Ledger Rowlands watches as a train comes around the track at Sunday’s Hudson Model Railroad Club open house.
Kevin Carroll | Times Leader
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Celebrating 40 years at their current location on Martin Street, the Hudson Model Railroad Club hosted their annual open house on Sunday.
Kevin Carroll | Times Leader
Graham McLaughlin waits for a train to pass by, with Jack McLaughlin next to him and Malorie McLaughlin watching.
Kevin Carroll | Times Leader
Ethan Yeninas, 13, points something out to his mother Gretchen at the Hudson Model Railroad Club open house.
Kevin Carroll | Times Leader
PLAINS TWP. — To call the Hudson Model Railroad Club’s 2,000-square-foot train layout just a “train set” would be a disservice to the club members who have brought it to life.
It’s more like its own world, growing and expanding, featuring different seasons, different environments and different eras all in one room.
The Railroad Club has been at its current location on Martin Street in Plains Township for 40 years after two years in Ashley, and the club’s annual open house, starting on Friday and running on weekends through the month of December, brought a big crowd of train enthusiasts out to see the display.
“It’s a great hobby that brings a lot of people together,” said David Balko, the club’s secretary and treasurer, as well as a member for seven years. “There are a lot of people in this area that are into this sort of thing, so it’s a great way to hang out and enjoy it.”
The model train layout features several nods to this region, including a mine quarry and a Planters Peanuts sign sitting along one stretch of the tracks.
It’s these unique details and homages to the area that attract a lot of people both young and old, including 10-year-old Chase Rowlands, who had glowing remarks about the layout and about the club itself.
“I like all the little details. … They (the Railroad Club) are the best with trains,” Rowlands said.
The display stays intact all year, and the club is in the process of constructing a new scene along one area of the layout, according to Balko.
“We’re constantly trying to improve it and update it,” Balko said. “We have a torn-up scene on the front wall there, the former steel mill is gone. … It’s going to be a new scene that’s in progress right now.”
With trains running through the towns, across bridges, under tunnels and through wonderfully designed mountains, there were plenty of enjoyable visuals for the crowd to enjoy as they made their way around the room.
Several onlookers said that they had train sets of their own at home, or that they grew up enjoying trains.
“We’re trying to set our own up at home, said Ethan Yeninas, 13, who along with his mother Gretchen stopped by the open house on Sunday.
Yeninas pointed out a little Santa Claus statue hiding on a balcony overlooking one section of the track, and said that his favorite part of the Hudson display was a scavenger hunt that challenged spectators to find little hidden objects, just like the Santa statue.
Gretchen said that they had been coming to see the display for a number of years, and that Ethan was very much into trains growing up.
“We’ve watched the display evolve over the years,” she said. “It’s a very neat setup, and the people who built it should take pride in it.”
The Railroad Club’s open house will continue next Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m. both days. Prizes will be raffled off, some trains will be on sale and donations are accepted, with several attendees encouraging those who want to check out the display to donate to the club, as well.
“I think we should all be supporting them,” said Rowlands. “Look and see how many tiny details they put in. … It’s amazing. It’s perfect.”