Presse / Press
Final report / International Model Railway Exhibition 2016 / 25.11.2016
33rd International Model Railway Exhibition (IMA) 2016 in Cologne: The world of digital model railways - uniting generations and Europe
The world of model railways has come a long way in the 21st century: it is diverse, auditory, full of individuality and creativity. Digitisation has taken over with flying colours - not only in railway modelling of course, as it is a major development in all manufacturing industries. But in the world of toy trains it acts in many ways to enhance this well-loved hobby: Digital technology gives railway modellers infinite comfort in drive and control systems, while at the same time optics, haptics and acoustics guarantee the element of nostalgia that fascinates generations. At the 33rd International Model Railway Exhibition from 17th - 20th November 2016 in Cologne, 208 exhibitors from 15 countries formed a state-of-the-art marketplace of today's railway modelling possibilities! The audience showed strong interest and enjoyed perusing the exhibition stands and admiring fantastic model railway layouts from all over Europe. Equally popular with the 58,000 visitors were the parallel events Cologne Live Steam Meeting, the LEGO Kids Fest and LEGO Fan World.
"The tracks are laid, the infrastructure is in place. I look forward to welcoming many international guests here in Cologne and I say a sincere Thankyou to Messe Sinsheim, who organise this major event of the model railway industry with all their experience and great dedication to detail, for their valuable cooperation". These were the opening words of Sandra Orth, General Manager of Koelnmesse, at the 33rd edition of the International Model Railway Exhibition. In getting together to create a model railway layout, modellers are promoting togetherness and intergenerational communication. The active haptic experience of model construction inspires generations. In Cologne the two topics railway modelling and LEGO unite in perfect event synergy.
An open and peaceful co-existence in Europe is a matter of course for children and young people. With the show's motto "Model railways unite Europe" Andreas Wittur, managing director of Messe Sinsheim, embraced and incorporated this fundamental concept at the 33rd IMA: "With this philosophy we wish to play a part in recalling the benefits offered to all of us by a common interdependent Europe." The European spirit was certainly present throughout the fair. On the one hand the show displayed model railway layouts from 15 countries from Scandinavia to Croatia and Spain, and on the other hand the model railway technology of today has been harmonised in Europe and can be used boundlessly everywhere. Peter Briegel, President of MOROP, was eager to underline the European spirit of railway modellers: Today, through dialogue and standardisation, 17 national associations within the European network make sure that there is limitless pleasure in the construction of all model railway layouts.
Market leader Märklin also has a strong interest in the harmonisation of model railway tracks. For this reason Florian Sieber, head of the renowned company, took time at IMA 2016 for intensive talks with model railway dealers, in order to continue to work together for more customer satisfaction. He also explicitly emphasized the company's investment in product ranges for children and youngsters. One of the absolute highlights at the Märklin stand was definitely the new digital layout controller Central Station 3 with its system concept for all three product brands Märklin, Trix and LGB. The new CS3, which can manage up to 32 locomotive functions, is equipped with a brilliant touch screen and is operated intuitively by wiping across the display. The topic of model railway layout digitisation was competently presented and explained in depth by all brand suppliers at the fair. Individualised design of railway models is one of the great features available, offered for example by PIKO. A railway model can be printed with individual motifs - from quantities of 1 upwards - making the perfect gift for Grandpa's birthday, the station manager's anniversary and of course a great idea for any fan of seasonally decorated model trains.
What's that sound? Monks chanting? That's exactly what it is, as the limited edition jubilee model by Faller commemorating the company's 70th anniversary is a very unusual one: Bebenhausen Monastery. This mediaeval Cistercian abbey in south Germany's Schönbuch nature park was beautifully presented at the Cologne fair, fitted out with the sound of chanting monks. According to Faller the true-to-original replica required a development period of 14 months, with the photometric data collected by a drone. All 100% made in Germany, just like all of this major company's model kits. In addition to the repertoire of the market leaders, small series manufacturers such as Heckl and Saller presented their beautiful exclusive masterpieces.
However, the real stars of the International Model Railway Exhibition were the amazing model railways displayed by exhibitors, clubs and societies. The first thing visitors saw when entering the IMA hall was an intricate replica of the Arlberg Railway. With over 100 metres of track in scale 1:160 this layout is unique among N gauge models. True-to-detail track sections of the legendary railway led over the pride of the Alps - the Trisanna Bridge. The original bridge is 207 metres long and 87.4 metres high. Accompanied by genuine sounds, the N gauge trains huffed and puffed over the bridge and through the fascinating miniature world of the Alps which included 27,000 handmade trees. "The digital sounds are addictive," says club boss Herbert Buchinger, "There are innumerable possibilities to be creative."
The "Ladeside Diesel Depot" layout in gauge 0 by Scottish modeller Mike Bisset presented beneath the British flag also comprised many handmade elements. It depicts a diesel locomotive depot in the early 1960s, DCC controlled and every loco equipped with sound decoder. The smoke generators installed in the rolling stock were a popular feature: open the slide damper, insert the oil carefully through a cannula, close the damper, steam off - a down to earth ritual which the spectators loved.
"Muy contento!" – The operators of the layout from Spain were very happy with their participation at IMA 2016. Their replica of the railway line between the towns of Lleida and La Pobla de Segur led through beautiful Catalonian countryside. This layout in H0 gauge depicted the boundryless connection between Spain and their French neighbours over die Pyrenees. Another presentation symbolizing a free Europe, dating back to when the opening of new trade routes at the end of the 19th century also enabled new economic possibilities for international trade. Along the railway route hikers and cyclists could be seen energetically mastering the steep and dusty mountain roads.
