Enthusiasts hop on board model train show

The reason behind the Great Midwest Train Show's success is most likely its ability to adapt.

What started 30 years ago as a way for a model railroad club to pay for its operations has turned into the largest monthly train show in the United States. Through the decades, the event has evolved from a place for dedicated collectors searching for rare pieces worth thousands of dollars to a showcase of a huge variety of models, attracting all ages with a mix of antiques and modern technology.

"A lot of people think this is a rich man's hobby, but it doesn't have to be," said show manager Randy Bachmann. "One of the things we try to do is introduce people to the hobby."

The result is that the recession has only boosted the show's attendance, which Bachmann said ranges from 2,000 to 6,000 people a month. The show is busiest in the winter months as families look for something they can work on together inside. The next show on Dec. 13 is expected to be packed with visitors doing a little holiday shopping.

"Brick and mortar stores are going by the wayside," Bachmann said. "Here it's like a hobby shop every month, but its more than you can fit in any one shop."

More than 200 vendors from all over the country set up for each show with some 500 tables spread out in five buildings. When the weather is nice, things move outside. Many vendors are there every month, while some sellers tour the country and stop in once or twice a year. Some own hobby shops, while others are just looking to make a little money off a hobby they enjoy.

The result is a highly eclectic mix of products. You can find everything from books on train history to model tractors, train-themed clothing and vendors entirely devoted to making trees and other decorations for a train layout. With so many adults looking to embrace childhood memories, some vendors hone in on nostalgia, selling old jukeboxes, video games and pinball machines.

Many visitors come every month and the show doubles as a social gathering for enthusiasts. Because of the comprehensive nature of the show, collectors of all levels can find something to shop for, whether it's antique cars from the early 1900s, brand new trains that have been weathered to look as worn as an actual boxcar or miniature piles of scrap metal designed to fit in a model.

The train show has also increasingly focused on attracting a new generation. A stage area in the main building features a Lego display, and Thomas the Tank Engine is a star with plenty of merchandise for sale. There is also a kids' ride at most shows.

Other areas let kids control models speeding around tracks, and it's common to see children spellbound by the more intricate displays with some computerized layouts allowing 10 trains to run simultaneously without fear of collision, complete with signals that light up as the vehicles pass.

"There's something everybody finds captivating about watching the trains go," Bachmann said.

<p class=factboxtext12col><b>Great Midwest Train Show</b> </p> <p class=factboxtext12col>DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 W. Manchester Road, Wheaton, (630) 290-1962; <a href="http://dupageshow.com" target="new">dupageshow.com</a></p> <p class=factboxtext12col><b>Hours:</b> 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. one Sunday each month. Check the Web site for upcoming dates.</p> <p class=factboxtext12col><b>Price:</b> $7; free for kids under age 12</p>