So the layout was packed into a very large people carrier with 2 seats removed, and the other two seats folding flat into the floor making a giant load space some 6 feet long and 4 feet wide, and we set off North. At York I had bought a map of North American railroads, which includes current and disused lines. In conjunction with a road map, it made the journey much more interesting as we were able to look out for trackbeds, either abandoned or still in use. In the UK these books are published by Steam Powered Video - they may be found at the larger model railway shows such as Warley, Alexandra Palace or Doncaster As in 04, we stopped at the Horseshoe Curve, to watch the incredible sight of three large 6000 horsepower locos working flat out hauling over a mile of freight cars at some 15 mph up the gradient, with two more locos pushing at the back. The viewing aspect has been improved, as over 1000 trees have been cut down, the trains are now visible through the entire curve. After a couple of hours watching trains, with John making business calls ( do these yanks never stop working? ), we continued to our usual overnight stop just behind Niagara Falls. North America has had quite a mild winter, so no large icebergs were floating down the river, and the daffodils were out in Toronto the next day, a pleasant change from previous visits which have been much colder, then with the daffodils hardly out of the ground.

There we met our host, Tony Griffiths, and our qualified Locomotive Driver, Bob Boekhout who had flown in from Amsterdam the day before. Setting up in the sports hall was quick and easy, we were the first layout to be running, and after some fettling to the scenery, we called it a day. We were just about to go for dinner, when I was tapped on the shoulder - it was Pete Dugher and wife Anne from the Isle of Wight who hold Railway Days in late July. I was rather taken aback, they knew I was exhibiting, Pete had gone to school with Gerry, one of the members of the Platelayers Society living in Toronto. Even stranger, they had been staying with another friend in Washington DC, only a few miles from John's house! A small world indeed.

The show runs for two days, the greater  attendance being on the Saturday. There were plenty of layouts, traders and visitors, including two more from the UK. David Brown from British Railway Modelling had come over in 2000, and in issues of the magazine shortly afterwards, there were articles on  GBTS '00. See the July 2006 edition for his revue of the show - from a serious modelling perspective. The other trader if I may call him that was George  Smith the MD of Dapol who was demonstrating new products from the range. I didn't really get a chance to talk with him about his opinions of the show, perhaps I'll bump into him at Warley and ask him then. Collector style layouts were on display by various groups, Hornby Dublo and Trix being the largest ones. Twenty two other layouts were scenic affairs ranging from N and 2mm, through OO, EM, P4, S, O and Gn15 to an electric 7 1/4 inch model of an GWR tank engine. Four modelling clinics, and some 18 traders and the Platelayers bring and buy table filled the hall. Over the weekend almost 1000 people visited the show, on the Saturday evening some 50 members, exhibitors and friends ate a sumptuous banquet. Tony's buddy and business partner Peter Scrimshaw was in fine form, you may have seen them on a uk 'railway' expedition, combining as many swapmeets and preserved lines as they can in their stays

In 04 John's layout was the only DCC layout, in 06 there were 4 more, with another under construction which will be DCC -  a sign of the times.

Other TCS members spotted - Mike Stern from Alberta and Marwan Nusair, and new member Chris Clarke, sorry if I missed any other members.

The layout was packed away for the return journey, on Monday John and I drove back to Washgton, a journey of 550 miles taking almost 11 hours. Bob flew off to Vancouver, to see a friend who had been inviting him to visit for 30 years.

This isn't the end of my adventures, as John had a business meeting in Boston, and invited me to go along as a tourist. Now what to do in Boston, are there any train shops? Our flight landed at 08:30 to a grey and wet Boston, and by 09:00 I had a day metro and bus pass which actually cost more then the flight. Now off to Charles Ro, a shop a few miles north of the city centre. The orange line metro got me as far as Malden,

then as it was still raining, I looked for a suitable bus. As I was working out which route to take, a large chap sidled up to me and said 'yoos goin Charles Ro? Folla me'. It's a quick bus ride virtually to the shop door. Inside, mainly new US outline 3 rail O gauge, and plenty of USA Trains G gauge.  A reasonable section of HO too. All I bought were some more kadee couplers - about all I had room for in my case.

So back to Boston, and a ride on the trams, which start off in tunnels, then venture out into reserved tracks, then finally into street running. A quick visit to the 'Cheers' bar, then a walk around the historic freedom trail, and back to the airport for the return flight.

Here's to the show in 2008, mark your diaries for late April.