LIFE: Lego, Lighthouses & Model Trains

I have a super geeky hobby, it's a love for trains. Train travel, steam trains, model trains. I love them all. But it's something I've really mentioned in all the years this blog has been on the go. For the last couple of years, me and Joe have been building up a collection of model railway gear - the tracks, the locomotives, the rolling stock and now that we finally have a house and got a little bit more organised, we're starting to piece together ideas for constructing a proper layout. 

Now I won't bore you all about the inner workings of model railroading, but i'll probably share the process in parts and train related places and events along the way. So i'm easing into it with the Great Train Show held at the Novi Suburban Showplace on Saturday which was basically a big trade event for model railroad and train collectors and enthusiasts. 

One of the fun things with any hobby is being inspired by others and model trains is no expectation. But I have to admit to having a big soft spot for the city and rail layout Lego fans always seem to come up with. The event featured a version of city/train layout made by the Michigan Lego Users Group.  It's not a true model railroad as such, but it's pretty accessible whatever you're view of model railroading!

So much detail!

Their design is part Detroit, part Michigan with Detroit building, a replica version of the people mover, to Michigan lighthouses and just a wider scene of shoreline, farm land and buildings. It's very similar in design to their exhibit over at the Henry Ford which has a large Detroit design. 

Whether you love trains or not, just considering the scale, the time, the cost and the number of Lego's yet alone skill and patience to construction such designs, it's pretty inspiring! 

TRAVEL: Carnegie Miniature Railroad & Village

If you love things in miniature then seeing the miniature railroad and village within Pittsburgh's Carnegie Science Museum is a must. Not only does it include a fully running o-scale railroad but replicates the life, times and buildings of the late 1800's through to the 1930's but anyone familiar with this corner of western Pennsylvania will recognise any a feature or two as you walk around. We took a trip to the museum last thanksgiving and I thought it was high time I got around to sharing it here for you all to see. 

To understand this railroad, first we need to talk about it's history. It was the project of Charles Bowdish (1886 - 1988), who after being honorable discharged from the US Army during WWI began constructing miniature replicas of his hometown of Brookville, PA. Around Christmas of 1920, Bowdish set up and displayed his railway to entertain the guests at his brothers wedding. He then went on to open his house for free every Christmas for anyone interested in looking at his display. Sadly when his insurance company refused to offer him coverage, Bowdish offered the railroad to the Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science in Pittsburgh, with the first run of the line in 1954 and it became an instant hit. Eventually the Bulh became part of the Carnegie museum and the railroad now has it's very own room, the layout stretching a huge 84 feet (25m) by 30 feet (9.1m) a whole 60% larger than the original and the layout changes yearly - to be revealed the day after Thanksgiving. 

Computers control the lighting which changes through day and night as you walk around. There's so much detail to take in that it's impossible to talk about everything that you see. It's pretty overwhelming, especially when you consider all the time it takes to put it all together. And it's not only the trains that run, boats, the incline mover to rides in the fairground are all moving constantly. Plus there's 250,000 trees. Just wow.

Reflecting and remembering Pittsburgh's industrial heritage, the railroad does have the largest o-scale steel mill replica which can be seen in the distance of the above photograph.

When the lights dip down reflecting night time the fairground area of the display really comes to life. There's replicas of an amusement park and the Leap-the-Dips - the world's oldest operating wooden roller coaster located at the Lakemont Park in Altoona, Pennsylvania. It even has a little cart that goes around the track.

Pittsburgh is located a short drive away from the Laurel Highlands where you'll find one of Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpieces, Fallingwater - a house basically built over waterfalls which has been on my must list list for ages. Joe likes to joke that I've actually been there because of seeing the model. Eventually I'll get there. 

There's even something for the sports fans with a replica of Forbes Field - once home of Pittsburgh's baseball team, the Pittsburgh Pirates. Don't you just love all the fan details in the stadium?!

It's hard to pick between the fairground and the town scenes as my favorite part of the miniature railroad. Again, it's all in the details. I mean look at all the windows - the curtains, the details in the shrubs to the cars and it's like that the entire way throughout the layout.

The railroad was certainly my highlight from the Carnegie museum (review of which I posted here) - which as a whole is more aimed at children. But the railroad, well that's great for kids and adults alike whether you know Pittsburgh or not or if you have an interest in model trains.