2026 NMRA National Train Show

[NEMMRRC]

Great pictures, Jaime.  Thanks for sharing them. 

The Star Wars/Star Trek modules are especially cool, but my favorite is the one where the N scale pretends to be a garden railway.

Jeff

That one was super clever. It was done really well. That one modeler, Jaime Valdez, had several really good modules. Plus, his name is outstanding 

[NEMMRRC]

Oftentimes a module will pay homage to a popular movie or recognizable popular culture reference. The 2026 NMAR National Train Show wore record setting T-Track module did that for the Bates Motel.





By the way, there is an HO Scale model of this structure. I bought one at the Timonium show the first year of the Craftsman Courtyard for $23. I built it and did a build thread on it. I'd link to it but the photos are no longer online. I had to shut down one of my websites and the photos were at that site. I'm sure the original photo files are somewhere on my old laptop. The finished diorama is somewhere amongst all my other dioramas looking for a home layout. Maybe I'll get started on that soon enough.

[NEMMRRC]

N Scale affords the modeler a great scenery to train ratio. The 2026 NMRA National Train Show world record setting T-Track modular layout didn't disappoint when it came to modeling urban canyons. Here are a few samples of big city modeling setting urban scenery against model trains.

[NEMMRRC]

There are times when the models are soo good they fool the viewer's eye. At the 2026 NMRA National Train Show the world record setting T-Trak modular layout did not disappoint. Here are samples of models made from cardstock. I had to do a double take to make sure all those structures were really made from printed cardstock. Very impressive.









I've built a few of the Paper Creek Models and Clever Models offerings. While the models are simple since they are flat printed structures, it is challenging to make them three dimensional and believable. These modules at the show hit it out of the park.

[Rick]

Jamie, I'm enjoying your pictures.

I did a little searching.
Check out these apps: DigiKam and Phototheca

[NEMMRRC]

Jamie, I'm enjoying your pictures.

I did a little searching.
Check out these apps: DigiKam and Phototheca

I'll given them a look. Thx !

[NEMMRRC]

This shows that some modelers have way too much spare time. At first I walked right by these set of modules but then realized that it was not an optical illusion. The modules and train were built on purpose to show that we end up chasing our own tails a great deal in this hobby. These characters at the 2026 NMRA National Train Show outdid themselves by incorporating this set of modules into the world record setting T-Trak modular layout.

I hope the YouTube embeds ok here. If it does not just click on this link : Chasing your own tail

[deemery]

Jaime, if you were using a Mac, Graphic Converter does all that you want (for $40).  In particular, the "XE4782 filter" did some amazing color correction/enhancement to substantially brighten images from a commercial backdrop to generally match, or at least look consistent with, a photo backdrop from a different vendor.  (https://www.jessewaugh.com/vlog/2016/11/4/epicolor-filter-plugin-for-final-cut-pro-x-jesse-waugh-art-vlog ) 

This is a program I've been using for more than 30 years.  A couple of times I had problems, and got great response, including several times "oh, that's a problem we think we've fixed.  Try this version to see if it works for you."  Just a very satisfied customer over the decades I've used it.

And I bet it would run just fine on a Mac Neo... 

dave

[NEMMRRC]

There is something about a modeled waterfront that always catches my eye. The 2026 NMRA National Train Show world record setting T-Trak modular layout did not disappoint. There were multiple examples of waterfront scenes. I've seen some layouts feature actual real live water. I saw noting like that on this modular layout. Perhaps one day...

[NEMMRRC]

Jaime, if you were using a Mac, Graphic Converter does all that you want (for $40).  In particular, the "XE4782 filter" did some amazing color correction/enhancement to substantially brighten images from a commercial backdrop to generally match, or at least look consistent with, a photo backdrop from a different vendor.  (https://www.jessewaugh.com/vlog/2016/11/4/epicolor-filter-plugin-for-final-cut-pro-x-jesse-waugh-art-vlog ) 

This is a program I've been using for more than 30 years.  A couple of times I had problems, and got great response, including several times "oh, that's a problem we think we've fixed.  Try this version to see if it works for you."  Just a very satisfied customer over the decades I've used it.

And I bet it would run just fine on a Mac Neo... 

dave

I just bought a MacBook Neo this past weekend during the Tennessee yearly tax holiday. I now have 4 Mac laptops. 3 of them are in great working order and 1 (my first MacBook Pro from 2206 when I was working at the local Apple Store) works alright except I cannot see anything displayed on its screen as the graphics card died. Two of those are MacBook Pros, both are Intel processors. I have a 2 year old MacBook Air (my daily driver) and then the Neo (which I bought to keep at church since I am the "tech team" there). I'm typing this on the Air.

I'll see if I can make Graphic Converter work for me. I recall this is what several of the Mac users in my local Mac User Group always used. I did just a while ago give Digikam a whirl and it has a cool batch manager that allowed me to do what I need. The only caveat is I haven't figured out how to move my images from the light table to the batch manager with one click. 

Thanks for the suggestion.

[NEMMRRC]

See Rock City.

If you know, you know.

It would not have been a complete model hobby show in Chattanooga without these on the 2026 NMRA National Train Show world record setting T-Trak modular layout.

[NEMMRRC]

It took me a little over an hour to walk all the way around the 2026 NMRA National Train Show world record setting T-Trak modular layout. I walked at a pace that allowed me to take photos and keep up with the other people there walking around the layout. It was peculiar that very few if any people were walking in the opposite direction that I was traveling. Even the folks operating the layout were walking in the same direction   

I overheard some of the train operators say they had been waling behind their train for over two hours and were not done walking all the way around. I did not photograph every module there and at times I had to get around "traffic jams". Let's say an enterprising photographer could have spent all day photographing just this modular layout. There were lots more layouts there besides this one.

Here is one train that was going faster then the rest 

[NEMMRRC]

Is it possible to have a model railroad layout without coal?

The 2026 NMRA National Train Show featured lots of coal processing on the world record setting T-Trak modular layout. Even in N Scale you need plenty of coal.















I didn't see any catenary on this layout for those that were going to mention electric motive power. Plus, how was that electricity generated? I know that diesels don't use coal. However, they do haul it 

[cuse]

I'm a fan of the operational ability of that N scale Kato unitrack...but a quick shot of brown/red primer makes a world of difference...I see some is ballasted, maybe some is just in process.

Thanks Jaime...will I see you in Minnesota?

John 

[NEMMRRC]

I'm a fan of the operational ability of that N scale Kato unitrack...but a quick shot of brown/red primer makes a world of difference...I see some is ballasted, maybe some is just in process.

Thanks Jaime...will I see you in Minnesota?

John

I am not sure I will make it to Minnesota this time around. I have an open invitation from the head honcho for that convention   It will have to be a last minute decision.