Hundreds visit model train show in Manassas

It was billed as the Winter Wonderland Train Show.

For the hundreds of model train lovers who came, it was indeed that.

The entire third floor of the Manassas Candy Factory was filled recently with a striking model train exhibition by the National Capital Trackers “O” Gauge Model Railroad Club.

“We are a club of about 100 electric train enthusiasts that enjoy our hobby of running trains and set up train show layouts at venues in Northern Virginia and suburban Maryland,” said Regis Harkins of Woodbridge who served as the director or “track master” of the Manassas show.

At times more than a dozen trains were running simultaneously though picturesque towns with many of the buildings covered with a wintry snow.

One of the highlights of the show for public viewing was a whole village of Dept. 56 collectibles donated to the club. The show was arranged so that the visitors could get a close look at the trains and the surroundings.

“To us and many people, trains are like magic—very exciting. Everyone loves them from children to adults ” said exhibitor Richard B. “Clem” Clement, past president and a resident of Fairfax Station.
His layout included trains and homemade accessories more than 100 years old.

The display took the members nearly four days to set up, with the weather slowing down getting to the site.

“We have fun holding nearly 25 shows per year ... and we want those coming to have fun too,” said Harkins.

Like most enthusiasts, Harkins got an early start in collecting trains.

“My father handed down his train to me when I was 10 years old in 1950 and its been my hobby ever since,” said Harkins.

Harkins said he has noticed a big growth in recent years of families participating in the hobby.

“It used to be that men pretty much participated alone but now we have members that are father-son, mother-son teams,” he said.

The Trackers have been operating “O” gauge trains throughout the Washington D. C. metro area since 1991.

“As the hobby has evolved over the last several years so has the club. We have embraced the technology of today and operate our trains with all available digital controls,” said Harkins.

At the train show, children were given the opportunity to operate a train, much to their delight.
Harkins said the months of November and December were the busiest months for shows.

He said “camaraderie and the fun of operating trains is what the club is all about. Every member has one thing in common—the sharing of our passion of operating toy trains for each other, for ourselves and for the general public. We truly are art of the world’s greatest hobby.”

Twelve different club members had their trains on display, with each connected together with a digital control system. Each year the show draws nearly 2,000 spectators who are encouraged to make a donation of a food item for SERVE, Inc.

New members are encouraged and for more information go to NationalCapitalTrackers.com.