Lockport New York Flight of Five

One of the major engineering accomplishments on the Erie Canal was controlling water over a tremendous drop near the town of Lockport. This was done by the use of five locks all connected to each other. This was called the Flight of Five.

When the canal was modernized those five locks were reduced to two deeper locks which are still in use today. The former five locks are now part of a canal museum

This is one of the Flight of Five

Reproduction canal boat is on display

Well done models show how the locks worked in the early days

Today all locks are controlled by automated machinery

The present two locks are quite deep and very impressive

Soggy Bottom Modules

Modules are a means for model railroaders to bring their creations to public spaces and assemble them to show their layouts to the convention attendees. These are placed in display rooms and judged for various awards. Most shown at national conventions are very well done.

One such set of modules is known as "Soggy Bottoms" This is a light hearted combination of turn of the century canal boats and early steam engines. Many of the buildings on the layout are based on real world structures.

2016 Narrow Gauge Convention - Modules - Soggy Bottom

The 2016 National Narrow Gauge Convention has a competition for folks that build modules and put them on display. The particular set of modules won the module competition.

They are called "Soggy Bottom" and combine canals and canal boats as well as narrow gauge railroads. This was an especially well done set of modules with On30 scale trains.

Modules are built into a set of shadow box displays

Nicely detailed garden

Several displays reflect actual locations in real life

Not sure what the horse found so interesting inside the building

This scene was inspired by the Petticoat Junction TV show

Shadow box  has effective lighting  behind a valence