Train lovers converge on Salmon Arm

Apr 2-3, Salmon Arm –

“The Annual Spring Meet of the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA), Pacific Northwest Region, will be hosted this year by the Salmon Arm Model Railroad Association.”

Thus read the press release and my mind traveled what seemed a very long way back to a Christmas morning in the mid 1940’s. I can still see my dad and my young brother on their knees on the living room floor as they hooked pieces of track together to form a circle about 30″ in diameter. They carefully set the coal car, the boxcar, the passenger car and the caboose on the track, making sure the wheels were placed correctly on the rails, then wound up the engine with the key, attached it to the coal car and we watched, mesmerized, as the little train went round and round the circle.

This same scenario has likely been played out in countless living rooms over countless years. Where did what model railroaders have called ‘the greatest hobby on earth’ actually have its beginning? Probably as early as the first real full-sized trains in the mid-18th century, there were kids who played with toy trains fashioned from wood or whatever else came to mind, envisioning themselves as engineers, driving mighty locomotives off to great adventures in far-off places.

As near as we could trace, a toy manufacturer by the name of Ives Corp. developed a clockwork locomotive in 1868 that gave its toy trains self-propelled motion. The first complete train ‘system’, however, wasn’t produced until 1891, when a German company by the name of Marklin introduced a series of standard track gauges, track sections, locomotives, and matching accessories.

Initially, model trains operated by the clockwork method or by steam, but in 1914 electricity was adopted as the more common means of propulsion. During World War I, when German-made trains were unavailable, companies like Ives, Lionel and American Flyer dominated the market. You can read more about the history of model railroading at http://www.ndrr.com/rmr_faq/Introduction/Early-History.htm and http://www.toydirectory.com/MONTHLY/article.asp?id=732.

Those early model train enthusiasts would be astounded to see model railroading today. Both small-scale model trains and toy-like replicas of real trains are popular with hobbyists. The replicas bring back memories of youth and the history of the railroads that helped build our country. Some railroaders are generalists who collect trains that suit their fancy and some specialize in only those trains made by a particular company or during a certain era. Many of the trains are valuable and collectors sell to other collectors, even speculating on the value of their collections. There must still be thousands of model trains yet waiting to be discovered in dusty attics and basements.

Most operators build their own layouts and these can be as simple as a piece of indoor-outdoor carpeting on the floor with a few bits of scenery added for a realistic effect. Beginning layouts are often constructed on a 4’x8’ sheet of plywood and many grow to take over basements, garages or spare rooms in homes. There is even a whole variety of model railroading that is outdoors, and set-ups that span both the indoors and outdoors through a hole in the wall. Snow doesn’t bother these hobbyists one bit!

Many operators would advise beginners who don’t know where to begin, to start small and grow gradually, as your imagination and skills increase. Make it a family hobby where spouses and children can contribute time and talents by searching out a new collectible or helping to build the layout. We leave much of our creative imagination behind as we get older and children can help us regain the magic that was ours when we were kids.

The Annual Spring Meet of the NMRA would be a great place to inspire yourself and your family to start planning your own family model railroad system.

The show will take place at the Prestige Harbourfront Resort and Convention Centre, 251 Harbourfront Drive NE, Salmon Arm on April 2nd and 3rd. It will be open to the public from 12noon until 5pm on Friday the 2nd and from 10am until 4pm on Saturday the 3rd.

There will be something there for all ages, including layouts from the Shuswap Area, Kamloops, Merritt, and Chilliwack. Also included will be a layout made from Lego. There will be vendors from all over, setting up booths, so if anyone is interested in getting started in the great hobby of model railroading and creating your own miniature world, or if you are already a hobbyist, there should be some great deals to be had, and all your questions can be answered. Door prizes will be drawn every hour and every paid member of the public will be eligible.

Admission:
Adults: $7.00
Seniors & Children 4 to 12 years: $5.00
Family of 4: $20.00
Children under 4 years: FREE

For further information please contact:

• Ed Parsons 250-679-3976 (email moc13@telus.net)
• Gary Hazell 250-835-8628 (email comhavev@jetstream.net)

• Salmon Arm Model Railroad Association
http://www.salmonarmmodelrailway.com