Most of us have heard of or seen concept cars at motor shows - you know, the futuristic versions with gadgets and innovations not yet on the market but which represent the designers' ideas for future enhancements to the car or its general engineering.
So what are your concepts for the model railways of the future. To stimulate your mind here's a little story, a concept for Christmas if you like. Let your imagination run wild!
"George pulled his collar up against the biting Winter wind as he trudged through the snow. He loved the December exhibition and longed for the warmth of the hall. As he turned the corner there was already a small queue forming. This snow should drive in some extra passing trade, he thought. The security sensor scanned his exhibitor's pass in his pocket as the welcoming sound of layouts and trade stands being prepared met his ears. The warmth assaulted his cheeks and he was soon in his familiar operator's position ready to begin.
He picked up a tiny microphone and attached it to his neck, then took an earpiece and popped it into his right ear. Looking down at the control panel he quietly said "Power Up". Immediately the panel sprang into life. "Good Morning Sir, password please", said the disembodied voice in his ear. "Isambard Kingdom Brunel" he whispered.
For the next few minutes the panel's CPU would take over. Now what sort of day should we have today, thought George, just as the voice in his ear asked "Time of day and season please?". But of course, he thought. "Early morning, winter", said George. The familiar hum of the holographic projectors began; the sound which he knew meant it would not be long before the layout was ready for the public. "Weather conditions?", enquired the voice. "Light snowfall, icy roads, icicles." said George. As if by magic the projectors burst into life and the lovingly constructed buildings and scenery of George's layout took on a mantle of snow with perfectly positioned icicles hanging from the gutters and some rather treacherous looking icy patches on the roads. The plasma backscene took on a dark and foreboding hue as a flurry of black clouds scudded ominously into view. A light curtain of snowflakes began to fall and a few tiny figures appeared on the platform, shuffling their way along or standing under whatever shelter they could find rubbing their hands together for warmth.
This latest CPU add-on delighted George most, and now it could be integrated with the rolling stock. He had just bought a rake of the latest Hornbach coaches and couldn't wait to try the opening doors. The platform sensors had been difficult to install and disguise and they almost hadn't been ready for the show but a few hours burning the midnight oil had ensured success and provided the rake was lined up precisely, the doors would open, courtesy of a few commands from the CPU, and the holographic passengers would climb in.
"Activate stock", said George. "Rake A and Class 50, fiddle road 3 to platform 2, with doors". The points changed, the signals cleared and out from the tunnel appeared his pride and joy, a pristine model of the 150 year old diesel locomotive he admired the most pulling a rake of blue and grey coaching stock in straight out of works condition. That will never do, thought George, not for Winter anyway. "Pause", said George. The loco ground to a halt. "Stock, condition, heavily weathered" he said. The LCD sides of the loco and coaches transformed with a ripple from top to bottom and the pristine cleanliness was gone. In its place was a muddy brown, covering most of the lower half of each vehicle, gradually giving way to little more than a faint hint of dirt at the top.
"Ladies and gentlemen", said the voice on the PA, "the exhibition is now open. Will all exhibitors kindly ensure their layouts are fully operational as the public are now entering the hall.". This was it, no more time for last minute program changes and no going back. He would have to choose his time right but conditions were perfect. "Resume", said George as the loco edged into life once again.
A small crowd very quickly gathered, just in time to see the train stop. The doors opened and the few passengers boarded the train and closed the doors behind them. "Where have they gone, mister?" asked a small boy so close to the front of the layout his chin was almost resting on it. "Well", said George, "They all sat on this side. That's why you can't see them at the windows on your side.". The coaches had opening doors but the technology to link their LCD windows to show moving seated passengers who had just got on was still not expected for a few months yet.
George soon settled in to his well rehearsed timetable and most of the day passed without a hitch, apart that was from one unfortunate incident when the CPU overheated and a group of sunbathers were projected onto the roof of the church building, which had a six inch deep covering of snow at the time!
Later that afternoon, George looked up and saw that most of the watching crowd were children. This is it, he thought. "Santa Special", he whispered. "Look, dad", said a young boy sitting astride his father's shoulders, "What's that coming out of that chimney?". "It's just smoke, son", said his father. "No dad, the other one, it's a man. Look, its Santa." Just at that, and with a swoosh, out of the sky at the fiddle yard end of the layout, appeared a sleigh, laden with gifts and pulled by a team of reindeer. The squeal from the young audience made a few of George's fellow exhibitors look up and the crowd swelled as more people tried to get a glimpse of what was happening. The sleigh swooped down over the rooftops and settled close to the chimney where a perhaps rather too rotund Santa was by this time standing brushing soot off his scarlet robes. Some snow slid down the roof as Santa climbed in and with a flick of the reins the sleigh was off and very soon out of sight.
"Do that again Mister", said the boy from his fathers shoulders. "Sorry", said George, "but Santa has far too many other houses to visit tonight for him to return here again.".
George looked at his watch and sighed with relief. Only half an hour to go and he could go home. Time for a rest, he thought. "Automatic, timetable 3, move 23", said George. Seamlessly the CPU took over all operations on the layout from where he had left off, coupling, uncoupling, shunting and operating the points and signals without another word from George. Now where did I put that Railway Modeller, he thought, as he settled into his chair, and where was that advert for the new front of layout climate control module..."
Manxcat