Little Train Went Roaring On

Train ride at the South Bay Galleria

I think I can, I think I can, I think I have a plan
And I can do 'most anything if I only think I can

Well, let's see if I can start writing up some substantial posts, in a timely manner. ;-)

Enjoy!!!

Twelve Hundred Toy Cars

Metropolis II by Chris Burden


You can always count of Chris Burden to come up with an interesting concept and a distinct manner in which to express it. His newest work, Metropolis II, which goes on display at LACMA on January 14, is part kinetic sculpture and part performance piece.

Essentially, it is a huge toy car track set within a toy cityscape, wherein the buildings are made of Lego pieces, wooden blocks, and assorted other play pieces. Likewise, there are toy trains that run throughout the setting. Being quite familiar with the efforts involved in designing toy environments, I totally believe reports that it took over four years to construct. It is a massive and complex effort.

There are eighteen railroads in this design. There are twelve hundred custom-built toy cars. Over the course of an hour, one hundred thousand cars make their way over the course of Metropolis II's roadways.

Metropolis II by Chris Burden with cars in motion

It is an awesome sight to behold.

Freight Fright

"G" scale model train track set up among the cacti.

Ever since I was a child, model train sets have ignited my imagination, inspiring me into daydreams of foreign lands or past eras, serving as sculpted tableaux upon which my fantasy may ride the rails across the boundaries of time and space.

So, it was with great enthusiasm that I had the opportunity to make a quick visit to the model train show at the South Coast Botanic Gardens. There were many fine sets on display in the primary exhibition hall, some with a Halloween theme, but I was especially thrilled to see that a few tracks had been set out in the Cactus Garden. Of course, I adore fabricated terrain and admire the design skills required to create a quality land set, but watching the trains course their way through real cacti, over authentic ground, and around sets arranged within a natural environment is a rare treat, specifically in that it can't be unpacked from a garage cabinet for a Sunday afternoon. ;-)

I've never had the happy conjunction of free time, disposable cash, and ample set space to pursue the model train hobby myself, but, if I ever get to a comfortable state of retirement, it's on my wish list. As a table top gamer, I love designing encounter settings, creating them on the cheap with paper and colored pencils. There is something exhilarating to this playful bit of world-building.

"G" scale train traverses a land with enormous flora.

I've been considering starting a new blog to focus on my game-related interests, which are a bit too niche to share here at Paideia. It might be cool to share various setting design posts with you all. We'll see if I have sufficient time to do a proper job of it. ;-)

Leaving for Lomita Station, All Aboard!!!

As promised, I'm looking at some of the interesting obscure locations to visit within the Los Angeles area. I'm starting this project with a visit to the Lomita Railroad Museum. It's a small venue hidden within the residential neighborhoods of the community. There are literally private residences next door.

Nevertheless, it's a nice collection. There is a fair amount of locomotive related objects, such as semaphore signals, uniform buttons, and tie date nails. The walls are covered with historic photographs, old railway maps, and vintage advertisements. But the big thrill comes from the trains.

They've got a class M-6 Mogul 2-6-0 engine built for Southern Pacific in 1902. There's quite an interesting view from the cab.

But there are four other cars to check out as well. . .