Scale Rails Spring Show set for this weekend
A longstanding train show will take place this weekend, complete with model train layouts and new and used equipment for all scales.
Carol Edmier said she’s been doing the Scale Rails show with her husband, Jim, for the past 17 years. The show is sponsored by Scale Rails of Southwest Florida Inc.
“We started around ’89,” she said, adding that the show had been held for a few years prior to that.
The show began at Fort Myers High School before moving to the Atrium on Winkler Road and College Parkway and the Old Ambassador Hotel in Downtown Fort Myers. Approximately five years ago the Scale Rails Show moved to the Araba Shrine Temple, 2010 Hanson Street in Fort Myers, where it will be held again this year.
The Scale Rails 2018 Spring Train Show will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, and Sunday, Feb. 18. It is $7 for adults, $2 for teenagers and free for children 12 and younger. Active duty military personnel receive free admission.
“It’s a fun day,” she said. “It’s curiosity to see what the hobby entails.”
Edmier said the reason they hold the show is to provide an opportunity for the public to purchase pieces for their layout, as well as sharing information about the hobby.
“It’s an education venue where people can come in and learn about the train hobby,” Edmier said. “It’s a combination of opening it to the public and giving them an opportunity to start a new hobby, or continue a hobby.”
She said it’s an opportunity to keep the model train alive.
The various dealers and the club members, Edmier said are there to help anyone who has questions.
“It’s about sharing their love and sharing their hobby with people,” she said.
Special this year is a large Lego layout for the kids, which is traveling from Tampa, courtesy of the Tampa Railroad Club. She said they are going to do some construction of Legos to showcase how to do a train layout.
“There will be a table for the kids to play Legos too,” Edmier said.
The show will feature 74 different vendors selling new and used equipment, and numerous layouts.
The show will also include a raffle – a ready to run N scale layout complete with buildings, engines and cars. The tickets are $5 for an arm’s length.
Anyone who attends the show is also invited to visit the Depot to see a three-tiered digitally controlled HO scale operating layout.
“It is absolutely beautiful,” Edmier said.
She said the club has been around for quite a few years and is currently 48 members strong. The members have different talents from designing scenery to scratch building and landscaping.
The Scale Rails of Southwest Florida Depot is at 1262 Piney Road in North Fort Myers, on the corner of 41 and Pondella Road.
On average the show attracts up to 5,000 people over the two days.
“It’s amazing. It’s people of all ages,” she said, adding that the show attracts both men and women. “A lot of women are very involved in the hobby, in the scenery and building of things. They have two women in their own club that are excellent at landscaping.”
For more information about the club, visit www.scalerails.org.
The Depot is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, or by appointment.