When does a toy become a work of art? This question will be answered when Regal Railways presents the Toy Train & Toy Show on Saturday, May 22, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM EDT, at Hernando Fairgrounds, 6436 Broad Street, Brooksville.
A popular hobby since the early 1900s, model trains have run quite a journey down the roads of American culture. Solitary wooden push and tin windup toys have given way to sophisticated, electrically driven plastic and steel models hand painted in a spectrum of colors. The approximately 500,000 model train and railroad enthusiasts across the United States spend hours a day and months on end planning their railroad layouts. These layouts consist of a dynamic train with sounds and lights careening down a circular track as their grand centrepiece; surrounded by an elaborate set that likely consists of miniature houses and buildings, trees and flowers, streets and billboards.
Another model train tradition takes the form of Regal Railways’ Toy Train & Toy Show, which has been gracing Tampa Bay event halls for more than 16 years and features layouts staged by the Suncoast American Flyer Enthusiasts. Aside from being a major event for the hundreds of people coming through the doors, these shows provide model artists and enthusiasts the opportunity to show and sell their wares. If interested in being a vendor at any of these shows call 727-244-1341.
Joe Schramm, show organizer, himself has been a model train hobbyist since his teens. Now Schramm is the owner of Regal Railways, which promotes toy train and collectible shows and sales and sells model train items through an eBay store. A look at Schramm’s online store displays some of the artsy tools used to create model trains and train sets, And at the show, guests will see the finished pieces of hobby art in dynamic and beautiful motion. “There will be two model train layouts,” said Schramm. “There will be over 65 tables of vendors with Model Trains from American Flyer, Lionel to HO and N Scale trains for sale. All types of different accessories to add to your train set.”
And an event notice emphasizes, this will be a family event free for kids 12 and under.
Vendors will be on hand selling various model trains, toys, and die cast cars, and much more. There will be a running train layout, So come and bring your children to the show. Admission is $5 adults, kids 12 & under are free. Credit Cards are accepted to get into the show. Social distancing will be in place. Prepay at the Regal Railways website: http://www.regalrailways.com.
Through the years, trains have been represented in all forms of art; from oil and watercolor paintings all the way to cookie cutters. Yet there’s something special about the model train and the people who create, enjoy, and celebrate it.
