MUNCIE, Ind. — For over 33 years, dozens of model train connoisseurs steam over to the Muncie County Fairgrounds on Feb. 22 to share their model train sets with the community. This is an opportunity for many different model train clubs to promote their clubs and provide a space for Muncie locals to check out massive model train sets.
“I’ve been involved with this show for probably 25 years,” said Brian Wolfe, president of the Muncie and Western Model Railroad Club. “What’s most memorable is getting to talk to folks like you and introduce people to the hobby who are not familiar with the hobby.”
It first started as a loosely organized club of train enthusiasts that developed into Indiana’s largest single-day model train show. Admission for the show was $5, with all of the proceeds going to the Muncie Children’s Museum’s new operating model train exhibit which is how many enthusiasts like Wolfe got involved.
“My two oldest children, who are now 30 and 32, when they were 5 and 7, I started taking them down to the Muncie Children's Museum,” said Wolfe.
“There were a couple of guys there that were retired that were helping run the layout of the Muncie’s Children's Museum and I got talking to them and got interested in the hobby.”
The Annual Muncie Model Train show may seem like a chance to see and interact with model trains at first glance; however, it has also been an excellent opportunity for many U.S. veterans to connect over the model train hobby.
“It is an honor and a privilege when other veterans come over and are involved in this hobby,” said Bill W., a retired U.S. Coast Guard veteran who has been fascinated by model trains since he was 5 years old.
“And that's always been one of the most rewarding things about coming to the railroad show. We never know what we are going to get especially when another veteran comes up to talk to us.”
If you missed out on the model train show, you can check out the Muncie Children's Museum brand new model train exhibit with many of the trains featured at the model train show being a part of the museum.
Contact Wyatt Maher with any comments wyatt.maher@bsu.edu
