The Brick Train Awards 2020 has officially come to a close and now it’s time to announce the winners. This was the first year of the awards, and it was an awesome success. We had some spectacular entries from LEGO® train builders across the globe. The judging was quite a challenge as there quite a few close categories. You can see all the winners via the the Brick Train Awards website Winners Page, or you can watch thee awards announcement video.
In-depth Look at the Winners for the Americas
The honor of judging the entries for the Americas, which included North and South America, was given to Glenn Holland and myself here at Brick Model Railroader. We both thoroughly enjoyed the experience and were really impressed by the number and quality of entries. We were hoping to se some great models and the LEGO train community delivered.
We had some really tough decisions to make in judging. Most of the categories had multiple entries worthy of winning and quite a few came down to the wire with the two of us debating for hours some categories on which model should get top honors. With so much great building, we would like to take some time to go through our picks and give a little insight as to why we eventually chose the winners we did.
Best Steam Winner for the Americas
Chicago Burlington and Quincy Class O-1a Mikado (2-8-2)
Michael Bradley
This will not be the first time you’ll hear this, but this was a tough category to judge. Ultimately we chose Micheal’s CB&Q Mikado because it combined all the right elements of a great LEGO steam locomotive into a well thought out model. The CB&Q engines had a very distinctive looking cab which Michael captured beautifully. We were especially impressed with the brick built canvas curtains on the back of the cab, a feature often overlooked by model builders.
The tender is recreated faithfully to the prototype and scaled perfectly to the engine. The engine itself packs in a ton of great detail for a medium size locomotive.
Working valve gear rounds out the excellent details on this locomotive. This is very nice locomotive, with plenty of great details that really bring it too life. We loved the fact that it was modeled after a less common prototype as it’s always refreshing to see something new being modeled. And we thought the model combined some clever, and subtle techniques really well to produce a model that’s not overly done, but done right. Congratulations Michael on this fine model!
As we said, this was one of those tough categories to judge, so we feel it’s necessary to give an Honorable Mention to Aaron Burnett’s Chicago & Alton 4-6-2 Light Pacific.
Aaron’s model is nothing less than amazing, and if judging on looks alone, the outcome could very well have been different. His outside of the box thinking results in some innovative techniques that while maybe not for everyone, certainly make this model stand out like few others.
Best Diesel Winner for the Americas
Bangor & Aroostook GP7 Diesel
Alexander Geary
The early EMD Geeps (GP7 and GP9) have been a perennial favorite subject to build in LEGO, and quite a few good ones have been seen throughout the years. So it’s no small challenge to build one with a fresh take on the this classic transition era freight diesel. Alexander’s B&A no.68 is such a model.
The challenging color scheme is probably the first feature to stand out. Light bluish gray is easy enough, but dark blue can be quite tricky, especially as part of a two tone combo like this. Alexander pulls it off very well, along with some good pinstripe work.
The model itself is very well proportioned, with some good body shaping, and plenty of great detail. The trucks fit the model very well, as does the fuel tank and air reservoirs. This is a perfect little model of the classic EMD GP7. Congratulations Alexander! And congratulation on winning the Global Diesel Award as well. Your model definitely deserves the honor.
Best Electric Winner for the Americas
BC Electric Railway – North Vancouver 153
William Fong
Electric was another tough category to judge, and was made no less difficult by William Fong who build not one, but three very excellent entries. The one to rise to the top though was his North Vancouver Trolley 153.
This is one of the best trolley models in LEGO we’ve seen. The scaling is spot on, and the complex shape of the body and curved ends is rendered masterfully.
The clearstory roof build is quite clever. There is even an interior, with authentic Ratan seats for that perfect finishing detail. Congratulations William on building this wonderful trolley model!
Best Locomotive Other Winner for the Americas
O-Gauge Lego Train
Benn Coifmann
Benn’s model is a classic LEGO take on the Camelback type locomotive, but that’s not what makes it special. Look closer and you’ll see that it isn’t running on LEGO track. Benn’s model has been built to run on O gauge tack which is narrower than standard gauge LEGO track.
Building a LEGO train to run on O gauge track is a really good party trick, but Benn has one other trick up his sleeve. The battery, motor, and I.R. receiver are all crammed into the locomotive.
It’s certainly an impressive engineering feat. To top it off, Benn’s model echoes the classic LIONEL O-27 toy train look. Congratulations Benn on building such a cool locomotive!
Best Passenger Car for the Americas
Amtrak Amfleet II
Andy Tanjaroon
Glenn and I are steam era builders, and there were some very good steam era passenger cars in this category. So it’s pretty remarkable that we both picked a fairly modern car as our winner for this category. But then Andy Tanjaroon’s Amfleet II car is a pretty remarkable model.
Nicknamed “Amcans” for their distinctive round (can like) shape, this is certainly not an easy car to model in LEGO. Add in the stainless steel fluting and it’s a challenge for the very best of modelers. Andy
Through clever build techniques and had work, Andy has killed it on the shape of this car. A car like this could easily be filled internally with nothing but structure holding the sides at the proper angles, and yet he has somehow squeezed a modest interior inside. Well played Sir.
But wait, there’s more. The pin striping is all brick built, the inside bearing trucks are rendered faithfully, and the electrical and HVAC equipment on the underside of the car complete this amazing model. Very well done Andy, and congratulations on building this winning model! And congratulation on winning the Global Passenger Award as well. All of the judges felt your model was truly special.
