TRURO - Craig Buckley entered the Nova Scotia Community College Saturday morning prepared to answer one nagging question. It didn't take long before it was asked by a few people.
"Aren't you too old to play with trains?"
The 68-year-old was an exhibitor at the Model Railroaders Association's 32nd annual fall show. Buckley is a member of the Truro Model Railroaders Association and his elaborate model - a town with street cars - fascinated young and old.
"People often ask if I'm too old to play with trains, but a lot of people who are do now," said Buckley.
His interest in the railway dates back to his childhood when his mother used to take him on trains.
Over the years he has focused on model railroading and said even though the hobby is fun, it can be frustrating.
"It can be pretty frustrating when things don't go right ... it's best to get away from it before you break something on purpose," he laughed.
He's lost track of the amount of hours spent on the hobby that can be costly depending on how elaborate one gets.
Buckley was thrilled to see hundreds attend the show. As an exhibitor for about 20 years, he has witnessed some changes over time.
"There are not as many younger people ... they are more into computers and iPods," Buckley said. "And there are advances in technology ... and exhibitors come from farther away."
Rhode Island resident Andy Small is a good example. He is a member of the U.S.-based Narragasett Bay Railway and Navigation Group and of the Maritime Federation of Model Railroaders. He travelled from the States to Truro specifically for the model railroaders show.
"I've done shows in the States and Canada ... people seem more interested here," he said of the Truro show.
He said more train enthusiasts approach him about running the models and ask more questions than he has experienced at some other events.
Truro's Sandra Somers brought her family to the event. Her two-year-old Jenny was enthralled with the sights and sounds. That interest at a young age is important to Somers.
"I want my children to know about the railway because it's part of our history and to know what life was like years ago," Somers said.
Trains have been a part of her life since childhood when her family took summer train rides. As a Dalhousie University student she travelled back and forth to New Brunswick, her former home. Her brother also did various jobs with CN Rail as a student.
Saturday's event featured a number of displays that included operating layouts in N, HO and G scales, a model of the Truro train station and Esplanade as it appeared around the 1950s, railroading sales and a variety of display tables.
mchiasson@trurodaily.com
On the right track
On the right track
- Published on October 19th, 2009
- Published on December 31st, 2009
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Monique Chiasson
Train enthusiasts gather in Truro for popular fall show
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Comments
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- train fan
- - January 18th, 2010 at 10:12:59
Perhaps the TMRA may consider having an interactive display at future shows that some of the younger generation could have some hands-on time with (Thomas trains, wooden tracks, etc). However, the displays themselves are worth hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, collectively, so it is understandable for the modellers to remind people to look, don't touch. However, the comments about their appearance were inappropriate and unwarranted. I appreciate the efforts of the TMRA to introduce new generations to the hobbies; the excited looks I saw on many faces -young and old, male and female - certainly indicated they were having a great time. I think the work and enthusiasm shown in the layouts indicates that these folks are doing quite well in the getting a life category.
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- Trains are the best
- - January 18th, 2010 at 09:53:15
You definitley wont be seeing any kids these days getting into trains, first its hands on and doesn't involve a computer screen or clicking on icons etc, secondly it takes a little more work then pushing a power switch.This involves acutally thinking are you own and using your own imagination... a little more involved then our kids are use to these days.
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- Reg
- - January 18th, 2010 at 09:50:52
If the TMRA wants kids to become more interested they need to have something the kids can play with at their show. My 2.5 year old liked it but there was nothing there he could touch. Kids need hands on to grab their attention. The sign around the model train display was a big turn off - Don't even think about touching the models! Some of these people need to get a life. Looks like they only come out of their basement once a year for this show.
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- Lisa
- - January 18th, 2010 at 09:40:15
Well i am sorry to have missed the show this year as I am sure my 4 year old would have loved to see all the trains.
But in reply to Reg Reader's comment about allowing people to touch the trains.
Are you even slightly aware as the amount of time and patience that goes into making and displaying these set-ups. Or even better how much work has to be applied to each train/cart that gets broken because someone 'accidently' dropped it or allowed their child to force it into motion.
Had I been able to bring my four year to the show, there is no way i would have allowed him to touch anything; strictly out of respect for the model engineer.
Its not a matter of these people 'getting a life' for some of them they have invested several hundred dollars into their set-up. Would you be willingly to risk that type of investment into something that could be broken just because it was handled?
Have some common sense..... -
- Trains are the best
- - January 18th, 2010 at 09:38:35
Well first of all I understand that a 2.5 year old would want to play with them, but they are not for toddlers. Next thing about the sign,these days some parents dont teach kids to respect other peoples property so, and I think when they start , the signs will come down.They have a life and yes they take this hobby very seriously and they want respect for their property.....and why would you take a 2.5 year old to a model train show...maybe a playground next time!!
