Welcome to the Texas Express 2023 NMRA National Convention, the Layout Design Special Interest Group, Inc. (LDSIG) is an association that is focused on bringing attention to designing model railroad layouts and their elements. We are a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organizations that exist to:

• Act as a forum for members’ exchange of information and ideas.

• Develop improved methods for hobbyists to learn the art and science of layout design.

• Provide leadership for planning, developing, coordinating, and expanding the knowledge base for designing and building model railroads that satisfy the goals of their owners.

• Promote, develop, support, and encourage participation by the public in model railroading.

Its prime purpose is to aid efforts in designing and creating layouts that achieve the owner’s layout goals within the owner’s constraints. We try to avoid common design flaws while including renditions of prototype practices and the owner’s goals.

LDSIG membership benefits include opportunities to meet fellow designers and operators at regional and national events, forums for the exchange of ideas among members and the public, and four issues of our periodic publication, the Layout Design Journal. It also offers the prospect of interacting with others willing to assist you with your designs, and participation in several Internet discussion groups.

Our slogan, “Make only new mistakes” means don’t repeat the old ones -- they’ve already been made quite a few times. We can’t wait to see you at the SIG Room in Texas.

Please stop by and see us in the SIG room, located in the Vineyard Tower, 2nd floor Tate Ballroom located conveniently near the clinic rooms and Operations Road Show.

The SIG Room serves as headquarters for LDSIG activities during convention week. LDSIG Wednesday Layout Tour information, SIG Dinner details, carpool signups, SIG Dinner details, Design Consultation Service sign-ups and consultations (open to all convention attendees), availability of Layout Design Journal back issues, and general camaraderie are always available. Feel free to pick up a membership application on the spot.

There will be displays of members’ layouts and plans for future layouts. These informative displays will explain how others have solved their layout design concerns. Layout owners will be available at times to discuss their concepts and approaches to creating their layout visions. Please bring your layout plans to post, layout mock-ups, and other layout design-related materials for (non-commercial) display.

A bulletin board will have important updates about LDSIG events—be sure to check daily for activities and schedules. You can also find members with common interests, especially between clinics. Members should update their membership roster information, railroad interests, and contact information, especially email addresses and cell phone numbers at the LDSIG desk.

The SIG Room is generally open 8 AM to 10 PM Monday through Thursday. Hours for Friday and tear down will be posted near the LDSIG Desk in the SIG Room.

Begin your convention on the right foot by getting to know other convention attendees that are especially interested in layout design. The Meet ‘N Greet takes place Sunday evening starting at 7 PM in the SIG Room. Hear informal LDSIG-member introductions, and presentations about individual layout design and construction status. Get the latest updates on tours, make yourself known, exchange ideas, and enjoy meeting new friends. Meet published authors and respected contributors to various publications and internet groups. Shirts for those attending the LDSIG Layout Tour on Wednesday will be distributed; exchange your ticket for your shirt (available through the online convention registration page and through the Convention Tour Desk).

Come join us on the premier annual layout tour sponsored by the LDSIG. We currently have 20 layouts on this year’s tour. For a list of the layouts including a general map and links to individual pages, as well as carpool sign-up information please click here.

LAYOUT TOUR INFO

The LDSIG Layout Tour includes a commemorative Polo shirt.

Carpooling is strongly encouraged so you can discuss the unique features of these layouts as you travel. All members of a carpool must register for the Tour. Sign-ups for carpools will be posted in the SIG room.

The tour cost includes a Polo shirt which will act as your ticket.

Sizes S, M, L, XL, XXL, 3XXL 4XL

Monogram (12 Characters max)

Cost: $50

The Tour is recommended to LDSIG and OPSIG members and is open to all convention attendees (Purchase your tickets through the convention registration site, or at the Convention Tour Desk). ADD LINK HERE

We will again provide the traditional self-guided LDSIG Layout Tour on Wednesday. Pick up your map and location data in the SIG room after the LDSIG Annual Meeting (Wednesday, August 23rd approximately 8:45, do not be late to pick these up or arrange carpools.