Best Freight Car for the Americas
Thrall-Door Boxcar
Monty Smith
This had to be one of the toughest category’s for us. There were so many great entries that this was one of the last categories we were still debating long after the others had been decided. But it was Monty Smith’s model that finally came out on top.
The Thrall All-Door boxcar is a very unique prototype, and Monty’s model captures it perfectly. We’ve followed Monty and his builds for quite some time, and feel this is some of his best work to date. The paneling of the doors is spot on, the roof contour is accurate to the prototype, and deep inset ends are recreated with careful attention to detail. The model also sits low on its tucks, a detail of the prototype that we certainly appreciated seeing recreated. Hat’s off to Monty for this stellar, winning model!
As said, this was a very tough category to judge. In fact there were two other cars that Glenn and I had on our list of potential winners and wee spent the better part of a day debating the merits of each. So it’s only appropriate to give and Honorable Mention to Alex Broccolo‘s Union Pacific Center Beam Flatcar, and Nick Dombi’s Nickel Plate Road Caboose.
Center beam flatcars are nothing new in LEGO modeling, but none have been so well done as this example form Alex Broccolo. Alex ratcheted up the detail ten fold on this model. The diagonal bracing in the center of the car is a really great detail often overlooked, and the decals are fantastic.
Nick Dombi isn’t nearly as prolific a builder as some of the others here. So when he came to the party with this beautiful Nickel Plate Road caboose, it grabbed our attention right away. It’s a great model of the classic NKP wood car, with all the road specific details, like the cupola mounted lanterns, that one could want. And Nick even included an interior, something we can definitely respect.
Best TFOL Model Winner for the Americas
New Haven EP-5
Conrad Schlenker
Again, there were some great entries for this category, Teenage Fan of LEGO. This is bodes very well for thee future of our hobby, and we couldn’t be happier to see the enthusiasm and skill from the younger generation. Many of the entries would have done very well in the adult categories.
Our favorite though was this New Haven EP-5 electric locomotive from Conrad Schlenker.
Conrad’s model of this iconic North East electric locomotive is nothing short of amazing.
The nose, a particularly difficult thing to model, came out very well. The color scheme has been faithfully rendered in brick, and is quite pleasing. And all the great details of the pantographs and electrical equipment on the roof is there and modeled excellently. Finally, the trucks looks great, making this a model worthy of this award. Congratulations Conrad!
Best Group Display Winner for the Americas
TBRR Layout
Texas Brick Railroad
This club from Texas has consistently produced exceptional LEGO train layouts since it’s founding. Every layout they display is packed with detail, hidden Easter eggs, great planing, and excellent trains. They also frequently change their layouts so that no two shows are exactly the same. Congratulations to Texas Brick Railroad from some of your biggest fans!
Best Individual Display Winner for the Americas
2020 City
Tim Howell
Tim’s layout is very impressive. It fits quite a lot of detail into a small space, without becoming overcrowded or busy. The variety buildings fit well together, the landscaping complements the structures perfectly, and the city is teaming with life. Every where you look there are little touches of activity, but none of it it overdone, thee is just the right amount going on.
The inclusion of the trolley route around the city is a particular favorite, and the trolley itself is nicely done. The main line running along the edge of the layout carries a nice train as well, and hints at possible expansion down the road. Excellent work Tim, your layout is well deserving of this award! And congratulations on winning the Global Best Individual Award as well. Your layout is very well presented and deserves the honor.
Best Structure Winner for the Americas
Rural Frisco Depot
Bradley Klouzek
This one was as hard to judge as the freight car category. However after much deliberation, we chose Badley Klouzek’s Frisco Depo for Best Structure.
Modeled after the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway Company’s St. James, Missouri Depot, Bradley’s model is a classic Midwestern small town depot.
Outside there are numerous great detail to look over. The depot itself is quite pleasing with its simple yet elegant rural style. On the platform in front of thee station can be found a semaphore style signal, waiting bench, and Railway Express Agency baggage cart. Completing the scene is some nicely ballasted track, and telegraph pole complete with glass insulators for the wires.
The inside is also fully detailed with a passenger waiting room, ticket office with scale and coal stove, and a baggage room.
The more you look at this model, the more you fall in love with it. That’s why we picked this as our winner for Best Structure. Congratulations Bradley!
This was the last category to be decided by Glenn and myself. We had two great structures fighting for our vote. So here again we would like to give an Honorable Mention to a deserving model. The East Strasburg Station by Sam Painter.
Glenn and I are very familiar with the Strasburg station, being local to me, we usually visit several times a year. Sam’s model was instantly recognizable when we first saw it. He’s done an excellent job capturing the early 20th century look of the station whole keeping it scaled nicely.
If we have to admit, we felt Sam’s model was the more prototypically accurate of the two, but Bradley’s model won us over with the inclusion of interior and exterior decals. But both are really awesome.
Conclusion
This first year for the Brick Train Awards was a resounding success! We hope it was as much fun for you as it was for us. In speaking with the other organizers, we are definitely looking to do this again in 2021. We have learned a lot, and know where we can improve, but also will be listening to you on what you would like to se for the future.
On behalf of Glenn, myself, BMR, LNUR, all our sponsors, and all the judges, thank you for making this such an awesome event. We loved seeing so many outstanding LEGO train models and can’t wait to see what comes next year.
