The Avon Lake Public Library brought back those sounds on April 7 with a train show presented by the 75-year-old National Model Railroad Association (NMRA), Mid-Central Region Division 4. Locally, the association serves the counties of Lorain, Cuyahoga, Medina, Erie and Huron.

Scott Benson of Medina, coordinator of the Modular Layout Group, oversaw the show. Division 4 has 200 members, and there are 25 in the layout group.

Benson reflected on the sentiment that continues to fascinate and causes increasing numbers of people to become interested in model trains.

"It's about times gone by," he said, "what they were in the past, especially the passenger trains."

Benson has keen memories of trains, because he grew up in Chicago and regularly rode trains into the city.

"But I became involved in model railroading only about 10 years ago," he said.

Five trains were set up for the show, all backed with detailed scenery -- an area that some model railroaders specialize in. Others specialize in making miniature cars look as accurate as possible -- even sometimes including graffiti.

Jacob Dew, 14, of Avon Lake, comes by his interest in trains naturally. He built scenery for the show featuring his memory of a place in his hometown of Fredericksburg, Va., where he used to go to watch the local trains pass by.

Benson said he has at least a dozen locomotives and about 100 rail cars in his own collection. His layout at home takes up most of the 30-foot-by-30-foot size of the room. He admits it can be a rather expensive hobby.

"But now I have the free time, as well as the disposables," he said. His wife, Pam, supports his interest in model railroading, but Benson said the hobby still seems to attract more males than females.

When asked what is the best way to get involved in model railroading, Benson noted a "MODEL TRAINing DAY" coming up on Nov. 4. It will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Black River Landing & Transportation Center in Lorain. The show is free, and for both kids and adults of all skill levels.

Hot topics in model railroading today that will be discussed, Benson said, are technology-oriented issues, such as model railroad electronics and digital command and control (DCC) vs. analog (direct current). Other topics will include deciding on the right scale model and building scenery. Show attendees will also be able to build a model kit to take home.

The NMRA has more than 150 divisions across the United States and in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain. For more information, text DIV4 to 22828 to join the Division 4 express mailing list, or call 423-892-2846 or visit www.nmra.org.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This page last updated:

• Home
• About
• Achievement Program
• Auction page
• Clinics
• Company Store
• Contacts
• Contests
• Conventions
• Division Boundaries
• NMRA eBulletin
• Estate Sales
• Events
• Division 4 facebook
• Field Trips
• Flatwheel newsletter
• Fliers
• Fun Stuff
• The Great Berea Train Show
• Join NMRA
• Kurilec page
• Layout Tours
• Links
• Meetings
• Members page
• Modules
• Obituaries
• SWAP-N-SHOP
• TRAINing DAY
• VIDEO LIBRARY
• Join Yahoo Group