Wilkes-Barre, PA: Hudson Model Railroad Club’s 2,000-square-foot set-up open again for public view.

From Wilkes-Barre Time Leader:  Hudson Model Railroad Club’s 2,000-square-foot set-up open again for public view.

PLAINS TWP. -- On Sunday, the Hudson Model Railroad Club celebrated its 30th year showcasing its 2,000-square-foot, handmade railroad display with more than 150 locomotives and 2,000 rail cars riding four miles of track.
“We’ve become a local holiday tradition,” said club president Jim Cerulli.
He said the30 members of the club range in age from 16 to more than 80 and all share a “love for trains that can’t be learned.”
They have been meeting once a week to upgrade, maintain, expand and otherwise improve their display all as a “passion for trains,” he added.
“These aren’t just toys. They are exact scale replicas of the real thing. Everything you see in real life you will see here,” he said. Members even will paint graffiti on their cars and exhaust stains on the engines to highlight realism, he said.
Along with the trains, the display includes a model steel mill, harbor and city complete with more than 200 buildings and 500 miniature cars serving the miniature population of more than 750 residents.
A computerized control system allows members to use handheld devices to control the engines, which each have their own computer chip in them, Cerulli said.
“They’re like sophisticated television remotes,” he joked.
More than 200 visitors came by to see the display on Sunday. Every year the club is open from the first weekend after Thanksgiving to the first weekend after New Year’s Day, he said.
Along the walls are photos of local trains along with graphics that define the various types of trains and what type of cargo they could be carrying, Cerulli said.
“We want to teach as well as display. That’s what it’s all about,” he said.
Most of the rolling stock is owned by the club members including several “custom built” pieces not available on the open market, he said.
The club owns the display and the “circus train” Cerulli calls a real crowd pleaser.
“We built a full-length circus train like the types that used to run in the 1970s,” he said.
Another line that gets a lot of attention from the children is the “Caterpillar equipment train,” which offers a line-up of various forms of heavy equipment being transported by rail, he said.
Bill Wightman, a club fan and regular visitor to the display for the last 20 years, said he can’t help but notice the amazing progress and improvements in the layout. What he likes most though is the large variety in the display.
“They have a little bit of everything,” he said.
Cerulli said the club plans to continue into the future allowing train enthusiasts to view the display for free. However, he admits donations from the visitors are very much appreciated and needed to maintain the club’s display.
“It’s a constant work in progress,” he said.

 

Scranton, PA: Model trains entrance visitors to steamtown Saturday

From the Times-Tribune:  Model trains entrance visitors to steamtown Saturday

Model trains were always an "old guy" hobby, said Clem O'Jevich Jr. of the Warrior Run Locomotive Works.
Time, disposable income and nostalgia predispose older gentlemen to the hobby, he contended while operating a garden-scale, live-steam model train at the Model Trains Through the Ages program at Steamtown National Historic Site.
Even in the 1940s, he said, the hobby was dominated by retired men.
But the event co-sponsored by Lackawanna Historical Society drew quite a few wide-eyed young folks, enthusiastic exceptions to Mr. O'Jevich's observation and the newest generation of model train enthusiasts.
Even with the real things chugging by just outside the Steamtown Museum, the buzzing model trains captivated John and Caleb Faia, ages 15 and 11, of Lansdale. Like most passions, this one was handed down by their grandfather, who is active in model trains with a large, year-round set.
"We keep adding and adding," John said. John, Caleb and their parents hoped to get a seat on the Scranton Limited 30-minute train rides.
Bryan Melliand, 13, of Clarks Summit, and his visiting cousin Ben Schwartz, 9, were enjoying the displays of different-size trains from Nolan & Rogers in Scranton.
Bryan recognizes that, as a train hobbyist, he may be a standout among his cohorts. He's limited to no more than one hour of video games daily, and doesn't have a smartphone, which he figures gives him time to pursue interests. With help from his father, Ben converted a bookcase into a fold-down train set.
"Most kids are into video games or sports and don't want to spend time to learn about trains or take the time to put a set together," Bryan said. "But trains are cool and fun."
Also on hand was Dan Emick of Scranton, self-proclaimed "Doctor of Trainology," offering advice to those just starting out or diagnoses for those with problems with their train sets.
The most common problem? "It won't run."
The solution is often simple, Mr. Emick said: rusted contacts and lack of lubrication.
The exhibit continues though today and is included with the national park's entrance fee of $7 for adults, children 15 and under free.

 

Hamburg, NY: 31st Annual Train and Toy Show

This was last weekend but just mark it on your calendar as it'll be held next year as well at around this same time!


From WGRZ.com:  31st Annual Train and Toy Show

HAMBURG, N.Y. - All aboard! Hundreds of vendors and train enthusiasts rolled into the Event Center at the fairgrounds in Hamburg for the 31st annual Train and Toy show.
There are plenty of model trains, accessories and vintage toys to buy or just look at.
The show is a fundraiser for the Western New York Railway Historical Society, which helps preserve the railroad history in the Queen City.
"To see a little train around the tree at Christmas is a tradition that is shared by a lot of people," said Stephen Kocsis, of the WNY Railway Historical Society. "You can find little one of a kind pieces to add to your collection. You can buy a whole major layout if you need to get one. There's something for everybody."
The train show continues Sunday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Events Center at the Hamburg fairgrounds.

