"Amazing" - raves the Milford Center Gazette, June 2006

"Awe-inspiring" - Outta Times, February 2008

"It changed my life" - random person we didn't ask for a name on a date we don't remember

"It's nearly but not really V&O-cool" - some guy named Zehner, mid-month last year

"Eleventy-billion"  - Keanu Reeves, SNL, mid-Nineties


    You've seen the reviews.  You've watched us on incredibly late night TV (or was it YouTube?).  So what all goes into putting on a world-class display?  We'll let you into the world of the LEO and all the behind-the-scenes action that goes on.  This is reality Internet at it's pinnacle.  These reports are written on-site at the shows, so you might just see Chris typing away during your visit to the only show layout that will leave you breathless.

Carnival of Model Railroading, Oct. 4 and 5, 2008
-Chris Burchett

Berea, Ohio (AP) - Friday night around 9:20 found us getting the layout and table setup prior to the show's opening (following an electrical incident at Peter's home; don't worry, he's all right).  We spent the better part of an hour moving the stacked layout from the car into the building, assembling the layout into "show-mode," and getting the various signage and flyers in place.  As usual, the initial runs around the layout with a single locomotive found the worst spots on the track.  So, while Peter worked on the downtown, I was busy playing "MOW" cleaning the rails.  We also discovered that our stable-mates this year would include the Cuyahoga Valley & West Shore Model Railroad Club of Olmsted Falls (they probably feel much shame now for seeing their name even mentioned on our site, let alone sitting next to us; I think we heard the word "eek" or the like at first sight).  After getting everything in order for the show about 10:15, we decided to head out to the official restaurant of the LEO: Melt.  Melt?  Yes, Melt.  Melt is awesome.  There's really nothing more to say about that.  It's a utopian experience one must experience for himself.  Before lights out, a good show was put on by the dynamic feline duo of Milo and Chessie.  Scratch that.  Make it Chessie and Milo.  Chessie, the quintessential ultimate diva, must get first billing.

The alarm clocks did their job the next morning, and we were up and about preparing the layout with the final touches for the show's opening of 10:00 A.M.  The train consist had it's usual problems, as it invariably seems to take about an hour (give or take) to "warm up."  After about an hour of operating with minor glitches such as stopping at two different points, the LEO comes to life and operates just fine.  "It runs just like a Swiss watch," states Peter, layout-building accomplice.  During the show, we get the obligatory, insanely ego-building comments that just make you want to put a blue ribbon on the layout.  "There's no doubt this is the best-looking of the show," says one spectator, "so much detail packed into such a small space."  We also get a few questions throughout the day asking what scale (N), how long did it take to build (a year), will you take my kids (no), and the like.  At 5:00 P.M., it was "lights out" for the show, as every dealer near and far had been covering their tables for about fifteen minutes prior.

Now here I must rant a tad.  Why would one spend the money for table space plus the distance traveled (some from Michigan and beyond) only to start closing shop early?  What has one lost by keeping shop right up 'til the show's close for the day?  There are still people shopping (albeit few, but a customer is a customer).  That is the one aspect of the West Springfield show I admire greatly:  they come down hard on those that close early.  In other words, those dealers/clubs aren't invited back or pay fines/fees.  I refuse to purchase from such dealers once they commit such business crime.  All right, back to the show. 

Keep in mind that we at the LEO adhere to very strict scheduling standards.  Everything is planned out months in advance right to the nanosecond.  Need I say obsessive compulsive?  Need I say I'm full of it?  At any rate, the choice was a pizza place called Angelo's or Melt.  This, dear reader, you must realize is an agonizing decision to make.  On one hand, you have Melt.  Glorious Melt.  Then there is one of the finest pizza places I've dined.  To make matters worse, they are incredibly close to each other.  So after intense debating of the pros and cons and the sage wisdom of the almighty coin flip, we were off to Angelo's.  On a scale of one to five Melts, it's definitely 4.8 Melts.  You must go at least once.  But not before visiting Melt if you haven't already.  And not in the same day for crying out loud.  The stomach could not stand such a volume of food.  System overload I believe is the phrase to use in this case.  Following dinner, we went off in search of more train stuff (yes, stuff; so I used a vague, generic word).  Under Peter's wise navigation through Cuyahoga County, we stopped by the Rocky River and Bay Village/Dover stations once owned by the Nickel Plate Road.  After the last bit of light left, we went back to Peter's home to watch an episode of the Film Crew and Ghost Hunters on Hulu.  Hey, cheap TV is awesome TV.  Who needs cable?  The order for lights out came at 12:30 A.M. and daylight followed all too soon.

