Valtakunnalliset Pienoisrautatiepäivät 2006

Lahti, Finland 30.09 - 01.10.2006

The National Model Railway Days were organized for the 24th time. The event took place in Lahti Exhibition Center in Lahti, Finland. Several layouts from individuals and clubs were displayed and represented various themes like Finnish, American and Central European the emphasis being on Finnish layouts. Most layouts were in H0-scale, but Kari Sarmanne had a wonderful collection of his z-layouts on display and his exhibition stand was understandably one of the most popular in the exhibition. Pictures of layouts in other scales can be seen here.

Can it get any smaller? Kari Sarmanne had built this compact layput in a cigarbox using flextrack. The track radius was about 5 cm (2 inches).	Another box-layout from Kari Sarmanne. The scenery is still missing, but the little train pulled by German 74-series steam locomotive was busy all day long. The uphill grade is rather impressive like 10%!	Kari Sarmanne's "big" (44 x 75 cm) US layout consists of two module segments and demonstrates how a very attracting railway with an interesting track layout can be built in a truly reduced space. In z-scale only, of course.
Track layout consists basically of two return loops with track in between, but it is not obvious at the first look thanks to a clever design with tunnels and elevations.	Between the return loops there is a side track which allows switching from one train to another. The layout can be switched between manual and automatic operation modes.	The upper return loop is in the middle of a desert. This is mainly due to the fact that this is the highest point of the layout and for easy transportation of the module, trees or buildings are out of the question.
Next to the desert, there is a sidetrack where a third locomotive is parked and ready for service.	This fantasy layout from "Topparoikka" club had a little z-scale oval among ovals in other scales and bears and pigs and glitter with train speeds that could make one dizzy.