The New York State Fairgrounds hosted the annual event for all types of train lovers
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Model Train Fair Brings Creativity, Education to Central New York
MARIA GAMBLE: My dad had a train set growing up and when I had my daughter she was interested in trains so we got our own train set and we always came to the NYS fair train show. And then when my daughter was old enough to go off to college I still wanted to go to the train show. But since I had a Tin Plate train and no one really had one just like mine so I decided to show it. Usually a winter theme but this is the first year doing a Halloween theme and everyone loves it.
MARLENE GAMBLE: I always had trains as a child and when I married my husband he had a very old train set from when he was a child. And we always set it up around the Christmas tree.
SYRACUSE N.Y. (NCC News) – The Great New York State Model Train Fair was held on Nov. 2 and 3 at the New York State Fairgrounds Exposition Center. The event, which celebrated its 49th year of operation, is the largest of its kind in the state.
The fair featured over 25 operating train sets complete with bridges, tunnels and handcrafted scenery. Around 300 vendors were also available for visitors to explore and purchase new pieces for their own collections as well as a children’s train ride.
Train sets on display at the fair had different themes, such as this one which was based on the holiday season (© 2024 Gray Reed).
Unique and Varied
Each operating railroad set had a factor that made it unique. Some had a classic feel and consisted of miniature figures and set pieces to help bring the viewers into another world. Others were made up of Lego-pieces and explored themes such as the holidays and hit movies. A few sets paid tribute to famous trains, such as Thomas the Tank Engine.
Maria and Marlene Gamble were exhibitors who had a thematic set-up. Historically, the duo decorated their miniature railway with winter decorations to celebrate the introduction to winter. This year, however, they decided to embrace the Halloween spirit.
Marlene recounted how both she and her husband carried their lifelong appreciation for trains into the holiday season, and how it ultimately spread to the rest of the family.
Many of the model trains on display were operational, so viewers got to see them in action (© 2024 Gray Reed).
“I always had trains as a child, and then when I married my husband, he had a very old train set from when he was a child,” Marlene said. “We always had it set up around the Christmas tree, and then Maria started purchasing her trains when her daughter came.”
The family says in total they have a total of 8 trains that they have collected over the years. Despite the passage of time the duo still wishes to explore their love for the hobby, which brought them back to the model train fair.
“When my daughter was old enough to go off to college, I still wanted to come to the train show,” Maria said. “Since I had a tin plate train, and no one really had one just like mine, I decided to show it.”
Opportunity for Education
The Great NYS Model Train Fair is sponsored by the Central New York Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society and has been since 1975. The goal is to raise money that can go toward preservation and restoration efforts of railroad museums and equipment.
The chapter has been functional since 1940 and aims to maintain the history of the region’s railroads and so far has been able to preserve two former railroad stations, physical trains and train cars.
The event is also a way of the chapter to carry out its goal of historic education. While many exhibitors aimed to show off a hobby, others had information to share about their sets and what types of trains they represented.
Many set designers put a lot of time and detail into creating eye-catching worlds for their trains to operate in (© 2024 Gray Reed).
One such showing was by a group called the European Train Enthusiasts. Not only did they share their trains, but they posted facts around their set-up to encourage viewers to learn more. They also encouraged questions by putting a sign front and center in their display.
Further materials for railroad education from the chapter are found online on the New York Heritage Digital Collections website. But for those looking to get an in-person look at railroad history, or just get a glimpse of some elaborate model train sets, the model train fair is an annual event that plans to make a comeback next November.