. That's the time, though, where the camera battery charger destroyed the camera batteries, so the only photos I got were from my cell phone.
dave
Jeff thanks for taking and sharing the photos.
Thanks for posting all of the pics Jeff...it was good to see you.
I'll DEFINITELY be in Hickory next year...my wife and I keep bouncing around the idea of a someday relocation to that region...especially during summers in FL.
They all look like winners to me.
Thank you again for taking all those pictures and posting them.
I'm planning to go.
I got a couple things for the contest.
MJinTN