The National Train Show is the largest show of its kind. Held at Bartle Convention Hall, Kansas City, Missouri, the 1998 show had over 15,000 attendees. The Kansas City Central Layout was completed at the show, and given away at the end of the show by drawing the winning entry. (The great train race was another promotional event at the show.)

Here are some of the people involved in making the KC Central possible. Jim Myers runs Motivators, Inc. His company did the promotion for the National Train Show.

Andy Sperando (Left) and Jim Hediger (Right) from Model Railroader Magazine provided invaluable assistance throughout the project.

Here are some people filling out the entry blanks for the drawing.

Work on the layout got off to a slow start on Friday. Here are two of the Members of the Society of Model Engineers, making sure the layout doesn't float away.

An overview of the whole layout. The buildings are, clockwise: The barn from IHC, Aunt Millie's house from IHC, Walthers' stockyard, Walthers' ADM grain elevator, 19th Century church by Atlas, Merchant's row 2 by Walthers, Sunrise Feed and Grain fram Walthers, and the Clarksville Depot from Walthers.

A Close-up of the Depot.

Here is some rock work. The left is done with ceiling tile. The right upper area is plaster cast with tin foil, the right bottom is plaster cast in a commercial mold.

The stockyard and Aunt Millie's house.

Polly was always doing "just one more thing." ...

Her dedication shows in this detail of the church.

Two overall views of the layout. At the left, the Texas Special is about to leave the station.

Here's the crew at the show. From the left: Louis Seibel, Delia Bates, Bob Gibson, Ryan Mentzer, Saundra Tree, Doug Wood, Polly Porterfield, John Lanese, Hans Strohm, and John Dunnewind.

The winning family, with friends. Tim and Vicky Hille, with their children Alicia, Bob, and Danielle. They live in Grandview, Missouri.

That's all folks. Hope you have enjoyed this porject. I know I have, and I think the rest of the Society of Model Engineers will echo my feelings. Be sure to visit our club Web page, listed below. Happy Railroading!