Train Shows...

A Guest Editorial by John Sipple

We had a local train show in Southern Oregon’s Rogue River Valley over Thanksgiving weekend. MRN was there; I would have been there, anyway. No, the local show wasn’t like the big NMRA Convention back in St. Louis; in its own way, it was better.

First, it was smaller. Second, I saw so many people I knew. People involved in railroading tend to be some very nice folks, and hanging around a large bunch of them is really a pleasure. Third, I got to watch people — especially kids — enjoy railroading of all sorts. Fourth, there were bargains to be found in the vendor area. Fifth, it was for a good cause.

Medford and the surrounding area is fortunate to have Railroad Park, a magic kingdom inhabited by five clubs, (in alphabetical order): National Railway Historical Society, Rogue Valley Model Railroad Club, Southern Oregon Live Steamers, Southwestern Oregon Large Scale Trains, and the Telegrapher’s Club. It seems logical for them all to cluster together where the public can visit them all at one time, but our Railroad Park seems to be the exception rather than the rule. The proceeds of the show go into the Railroad Park Development Fund where they are divvied up for Park-related projects.

If the real world has an impact on our railroading hobbies, train shows are a way for our hobbies to have an impact on the real world. Of the thousands of people that attended our show, most came away with a heightened awareness of what real trains do for our economy and what the little trains do for our souls. Railroading is a peaceable pursuit, and the hobbies that surround it are not less so.

Train shows are not just for the old guys (like me) who like to dress up in bib overalls and train hats; they are also for the children. Whatever is for children is also for their parents, grandparents, and other relatives. People who don’t necessarily profess any particular love for choo-choos still have a good time watching the little ones.

Not only did the various clubs bring their modular layouts to show off, there were booths from Micro-Trains, Operation Lifesaver, Jackson County Library, NRHS, and Model Railroad News, just to name a few. The Train Show was a giant coupler between the various interest groups and the rest of the community. As can be expected, the success of this endeavor can be laid at the feet of a couple of people, Irene Zajac and Bruce McGarvey whose year-round efforts make it all possible. Hundreds of others rally around them, and a train show happens!

Is there a local train show in your area? Most areas have them. Are they little clannish affairs or do they draw from the entire local population? If you aren’t involved, perhaps you should be. There is certainly plenty to do. What do you want your neighbors to know about trains? There is probably some interesting and fun way to tell them at your local train show. I’ll see you there.

Congratulations to June L. Brand of Central Point, Oregon. She won the Bachmann HO scale North Pole Express train set drawing held by the staff of Model Railroad News.

John Sipple
Contributing Editor