Local club on track for Fall Train Show and Sale
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PARKERSBURG --Train here. Trains there. Trains everywhere.
The Mid-Ohio Valley Model Railroad Club's annual Fall Train Show and Sale will be held 10-3 p.m. Saturday in the student activities center at West Virginia University at Parkersburg.
The 28th annual event features dealers from numerous states behind 100 vendor tables, offering vintage and new model railroad equipment in many scales and accessories, clothing, memorabilia and historic railroad artifacts. The show is handicap accessible.
"There aren't many opportunities to go to model railroad shows for people in our area, so one of the best ways we can show collectors and hobbyists what's available is to put on this show each year," show Chairman Tom Ratkovich, a long-time club member, said.
"The show also is the No. 1 way we have to get the word out about our club and how much fun it is to be in model railroading."
Model railroading is among the most popular hobbies in the United States and is an activity a person can participate in their entire life.
Dealers at the show will have available everything to get started in the hobby.
"We have a lot of great vendors coming in, " said Ratkovich, who pointed out the event is the third largest of its kind in West Virginia.
"We're expecting this to be one of our best shows".
The model railroading hobby is broken down into scales, the most popular of which is HO (1/87). Other major scales include O (1/48- a popular modeling scale), S (1/64- the same as Matchbox and Hot Wheels die-cast cars), G (1/29), Standard (1/32) and N (1/120). More than 67 percent of model railroaders are in HO scale, while the famous Lionel Electric Trains name is familiar among persons with an interest in history and is a leader, along with MTH Electric Trains, Williams and Atlas in O scale.
Lionel has been in business for 123 years and the Lionel Collectors Club of America is one of the largest model railroading organizations in the world.
American Flyer, owned by Lionel, is the major manufacturer in S scale with Walthers, Bachmann, Kato, Atlas and others well known in N scale.
Standard Gauge is the domain of persons interested in vintage tinplate trains, while G scale (led by Lehmann Gross Bahn and Pola) is best known as the size favored by persons with outdoor and garden model railroads.
Club members, who will offer a prize drawing, will run two model railroad layouts, manning dealer tables and performing other activities during the show.
Admission is $4 for adults with youth under 12 admitted free. Parking is free.
"There will be model railroad pieces at the show that aren't readily available, even on-line," Ratkovich said.
"The show is a good opportunity to find unique train items, add to a collection or just get started in the hobby. It's a one stop shop for model trains and a great time to get a jump on Christmas shopping."
Buying at a show or hobby shop has advantages over on-line purchases, such as knowing what is being purchased and paying shipping charges and handling fees.
The Mid-Ohio Valley Model Railroad Club, with 62 members on its roster, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and hosts a number of open houses each year at its facility in the rear basement of NOE Office Equipment at 610 Green St. in Parkersburg. Closing out its 42nd year of existence, the club will host its annual Christmas Open House on Dec. 2 and also be open to guests during a visit from the Belpre Industrial Parkersburg Railroad "Santa Train" later that same month.