Nearly every corner of the Pacific Science Center was packed with children, parents and train enthusiasts Saturday afternoon, as the 37th Annual Model Railroad Show began its three-day run.
The show, presented by the National Model Railroad Association, Pacific Northwest Region (4th Division) offered 15 exhibits, many featuring hands-on activities. Kids crowded around the displays, waiting with enthusiasm for the trains to come chugging by.
Many of the exhibits depicted real railways throughout Washington. One young boy, Spencer Gordon, who was dressed in a conductor outfit from head to toe, stood mesmerized by an exhibit featuring the layout of the Spokane International Railway. His father, Pete Gordon, like many others, said they’ve been coming to the exhibit for the past couple of years. “It’s fun to see him here, we’ve always liked trains and he’s just kind of picked it up,” Gordon said about his son.
Others, new to the Seattle show, appeared amazed at the number of trains on display. Sienna, an 8-year-old who was visiting with her parents, liked the O-Gauge Hi-Railers display the most, “because of all of the rides,” she said. The display was one of the show’s largest and featured carnival rides around the exterior of the tracks, making it a favorite for many children.
The exhibitors explained their layouts to visitors; some even brought tools to work on their trains and explained the process of making the elaborate models. One exhibitor who called himself Baby Gramps had an intricate yet compact display of trains and train-related items that stood out because of their immaculate detail.
Gramps, who is also a longtime local folk singer, has been exhibiting his trains for 32 years at the Pacific Science Center. He began making model trains with his twin boys when they were young, and he said he enjoys depicting the past. Gramps said his 8-foot-long display depicts the history of trains and the imaginative yet practical nature of past railroad engineers. “What’s interesting is the crazy old mountain railroading; they didn’t have much money, but they utilized stuff, like I’m doing,” Gramps said.
Gramps also enjoys seeing familiar faces year after year. “I see people grow up and they come back and show me pictures of their own layouts,” he said.
For more information on the National Model Railroad Association, Pacific Northwest Region, 4th Division, visit www.4dpnr.org. For more information on events and exhibits happening at the Pacific Science Center go to www.pacsci.org.
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