All aboard! This weekend, the Southern Alberta Model Railway Club is hosting its Annual Spring Open House Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Gyro Park Clubhouse.
The event is free, but donations are welcome. Trains will be operating on both days.
“The Club is in its 53rd year and provides local railroad and model enthusiasts a place they can go to share their love of trains. A passion they’re happy to share with all interested visitors,” notes Martin Ebel, superintendent of the Club.
Model railroading is an interesting hobby, Ebel explains, in that it combines so many different aspects. “History, planning, model building, electronics and operations, just to name a few. It’s a very collaborative, cooperative hobby, where people are constantly sharing information, techniques and ideas to help one another.”
“At the end of the day, model railroading is a very open-ended hobby. It encompasses everything from a simple starter set to a model railroad empire in a whole basement, and everything in between. There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way of doing things or building a layout, provided the builder is happy and sees the model railroad ‘world’ they’re creating unfolding the way they want it to. There’s always something new to learn, some new project to try – it can be a true lifelong hobby,” adds Ebel.
Sometimes it’s just fun to watch the trains run, says Ebel. “No muss or fuss, just a train running on the tracks to its destination or around a loop. Many people find watching model trains running to be relaxing and stress-reducing.”
Ebel notes the Club is also always looking for new members.
