The Jefferson County and Southern Model Railroad Club will display a model at the 2022 National Train Show this month.
It will be the first time the club displays a model in the national show, said Bob Miller, a member of both the Jefferson County club and the National Model Railroad Association.
He said the club applied to enter a model in the show and was one of about 15 selected for the honor.
The Jefferson County club’s display is a 14-by-44-foot section of a larger layout, Miller said.
“It’s an HO-scale layout, and it features a dual main line, which goes around different areas,” he said. “It’s got a lot of animation on 16 feet of it, and there’s a lot of beautiful, Jefferson County or Ozark-type scenery.”
He said the NMRA will judge the models and recognize the top ones.
The public is invited to the show, which will be held Friday through Sunday, Aug 12-14, at the Gateway Convention Center, 1 Gateway Drive, in Collinsville, Ill.
Hours are 1-6 p.m. on Aug. 12; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 13; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 14 and admission is $20 a person on Aug. 12-13 and $15 on Aug. 14. Or, people may pay $25 to attend all three days.
The Jefferson County club is 40 years old and has been displaying its models for more than 30 years, Miller said
“We just love displaying and talking to the people about the club and what we do,” he said.
The club recently participated in the Farmington Country Days festival on June 4-5.
Some of the club members also will take part in the NMRA’s national convention, set for Sunday through Saturday, Aug. 7-Aug. 13, in St. Louis. Only NMRA members may attend.
Miller, 72, of the Festus area said he enjoys being a member of the train club and creating models to display.
“A fun thing that I do on my models is that I use animation, like chickens are pecking and clucking and making all kinds of noises,” he said. “I have water fountains that flow, and a firetruck that flashes and every now and then a siren goes off. The animation really adds to the scene.”
Miller said the club transports the models they create to shows with a trailer the club owns. Club members will transport extra parts in their own vehicles.
The club has about 12 active members and typically has monthly meetings on the second Tuesday of each month. People interested in joining may become provisional members for a year, and then may be promoted to club member, Miller said.
In the meetings, model ideas are discussed and created for display. The club accepts donations to help pay for the models’ upkeep, Miller said.
Those interested in joining the Jefferson County and Southern Model Railroad Club may send an email to bobnjoanstlmo@gmail.com or call Miller at 314-677-0003.