LDSIG Layout tour layouts and an overview map are listed on the LDSIG website: LDSIG Layout Tour Information

PURCHASE TOUR TICKETS AT CONVENTION REGISTRATION PAGE HERE

Wear your 2023 LDSIG Layout Tour shirt so layout owners will know you are participating in the LDIG Layout Tour. The shirt serves as your admission to the layouts.

The convention has arranged for clinics covering a wide range of design and operating topics, presented by knowledgeable and insightful modelers. Clinics on layout design and operations will be concentrated in the morning and early afternoon (except Wednesday during the LDSIG Layout Tour), giving folks interested in operating with OPSIG time to gather at their 4 PM ride-sharing meeting. There will be additional clinics later in the day as well. The LDSIG will offer a moderated panel of experienced hobbyists discussing “What Would You Do Differently” focusing on design decisions and changes made by layout builders, with opportunities for questions and exchange of information with the audience. See the complete schedule and clinic descriptions in the clinic portion of the Convention Timetable.

Layout Design Tips and Principles

The NMRA's Layout Design Special Interest Group created a Layout Design clinic entitled “Make Only New Mistakes”.

This two-hour clinic is open to all convention attendees and begins on Monday at 1:00 PM; check the Convention Timetable for the room assignment for “Make Only New Mistakes”. The clinic is an intensive session on track planning and layout design. Discover how to refine your layout’s vision, concept, and purpose; select layout footprints and schematics; draw accurate and useful plans; create efficient and engaging yards and industrial areas; make the best use of staging tracks; maintain space for people and avoid common track planning errors. Step-by-step examples from a variety of layout designs will be discussed.

Whether your dream layout is strongly prototype-based, a creative freelanced theme, or somewhere in between, this practical session will give you the tools and best practices to help design a layout meeting your design goals!

Among the topics to be covered:

- Layout design phases: Conceptual, Structural, and Detail

- Developing vision, theme, and purpose

- The impact of givens and 'druthers considering space, resources, and skills

- Prototype research techniques and tools

- The user and viewer experience

- Layout footprint techniques

- Drawing and rendering tools and best practices

- Planning for people

- Multi-deck considerations

- Yard planning

- Staging design

- Signature elements vs. typicality

- LDEs: Possibilities and pitfalls

- Tricky traps of layout design (common errors to avoid)

- Layout design for operation

… and much more!

The LDSIG offers a free design consultation service to all convention attendees. Stop by and sign up for an available half-hour consultation session with an LDSIG member, daily Monday afternoon through Friday morning (except Wednesday during the LDSIG Layout Tour). Bring your list of “Givens and Druthers”, room plans and descriptions, track plans, questions, etc., to get fresh insight, a reality check, and valuable help.

The LDSIG Annual Membership Meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, at 8 AM in the SIG Room. The agenda includes officer and volunteer reports, and the results of the election of Directors. All LDSIG members at the convention are encouraged to attend and participate. Maps for the Wednesday LDSIG Tour layouts will be distributed, and the remaining Layout Tour commemorative shirts exchanged for your Tour ticket after the meeting in San Saba 2.

This year the SIG Dinner is open to members of all SIGs. We have a great venue for the Convention wrap-up dinner. This will be a great opportunity to relax and rub shoulders with fellow SIG members, discuss everything you've seen during Texas Express 2023 and reflect on how to apply your new insights to your layout!

Thursday, August 24th, 6-7 PM Social Hour, 7--9 PM at Babe’s Chicken Dinner House

Our speaker will be: “Gary Ray”

Cost: $50.00

We will be ordering from a set menu to include Entree, Drink, and Dessert.

Tickets can be purchased on the convention registration page at

Purchase Ticket

you will find it near the bottom of the activity list or through the convention Tour Desk during the convention.

We hope to see you there for a relaxed gathering!