Nebraska Brick Days 2019 Event Report

Several weeks later, we’re happy to report on the incredible event that was Nebraska Brick Days!

Nebraska Brick Days is a regional Lego show hosted by Lincoln-Omaha LUG, LOLUG. They have been putting together this event since 2017, and have done shows in both Lincoln, Nebraska and Council Bluff, Iowa (the latter is right across the river from Omaha). Don’t ask why event called “Nebraska Brick Days” is held in Iowa.

Brick Model Railroader was present at the event, represented by both Cale and myself (Glenn). We also represented PennLUG, and were joined by Jay Steinhurst. Here’s a record of the fun we had.

Nebraska Brick Days Website

Nebraska Brick Days on Facebook

Photos from the event.

The Trip

Cale met me at my apartment on Wednesday afternoon, and we drove to Jay’s house to spend the night. We got up early the next morning to finish the drive. On Thursday we met up with NILTC at the World’s Largest Truck Stop on I-80 in eastern Iowa and finished the drive together. We got into Council Bluffs that night.

I would elaborate more, but the drive out there was pretty monotonous. Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa look very similar from the interstate.

To celebrate Cale’s birthday while on the trip out, we stopped at the World’s Largest Truck Stop. It was not the birthday he had in mind.

Setup

The three of us (Cale, Jay, and myself) were responsible for the PennLUG layout that weekend. Having only three people with one massive layout meant we would need some serious help, especially in unloading our 14 foot trailer and setting up tables.

And boy, did we have plenty of help. Thanks to the generous hospitality of LOLUG, no less than eight or nine people were there to help us unload and begin setting up on Friday morning. We had the trailer unloaded completely and were beginning to put up tables in about an hour and a half, which has got to be some kind of record.

After the trailer was parked and the tables were completely set up, layout construction began. Several people stuck around to help out with this phase as well, including Richard Glatter.

Setup went extremely well and the first train completed a lap of the layout at 4:50 PM on Friday. Details were added and the layout was complete (minus the plexiglass and skirting) at roughly 9 PM that night, a little over twelve hours after the trailer first rolled through the door of the convention hall.

Our gracious hosts provided us dinner on Friday & Saturday. Everyone hung out and enjoyed each others company. Of course, the train nerds congregated in one area.

The Show

Various weirs from the event. Photo courtesy of Nebraska Brick Days Facebook page.

The show ran from 10-6 on Saturday and 10-5 on Sunday. Saturday began with some regular train running (set and forget locomotives) while Cale and I assembled the 80 Premium Instructions kits we had brought (Brickmania delivered our books the night before). Once that was done, we could really enjoy the show.

I feel it necessary to state here that Nebraska Brick Days is a small show. By my estimates it is about half the floor space of Brickworld Chicago. However, attendance records, as I was told, have rivaled Brickworld. There was seemingly no end to the friendly visitors who wanted to know more about the displays. I was fortunate enough to walk around for about twenty or thirty minutes on Sunday to check out some of the other displays, and I was definitely impressed.

It almost seemed that train-oriented displays took up nearly a third of the show. PennLUG’s layout was present, as was the NILTC layout and of course LOLUG’s layout. Brian Williams was also present with his Indiana Jones display (with a dash of Lawrence of Arabia), and was running two themed trains around the perimeter. Having seen a very limited amount of Brian’s work in person, this was one of the highlights of the show for me.

After a pizza dinner on Saturday, some guest train running, and plenty of talking, we were forced out of the hall at 9 PM.

Sunday was just like the day day before; more train running and talking to friends and the public. I was also able to hang out with Dan Siskind of Brickmania for a little while (sorry, no cool news on that front right now).

PennLUG’s main rules for layout operation is that the trains must run until the end of the public hours. We began packing up extra trains beforehand, and at 5 PM, after the final lap was complete, tear-down began. Again, LOLUG had an army of people waiting to help. The layout was dismantled and properly packed into the trailer in record time. Starting from a complete layout at 5 PM, we were saying our final goodbyes and driving out the door a little over three and a half hours later.

Attendees checking out the PennLUG layout. *Photo courtesy of Nebraska Brick Days Facebook page.*

The Aftermath

PennLUG was on a pretty tight schedule, needing to be back at my apartment by the end of the day on Monday. We drove (safely) into the early hours on Monday morning, put down for the night, and were back on the road by 9 AM. We reached Jay’s house around 6 PM, and my apartment around 10. Cale made it home around noon on Tuesday.

