Attention to detail
Model Train Show depicts life in miniature
Take a miniature adventure on the scenic routes of tiny trains during the Rails Along the Rio Grande Model Train Show.
The train show on Saturday, Nov. 23, and Sunday, Nov. 24, will feature about eight operating layouts.
“The club I am involved in, we try to depict the Southwest part of the country, which is Albuquerque, New Mexico, and a lot of clubs will do the same thing and depict a specific region of the country and model it,” said Tim Tennant, marketing director for Rails Along the Rio Grande. “We’re trying to expand on modeling Albuquerque, downtown and that sort of thing so people will pick that up pretty quick that they will see what one specific club is trying to do as far as here or a specific region of the country.”
Attention to detail is important when creating a layout.
“It’s all about trying to create a realistic setting to complement running our trains,” Tennant said. “That’s what people like. They like seeing that realism. We might have a campground scene where we actually have a little fire or a fireplace that has a light in it so it looks like there’s a fire in it. There’s so much realism now in the hobby. … The hobby has advanced over the past 20 plus years. That’s what makes it pretty exciting.”
There will be plenty of experts in the field to answer questions.
“That’s the nice thing with having the different clubs there and vendors is there’s a great deal of expertise for those who are looking to get into the hobby,” Tennant said. “There are so many people available that can provide guidance and we find that a lot with the club that
I am associated with is people have questions and we can direct them in the right direction.”
A number of vendors will be selling everything you need to start or add to your model train collection.
“We have vendors that come and they pick up model railroad stuff and they pick up model railroad stuff at estate sales and stuff like that,” Tennant said. “It’s a good place to come and watch the trains and also if people are looking to add on they have that ability as well.”
Each member of a miniature train club brings something different to the table.
“The hobby provides different areas where people who might not be good at electronics but maybe their forte is more scenery,” Tennant said. “There’s a lot of different areas where people pull their expertise together to come up with a very fantastic looking finished products that replicates a lot of realism.”