Trainsmania, Lille, France

madharry · May 02, 2017, 02:42:34 PM

Hi,

Just back from a long weekend at the Trainsmania show in Lille with Red Hook Bay. We were received very well and have a couple invites to other future shows in France.

The continental layouts tend to be big on scenery with less focus on operation. The majority tend to be "run throughs" with a simple single or double track design for almost "automatic" operation. Ours seems to be the only switching layout. The show was over three days with an 0800 breakfast followed by a full day until 1900. Tres fatigue as the locals would say.

They put us up in a small hotel on the outskirts of Lille and on the final morning we had a drive around the city before departing for the ferry. The prototype engines in the last picture are at Armentieres station.

Mike

GPdemayo · May 02, 2017, 02:48:21 PM

Enjoying the pictures Mike.....

tct855 · May 02, 2017, 03:12:29 PM

Mike,
Very cool! Looks like a lot of fun over there. No problems with traveling? You didn't get dragged off anywhere or punched in the caboose? ha. If no, then good trip! Thanx Thom...

bparrish · May 02, 2017, 03:39:07 PM

Mike...

Sounds like a fun trip.

Thanx for the photos

see ya
Bob

Janbouli · May 02, 2017, 05:01:15 PM

Looks like you had a great trip Mike. You are right about scenery being more important then operations on most Continental layouts. I have seen the Gare de la Praz layout at Eurospoor, it's a wonderful scenic layout.

If you are ever closer by let me know Belgium or Germany for instance.

PRR Modeler · May 02, 2017, 05:04:46 PM

Congratulations, it looks like a lot of fun.

madharry · May 03, 2017, 06:49:21 AM

Thanks Guys, the French were quite friendly so no punch ups!

One invite is being confirmed for next October to Montelimar in the south of France. They have accepted my estimate of travel costs so.......Interestingly in the UK we have very few toll roads. I estimate the round trip from my home to the show will be 1500 miles (2400 kms) and the tolls will be in the region of 152 euros ($165).

Here are some pictures of a very nice O scale Dutch tram layout. It was arranged as an oval with four separate scenes.

Mike

postalkarl · May 03, 2017, 07:32:04 AM

Hi Mike:

Nice photos. glad you had a great time and got invited back.

Karl

Janbouli · May 03, 2017, 05:10:19 PM

Montelimar, you'll end up using your travel money for Nougat. If you're not fixed on getting there as fast as you can you can save the Toll money by taling the Route National RN, you'll see a lot more of France that way too. I know you always travel with your wife Mike , but should she ever be unable to make a trip , give me an email , if I can , I would gladly lend a hand and take a trip with you.

madharry · May 04, 2017, 07:06:43 AM

Thanks Karl. Jan I will bear that in mind thanks for the kind offer, maybe if we get an invite in Germany say..........

Here is a Cuban layout in ON30 by some Belgian modellers.

Mike

S&S RR · May 04, 2017, 08:31:05 AM

Mike

Very nice work and photographs. Thanks for sharing them with us.

postalkarl · May 04, 2017, 10:01:41 AM

Hi Mike:

Ditto on what John said.

Karl

Mkrailway · May 05, 2017, 12:17:51 PM

Mike,

It is always good to see how modelling styles differ in various countries. I find that the EU scenery to be done very well and the trains are just part of the scenery, not vice-versa.

PRR Modeler · May 05, 2017, 02:34:40 PM

Very unique. I don't think I have ever seen a layout based on Cuba.

madharry · May 06, 2017, 05:23:59 AM

Quote from: PRR Modeler on May 05, 2017, 02:34:40 PM
Very unique. I don't think I have ever seen a layout based on Cuba.

Hi Curt,
One of our club members, Peter Smith, built a Cuban layout. It eventually ended up in a museum in Havana. See link for photos.
Mike
http://www.hwdmrs.org.uk/galleries/members-layouts/peter-smith/

Trainsmania, Lille, France

Mkrailway