Other European model railway operators were also happy to take on long and arduous journeys to present their miniature masterpieces to a wide audience of railway enthusiasts at IMA 2016. For example, the impressive N gauge layout from Finland travelled for 36 hours before it arrived safe and sound in Cologne. The "Graubünden Railway" layout in gauge H0m had a slightly shorter journey from the Netherlands. Its central theme was Schiers station, one of the many picturesque stations on the popular Rhaetian Railway. Inside the illuminated carriages, passengers could be seen waving and marvelling at the hikers climbing the paths alongside the railway, as well as the scenery with its rushing waterfall and idyllic Swiss mountain huts. The magic of a winter landscape could be seen on the railway layout in Z gauge presented by the Z-Club International. A little boy with bright red cheeks cried excitedly, "Oh look, everything is covered in snow!" The romantic lighting of the snow-clad timber-framed houses delighted him, and a tiny horse-drawn carriage with almost audible horses' bells exuded pre-Christmas cheer. On the stand opposite, finest British humour was evident: "Standen Watchet" was the name of the layout presented by a genuine British railway buff. Spectators understood the pun and crowded round to do so.
The well-attended Model Railway Forum gave visitors the opportunity to listen to and learn from experts of the railway modelling industry, who conveyed practice-oriented insider knowledge on topics such as specialist LED know-how for railway modellers, tips and tricks for layout construction, lectures on how to become a digital expert and on the technology needed to create genuine-sounding railway noises. Many exhibitors such as Tillig introduced their latest innovations. The forum also included a model railway cinema where visitors could sit back and enjoy videos of the world's most beautiful railway journeys.
LEGO modellers exhibiting at the fair are also model engineering experts par excellence - as they proved at the LEGO Kids Fest and LEGO Fan World! On his display area Thomas Dickertmann for example presented every one of the LEGO railway systems ever issued on one single multi-coloured LEGO railway layout, with the oldest elements originating from 1966.
Families with children were especially attracted to the wide variety of landscapes on show in LEGO Fan World. The large LEGO fairy-tale area brought many of the kids' bedtime stories to life at the fair, from Gulliver's Travels to the Pied Piper of Hamlin. Little girls were thrilled with Heart Lake City, a pink and pastel dream world full of pretty things. Among the large-scale models was a detailed replica of the New York Twin Towers at the time of their construction. And even Hollywood seemed to be in evidence everywhere at LEGO Fan World, taking spectators on a journey through many blockbuster locations, such as the famous headquarters of the Ghostbusters. A model of New York's 14th North Moore Street required a construction period of eleven months and around 50,000 bricks.
LEGO's current major topic is of course Star Wars! The display included a mega photo motif of the impressive Maz Kanatas Castle on Takodana from Star Wars 7. Star Wars' AT-AT was present in UCS format, built of course in accurate scale to the mini figures and the Snowspeeder. No Star Wars display is complete without Darth Vader: The Chosen One from an old Jedi prophesy, who turned to the dark side of the Force, was one of the colossal Star Wars figures displayed on pedestals, each figure made of over 7,000 bricks. Next to Darth Vader stood a genuine clone trooper, and nearby a figure of Anakin Skywalker, father of Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa, in his role as Jedi General of the clone troopers.
Digitalisation and robotics are also omnipresent for LEGO fans. A great example is a grammar school project in which LEGO supports the pupils by sponsoring bricks so that they are able to build various robots and to programme intelligent functions. At the show the 'CoJoBo' school group presented a fantastic LEGO work station with conveyor belts, shaking table and special-purpose machines, bringing a playful feeling of Industry4.0 to the Cologne event.
Centre of attention at the LEGO Kids Fest were the innumerable overflowing crates and a gigantic mountain of LEGO bricks in which children could romp around to their hearts' content. An absolute highlight was the LEGO silhouette of Germany, which was gradually 'populated' by the youngest inhabitants by adding buildings to the map. A great idea!
At the Cologne Indoor Steam Meeting the icing on the cake for many railway fans was the chance to ride on a steam train. Apart from admiring the majestic steam models many families were keen to take a trip around the hall with one of the puffing and steaming little giants. So IMA 2016 with its accompanying top events again lived up to its reputation as a paradise for play & adventure, hobby & shopping. Florian Sieber of Märklin said in this context: "I myself grew up with Märklin and LEGO. I am big fan of both worlds and I think that the concept here in Cologne is ideal."
The 35th IMA - INTERNATIONAL MODEL RAILWAY EXHIBITION takes place in November 2018 at Koelnmesse.
PRESS IMAGES of the mega event for royalty-free use in your editorial coverage can be found here:
www.modellbahn-koeln.de/medien/presse/bilder-video-logo
We look forward to receipt of specimen copies and links to your online articles.
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SAVE THE DATE!
Right on time for the start of the season in the coming year, FASZINATION MODELLBAHN, International Fair for Model Railways, Specials & Accessories, takes place in Sinsheim from 10th-12th March 2017.
www.faszination-modellbahn.com
www.facebook.com/FaszinationModellbahn
The next INDOOR STEAM MEETING takes place together with FASZINATION MODELLBAU FRIEDRICHSHAFEN from 3rd - 5th November 2017 in Messe Friedrichshafen.
www.echtdampf-hallentreffen.de
www.facebook.com/EchtdampfHallentreffen
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Contact: Messe Sinsheim GmbH
Phone: +49 7261/689-0 , Fax: +49 7261/689-220
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