 

Irondequoit, NY: Room-sized train display delights young and old

From Democrat and Chronicle: Room-sized train display delights young and old
 Train lovers of all ages were treated to a room-sized holiday village Saturday at Chapel Oaks Community Center in Irondequoit.
The third annual train display at the retirement community opened to the public Saturday morning and will continue through Sunday.
“Both old and young really enjoy trains,” said Marie Frey, marketing representative at Chapel Oaks. “We thought it would be a really nice thing to do for the community, like a family affair.”
The train display took eight volunteers from Flower City Tinplate Trackers about four hours to set up on Friday. The group is a train club based in Rochester that operates and displays O Gauge model trains at community events and train shows.
Frey said members of the public typically come to see the trains, as well as the seniors who live at Chapel Oaks.
“It’s very nostalgic for them,” she said. “Just to see their eyes light up when they see the trains, it’s pretty amazing to watch.”
The display will be open from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Chapel Oaks is located on St. Ann’s campus, 1550 Portland Ave.

 

Flint, MI: Model trains are newest exhibit for Christmas season at Flint's Sloan Museum

From MLive:  Model trains are newest exhibit for Christmas season at Flint's Sloan Museum

FLINT, MI--All aboard, model train enthusiasts.
The newest exhibit at Sloan Museum will be "Holiday Trains."
These trains, however, won't just be circling the Christmas tree.
"Visitors will be taken back to the days when the Iron Horse sped across Michigan. Marvel at charming model trains as they travel across rustic bridges, along overhead trestles, and even past a zoo," a release from Sloan said of the scaled model showcase.

The exhibit, intended for all ages, will be on display through Jan. 27.

For more information, check out the exhibit's website.

Sloan Museum is located at 1221 East Kearsley Street in Flint, Michigan. Tickets are $9 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $6 for youth ages 3-11.

 

Scranton: Model Trains Through the Ages' holiday program set for Steamtown NHS

From Go Lackawanna:  Model Trains Through the Ages' holiday program set for Steamtown NHS

Steamtown National Historic Site partner, the Lackawanna Historical Society, will present a holiday program, “Model Trains Through the Ages,” Nov. 23 through 25 at the park. The program will focus on model railroading as a holiday tradition.
Visitors at both Steamtown NHS and the Historical Society’s Catlin House have commented through the years about their cherished holiday memories, which always seemed to include a model train set. The memories evoke the arrival of visiting family members, many who traveled home for the holidays, laden with gifts and surprises, by passenger rail.

The program will include a Märklin model train exhibit, a “live steam” garden railroad display, and a traditional holiday train display by a group of dedicated local model railroad enthusiasts.
Dan Emick, a self-described “train doctor,” will display various model railroad scales (“sizes”), and be available to discuss problem-solving techniques for model train hobbyists. Additionally, the public is invited to participate in a model train race each event day at 2 p.m. “O” scale model trains will be available for racing participants.
For further information about this family-friendly event, contact the Lackawanna Historical Society at 570.344.3841 or visit www.lackawannahistory.org.

Admission to the event is included with the Park’s daily entrance fee of $7 for all ages 16 and older. Children ages 15 and younger are free with accompanying adults. The entrance fee includes access to the park’s museums, theater and scheduled walking tours.

The popular “Scranton Limited” 30-minute train rides will also operate, covering a 3-mile round trip that crosses the Lackawanna River and passes alongside the historic Radisson at Lackawanna Station Hotel, pausing near the University of Scranton before returning to the roundhouse boarding area. Tickets to ride this train cost $5 per person, all ages 6 and older, in addition to the daily park entrance fee.

Located in downtown Scranton, Steamtown NHS is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Additional general park information is available by calling 570.340.5200 during regular business hours, or by visiting the Park website at www.nps.gov/stea.

 

Chicago: Check out model railroad layouts at open house

From Daily Herald:  Check out model railroad layouts at open house

In its 63rd annual open house, the Valley Model Railroad Club is doing something different.

Members are pairing their three-day open house event with a food drive benefiting the South Elgin Food Pantry. Visitors who bring in a canned good or some other nonperishable item will get a free raffle ticket and be entered into a drawing for model railroading prizes.

Duane Tuma, a 25-year member of the club, said the food drive fits in well with the goals of the family-oriented club.

“It’s one way of giving back to the community,” Tuma said. “Especially with the way things are right now.”

The Valley Model Railroad Club is made up of plenty of husband and wife pairs and multigenerational family groups. Tuma said there are third generation members who first came to the club with their grandfathers.

The model railroaders gather to share their love of trains at the old Clintonville Substation on the Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad line in South Elgin. They moved into the building in 1953. For decades members built up a model, constantly adding new bits of scenery and adding new track designs until 1999 when they basically tore out the old layout and started fresh.

“One thing about model railroading, once you think you’re done then you start over again,” Tuma said. “You never finish anything because it’s always changing.”

Members invite anyone interested in model railroads to the open house, whether that interest is backed by extensive knowledge of the hobby or not. Tuma said visitors can talk to club members on various committees focused on parts of the layout like scenery, electricity or track.

The open house will be from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16; 1 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17; and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18 at the club, 33W519 Kenyon Road in South Elgin.

Outside of the annual open house, club members regularly welcome community groups — most often Boy Scouts — to tour the club and check out the layout. And every month they set up a display at the Great Midwest Train Show at the DuPage County Fairgrounds.

For details call (847) 742-2028 or visit vmrr.org.