The Standard Gauge Module Association, Inc. (SGMA, Inc.) the only toy train club dedicated to the construction and operation of Standard Gauge (2-1/8" three rail track) toy train modular layouts, presented the largest ever operating Standard Gauge layout seen by the public at the World's Greatest Hobby Show On Tour (WGHS) at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, VA. on January 23rd and 24th, 2010.

Kirk Lindvig, Chris Bogus, Ken Fisher, and Bob Nelson discuss construction of the SGMA layout.



Pat Rolland and Jim Cottzolla with Jim's design for the triangular transition module section.


 

Bert Schuck and Jon Hinderer admire Bert's rare and unusual Burplaspa Tunnel.



A recent reproduction Dorfan loco and cars about to enter the Hellgate Bridge on one of the SGMA ravine modules.

SGMA members from the Midwest, New York State, Washington, DC, and the Philadelphia area set up the huge modular standard gauge layout on Friday, January 23rd. The layout was based on the form of a Figure 8, with a slight L-shaped bend on one end.



Almost as far as the eye can see: looking down the SGMA 80 foot, three track main line.

The layout was 40 feet wide and 80 feet long. The main design feature was a series of modules across the middle dividing the display into North and South sections. This two section allowed SGMA to create 5 separate mainline loops of track with one large mainline loop traveling around the entire layout and two pairs of smaller mainline loops traveling around the North and South sections of the Figure 8.

 
An historic meeting of three Blue Comets: a ca. 1935 Lionel original, a ca. 1930 Boucher 2500 Blue comet loco, and a 1990s nickel trim Lionel Classics Blue Comet.

An SGMA Inc. layout attempts to recreate all the excitement, color and sound that go with the operation of Standard Gauge toy trains from the "Classic Era" of model railroading, when massive tinplate Standard Gauge toy trains dominated the toy train industry. No other gauge toy trains create the same high level of sensory overload.

Modern Standard Gauge expert Arno Baars brought several Standard Gauge streamliner sets to run.

Members of the Public are always welcome to bring and run their Standard Gauge toy trains on a SGMA modular layout. For those who do, the opportunity can easily become a life changing event as a SGMA layout can easily be the largest Standard Gauge layout on which they will ever get a chance to operate their Standard Gauge toy trains.

The Lionel Corporation Tinplate's massive "Brute" looked great on the main line pulling a string of 200 series freights.



Children are fascinated by the sights and sounds of big Standard Gauge trains.



"Put them there, Clem!"  Bert Schuck tries to keep tabs on our favorite big kid as Pat Rolland looks on and Chris Bogus checks construction progress.




The Blue Comet is the official mascot of the Standard Gauge Module Association, Inc.

For more information on the Standard Gauge Module Association, Inc. visit the SGMA web page:

http://www.sgma.us