Model Railroad Show held in Hampton

The eighth annual North Central Iowa Model Railroad Club Model Train Show and Sale was held Sunday, Oct. 27 at the Franklin County Convention Center in Hampton.

The show brought in over 250 attendees. For many of the 24 vendors who attended, the event has become an annual tradition–a day spent with family and friends, and a reunion with fellow railroad enthusiasts from the Hampton and Ackley area, across the state, and from as far away as Illinois and Minnesota.

“I think my favorite part of the show … is seeing some of the same people that have been here for years, both the buyers and the sellers,” said organizer Brian Stevens of the Railroad Club, “Obviously, we share the same interest, model railroading, and it’s just kind of fun. I like to talk to people and find out their story: what they’re up to and what kind of things they’re modeling, and you always find a few tips.”

At the show, you could purchase anything from the Lionel model trains that herald-ed joy underneath your Christmas tree as a child, to lanterns, shovels, artwork, books, postcards and layout components ranging from mod-el park benches and houses to musicians, fishermen and fences. While some items offered for sale were modern, others dated back as far as 1916.

“I think that we have a really big variety of things. We have new stuff. We have old stuff. We have all different scales, from the N scale clear up to O scales and even larger,” Stevens said. “We have some people that represent stores. We have some people that are selling their own private collections or collections of a relative, so there’s just a little bit of everything.”

For many of the attendees, the event brings back good memories–of a grandfather who worked on steam trains as a mechanic, or of a model train received as a gift from Santa in the 1970s. Attendees ranged from lifelong train enthusiasts to small children, who watched trains speed around the track on the North Central Iowa Model Railroad Club layout featured on display.

Vendors Cheryl and John Heidenescher of the JJ&CL Model Train Shop attended the event from Malvern in southwest Iowa.

The couple grew up in a railroad town in Ohio. After their first daughter was born, Cheryl bought John a train set for Christmas. Their daughter grew to love trains, and model trains have been a family inter-est ever since. They share their love of trains with the kids who stop by their shop or frequent the model railroad club they attend. While working on layouts, youth gain skills from painting and design to repair and electrical work.

“It doesn’t just take one person in a club. It takes many people that do different things. If you all laid track, you wouldn’t be a club,” said John Heidenescher. “You’ve got to have a guy that lays track. You’ve got to have a guy that does scenery work. You’ve got to have guys that do painting. You’ve got to have guys that do everything. And the kids are learning this.”

The challenge provides ap-peals to all ages.

Jim Kluiter of Allison was present at the show with his model layout, which he dis-plays every year at the Butler County Fair, and sometimes at the Allison Library and Wilder Park. Kluiter enjoys the challenge of designing and repair-ing layout components.

Iowa Operation Lifesaver State Coordinator Francis Edeker of Clarksville, attended the show for the first time this year to share the message of railroad safety: “Look, listen and live. See the track? Think train.”

He talked with attendees about the importance of calling the number on the blue sign at the railroad crossing after exiting their vehicle, should they become stalled on the tracks while driving.

“It was a very good show, and I met a lot of people that I haven’t seen for a long time,” said Edeker.

Vendor Art Bruns agreed that his favorite part of the show as visiting with every-body. It’s fun to talk with friends and neighbors.

“It’s always good to meet people that love trains. It’s an amazing camaraderie,” vendor Beth Klimesh of Spillville said.

Vendor Charles Skjeveland of Austin, MN, most enjoys railroad history. He and friends John Niehaus of Ankeny and Tim Moore of Des Moines are lifelong railroad enthusiasts, who enjoy “spending time with buddies” at the show.

Vendor Tom Pendleton attends the show every year from Peoria, IL. For him and others, the Hampton show is just one of many shows attended in Iowa, Missouri, Illinois and Indiana.

“I just am fascinated with the machines that move people and stuff,” Pendleton said. Vendors Ron Ackermann and Dennis Beasley of Monti-cello quipped that they come to the Hampton show for the hot-beef sundaes served through-out the day at the food stand, along with many other food choices.

“It’s always a great show. I grew up with trains, and just kept in it. I wasn’t smart enough to quit,” said Acker-man.

While the cost of getting started in the hobby can be prohibitive if you purchase brand-new equipment, railroad shows like this one provide an opportunity for young families to help their kids get started at a more affordable price.

“At a train show like this, you can find some stuff that goes back 25-30 years that’s still very, very good that you can purchase very reasonably and get started in,” said Brian Stevens.

Model railroading can be a fun family activity.

Anyone interested in the hobby can stop by the North Central Iowa Model Railroad club to join in the fun on Thursday nights from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in the basement of the old Rock Island Depot at the Franklin County Fairgrounds.

“We’ve got a huge lay-out,” said Stevens. “And that’s the biggest thing: we work on that. And some people will be working on the electronics. Some people will work on the scenery. Some people will sit around and watch everybody else work.”

The club welcomes new members.

“In such a diverse hobby. You can be into building buildings. You can be into scenery. You can be into the building the cars and working on the engines. You can be into electronics,” said Stevens. “You can be a little bit into all those things, and there’s a place for you.”

As for the Model Train Show, expect it back again next year on the last Sunday in October. The event serves as a fundraiser for the club, and proceeds are split with the Franklin County Fair Board, which provide use of the Convention Center at no charge.