After an 8:00 A.M. wake-up, we were off to one of Berea's most refined and posh restaurants currently in business:  Burger King.  Oh come on.  If you're a railfan like us, you know exactly what I mean.  BK is only part of the railfan's basic diet plan when on trips:  quick and cheap.  Following our pick-up of breakfast, we went trackside at a site formerly known as The Station Restaurant formerly known as the Pufferbelly formerly known as the Big Four Berea depot.  Numerous trains passed by in a short time, easily satisfying any train enthusiast.  We also made a quick stop by the Olmsted Falls depot (watching an eastbound pass lead by two BNSF units) before uncovering the layout back at the show.

During the show, we had our share of folks stop by as usual.  And of course all of the comments that make us proud of the work we've done (see above, Saturday's commentary).  One incredible moment was when a gentleman stopped by who has visited our Web site numerous times.  It was great talking with him (hello!), but I regret not catching his name.  It was probably about Noonish I would say (no, Noon-ish is not a real word but I'll use it any way - so there), so if you're reading this, please drop us a line.  You know who you are.  As I mentioned earlier, it's always awesome hearing from someone who has actually seen the site.  The cyber people (like us) are real!  The BurNing River club also had a representative, stating how much admiration for the layout he has and how much he enjoys seeing it every year.  That be awesome!

We also got our annual invitation to the RailFest show.  Now, not to be disrepectful or ungrateful for such things, we have concluded that this invitation is pointless.  For three years now we've received this and for three years we still don't have a spot at said show.  "It's guaranteed space," the messenger hails.  Right.  Thanks, but no thanks.  We'll go to shows that accommodate the LEO (which isn't much; one eight-foot table with electric for the power pack is all), not some empty, scatter-gun approach to get as many folks as possible to sign up for space.  Springfield and Berea are our stand-bys thank you.  All right.  I believe I have thoroughly beat that to death at this point, so let's continue.

The guys next door at the CV&WS Club were definitely getting a little "punchy."  Someone managed to find a monkey mask.  No, you did not read that wrong.  He had a monkey-face mask.  I'm not losing it here.  The show can cause distortions to be true, but I have witnesses.  He was randomly going to other club members making monkey sounds.  Okay, I just re-read that statement, and will now continue on seeing as how ridiculous that whole scenario seems.  I am indeed crazy.  Have to be.  I need Melt.  Oh Melt, where art thou?  Why hast thou kept thy distance from me this day, O Melt.

By 4:00 P.M., every dealer and club were in the process of putting the merchandise and equipment away, ready for the drive home.  We had the layout all packed away and stacked for transport by 4:45 P.M., and off we went to Peter's parents' home for dinner.  Might I say that these dinners are rivaled only by Melt and could quite possibly have a good edge over Melt.  That's saying something right there.  Dinner consisted of lasagna, beef stew and dumplins, and rolls.  Oh, and dessert!  Dessert was a choice of peanut butter and chocolate chip rice krispie treats and apple squares.  Awesome is simply not a good enough word to describe this setting.  Following dinner, we were off to Peter's church for band practice and evening service.  For those who may not know, we may indeed have a rock star in the making.  We'll be posting the countdown as soon as possible.  We returned to Peter's home for the night, only to awake early Monday morning to part ways - Peter to work at 8:00 A.M. and myself back to Dayton to get to work myself later in the day.

All in all, another excellent show if we may so ourselves.  Thanks to everyone who stopped by this year at the Carnival of Model Railroading 2008!

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