Locomotive enthusiasts talk track

View larger image Philip Filosi, member of the Winchester Model Railroad Club, checks a display Saturday at the clubhouse at 430 N. Cameron St. Andrew Thayer/Daily Recommend This Print This Get E-mail News Alerts Buy Photos/Page Reprints * Breaking News If local news is breaking and you know about it: * Call Us: 800-296-5137 * E-mail Us * Upload Your Photos View larger image Train collector Harnao Childs of Winchester says he fell in love with trains when he was 3 years old. Andrew Thayer/Daily View larger image Norm Parker of Madison looks over the items that Larry Thayer, left, has for sale during the show. Andrew Thayer /Daily View larger image Andrew Thayer/Daily View larger image From left, Peggelee Worley of Charlestown, W.Va., answers questions Saturday from Sean Gunther, Zack Ott, Aiden Gunther and Hazen Gunther, all Boy Scouts from Winchester's Troop 10, at the Winchester Model Railroad Club show at the Friendship Fire and Rescue Company in Winchester. Andrew Thayer/Daily

By Amber Marra -- amarra@nvdaily.com

WINCHESTER -- Miniature locomotive enthusiasts were rolling into the Winchester Model Railroad Club's show, sale, and open house Saturday morning, but no one had one specific model of desire in mind.

For most members, it's more about the connection to the past the hobby offers.

"When I was about 3 years old, I fell in love with the trains that rain behind my house in California, and it got me wanting a model train for myself," said Harnao Childs, 88, of Winchester. "My parents never would buy me one, so I went and got one myself when I turned 15 and been with it ever since."

Childs has come a long way in his collecting since his first model train purchase in 1937. His current train layout takes up half his basement at 40 feet long, 13 feet wide and 800 feet of track.

"I don't think I need any more track," he said. "My wife says not to buy anything, but it's hard not to."

He's not alone there. While most of the members were sporting expansive displays of model train parts, memorabilia, and books for sale Saturday at Winchester's Friendship Fire Company, most said they were interested in buying or trading as well.

"My wife keeps asking me when I'll stop, and I say when they stop making them," said Ron Hoover, 60, of Waynesboro, Pa.

For those select few who were trying to focus mainly on selling, it was all a matter of patience, and maybe haggling a bit.

John Yeabower, 33, of Front Royal, sat with his conductor's hat waiting on interested buyers, but not turning away a potential miniature McDonald's or convenience store.

"You'll see a lot of fly-bys, but at the end of the day no one wants to put their stuff back in the box," Yeabower said.

Paying for the rarity of the items at hand is also part of the game for this hobby, which can get pricey.

Al Gathers, 64, of Martinsburg, W.Va. got interested in model trains when he found out a Lionel set he won when he was 10 years old was worth $2,000. At Saturday's show, he had a Weaver steam switcher engine complete with certificate of authenticity and $250 price tag. Only 250 of the trains were ever made.

The money isn't why Gathers stays dedicated to his hobby, however.

"I mostly wheel and deal in train shows because I like the people," he said. "They're not here to bounce checks, they're not going to jail over a toy train."

Though the interest was primarily in miniature trains at the show, a stones throw away at the clubhouse on Cameron Street members got a close up of the real thing: CSX freight trains chugged by carrying gravel.

Inside, tiny railroad tracks crisscrossed a huge layout that spanned the entire floorspace, which was previously a CSX freight building. The club features everything from a scale replica of the Winchester train station to industrial scenes that stretch into country meadows.

The construction of the layout is ongoing. Anyone wishing to join the Winchester Model Railroad Club can go to www.wmrrc.org.