Hobbyists chug along at the Great Train Show
Tooting train whistles and the click-clack of tiny wheels on tiny tracks greeted the model railroad aficionados who flocked to Grayslake this weekend for a hobby event dubbed the Great Train Show.
Staged at the Lake County Fairgrounds, the gathering featured intricate displays created by suburban railroad clubs. Retailers selling train sets, individual rail cars, controllers and other paraphernalia set up shop, too.
The Lake County Society of Modular Engineers had one of the larger layouts. Members walked around the perimeter of the miniature rail system with controllers to ensure the trains chugged along safely.
Club member Paul Rogers said the hobby is popular because it appeals to train lovers of all ages. Sets range from children's toys to museum-quality models.
"There's something for everybody," said Rogers, of Mundelein.
Rogers fell for model trains as a boy. He enjoyed playing with a Tyco train set that belonged to his grandfather. And then, when he was 9, he got his own set.
"I loved seeing trains," Rogers recalled. "Being a little kid, it was just their sheer size. And you could feel them as they moved past you. You could feel the ground tremble."
The South Elgin-based Valley Model Railroad Club had a large, running layout at the show, too. Club member Danny James said many hobbyists are nostalgic for when the nation's many railroad lines had distinct designs for passenger cars.
Gatherings like this one are an opportunity for newcomers to learn about the hobby, James said.
"It's a great place to start," said James, of Carpentersville.