ANDERSON, Ind. —
Mesmerized by the sound and motion of a model train, children of all ages stop and stare (and even let out a little “choo-choo!”) when the little wheels start gliding by. While some enthusiasts may erect a model train set in their own home to enjoy, the members of the Anderson-Stoney Creek Library Model Railroad Club have built one for the entire community to share.
“I just like the craftsmanship of it,” said Ed Blackford, 79, member for 20 years. “I enjoy building this stuff. It’s just something you have to use your imagination to do and hope for the best. I never had an electric train when I was a kid — my parents couldn’t afford it. I happened to see one on sale when I was 40 and I bought it. It has ballooned from there.”
Creating an entire town from “anything we can get a hold of,” Blackford and his fellow members have fashioned trees out of dried weeds and furnace filters, chimneys out of kitty litter, gravel roads out of coffee grounds and buildings out of balsam wood and cardboard. And the effect is incredible.
Buildings are sometimes formed to resemble a structure in real life. If you look closely, you will see a replica of the Railroad Museum in Linden, Ind., or even the yellow house where Blackford was raised.
“I came up here one time with a friend of mine because I always liked electric trains as a kid,” said Sonny Earhart, 71. “I joined the club. I started with one model train and now I have 50.”
While some members join from a love of trains, others join because they develop a bond with the other members.
“My boy has come up here since he was 2 years old,” said Joe Payton, 47, club member for five years. “He fell in love with Ed, and Ed treated him like his own grandson. He is a good man — one of the best.”
Carving out mountains and tunnels, herding little cows and pigs, and creating a scene that is nothing short of artistic, club members keep the set ever-changing. They also keep the cars running smoothly on the track — sometimes eight trains at the same time. Smoke billows from the engine as the sound of the train matches its speed and the announcer rings the bell and calls out the next stop.
“We like to see the kids’ eyes when they come and see it,” said Payton.
If you go
What: Anderson-Stoney Creek Library Model Railroad Club
Where: Third floor of Anderson Public Library
When: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
Time: 6 to 8 p.m.
To join the club
Age: 18 years or older
Cost: $12 per year plus an $8 initiation fee