Brick Model Railroader Staff Pick Awards

BMR awarded it’s second round of “Golden Driver” staff pick awards on Sunday morning before public hours. Instead of gathering everyone together, we presented the awards individually. This is only the second time we’ve given out awards but it certainly will not be the last.

Best Steam Locomotive – Union Pacific “Big Boy” #4014 – Nathan Flood

Okay, so Cale and I both think the Big Boy is a bit overrated, but that doesn’t mean we don’t enjoy them to some degree. Nate’s model of 4014 certainly captures the presence of the largest successful articulated steam locomotive ever built. It ran pretty well, too, pulling Jay’s military train easily.

Best Diesel Locomotive – Kansas City Southern F Unit – Shawn Kelley

This was pretty much a no-brainer. There was some deliberation on whether or not to award this model at NMRA last year, so it made sense to give it to Shawn this time, as it’s still a very deserving model. Shawn’s model presents well and is cleanly put together. While using modified parts, it still captures the iconic F unit style while using a much different technique than Tony Sava. It’s always nice to watch two good builders tackle the same problem and produce different results.

KCS Southern Belle, KCS1 "Shreveport", KCS2 "Meridian" EMD FP-9 A-Units. KCS3 "Pittsburg" EMD F-9 B-Unit. L-Gauge 8-Wide

Best Rolling Stock – Pancho Villa Raid Train – Brian Williams

Rolling stock was a touch pick this year, but we ultimately had to give it to Brian Williams. Brian is well known for building excellent models, and his rolling stock is no exception. The level of detail is second to none, even considering the use of structural stickers. We almost couldn’t choose a single piece of Brian’s fleet to award, but I convinced Cale to give it to the boxcar/stock car on his Pancho Villa Raid train. It’s been a personal favorite of mine since I first saw it.

Best Landscaping – Cornfield Module – Jim Pirzyk

Of course, what would a train layout be without landscaping? Jim Pirzyk of NILTC has built an excellent corner module for their layout which includes a cornfield, farmhouse, and sunflowers overlooking a railroad cutting. We especially like the rolling hills look of the cornfield.

Best Structure – Grain Elevator – Justin Chrisp

There were a few contenders for this award, but Justin’s excellent grain elevator won in the end. Justin took special care to model the surrounding buildings in full and also put lights everywhere. It was an impressive building, and even more so with the lights on.

Wrap-Up

I have to say in full honesty that Nebraska Brick Days is probably my new favorite event, and this particular event is probably my favorite one I’ve ever had the privilege of being at. LOLUG welcomed us with open arms, and so many of them were willing to help us out when we needed it. If anyone from LOLUG is reading this, let me be the first to say that you guys made this event incredible, and I’d be ready to come back in an instant. It was a blast.

I’d also like to thank Nate Flood specifically for convincing Cale and I to make the journey. I’m certainly hoping I can go next year.

Group photo of all the AFOLs and staff who made Nebraska Brick Days a success.

Driving south along Route 1 in Van Buren, Maine today, a visitor glancing to the right probably wouldn’t know that they were looking at the remains of the northern yard of the former Bangor and Aroostook Railroad. The tracks are gone, and buildings, at least those still standing, peek out from the trees.

Keeping the past alive, William Dumond has been modeling that rail yard.

William Dumond’s Van Buren Yark – from his Flickr account

We’ve featured his work before, but in addition to building incredible locomotives and rolling stock, Bill is a proficient scenery modeler, as can be seen in his comparison shot of the real Van Buren yard, next to his brick-built version on the left.

Van Buren Yard in 2014 – image from Google Maps, notice the white warehouse to the left, and the yellow building through the trees.

Looking at a Google Maps image of the area, it’s easy to find the buildings featured on the layout, and to get a sense of the tracks that used to run between them. The layout has a nice organic look, matching the prototype, and staying away from the rigid blockiness of some LEGO layouts.

Custom Turnout Switch – from William Dumond’s Flickr gallery

One of the most interesting things about the model Van Buren yard is the use of a custom switch, documented on Bill’s Flickr account. This switch flows nicely, and really adds to the realism of the scene.

For more of William Dumond’s Van Buren yard, as well as more of his Bangor and Aroostoock work, check out his stream on Flickr. We’ll be looking forward to watching the progress on this one!