London-area model railroad hopes to get back ‘on track’

Celebrating 60 years, a London-area model railroad club is on a mission to welcome new members.

The Thames Valley Central Model Railroad Club (TVCMRC) is working to improve its reputation among a new generation, which often gravitates towards apps and video games instead.

It operates HO scale trains on more than 500 feet of track inside its built-to-suit home at the Thorndale Fairgrounds.

“One of the comments we get is, I didn’t know this was here, so it’s been here since 98,” said its president Wayne Thornton.

But the club itself dates back 60 years.

Today, 25 members, with an average age of 65, maintain the tracks, trains and their surrounding miniature buildings.

“You can run here a couple of days in a row, and you never have to do the same job twice. So, for me, that’s the fun of the hobby,” said Thornton.

But as members age, they’re having trouble attracting new faces.

It turns out, in the digital age, it is hard to break the ‘train’ of thought amongst the young.

Nick Biro, a member for 11 years, has tried to involve his grandchildren.

“I brought them out a few times, and they loved it. But now they’re getting into these digital games on their computer and tablet.”

What is lost to those who opt out is the complexity of the model network.

Technology has advanced to the point that each train can be controlled hands-free. Biro explained that some engines can respond to more than 500 commands.

“There are a lot of challenges to run trains on there, and it’s fun,” said Biro.

It’s been six decades of fun for Dan Robilliard. A founding member of the club, he never lost his lifelong love of model trains.

For Dan, the railway paradise offers a return to childhood at any age.

It’s a gift, he says, given the real world seems to ‘derail’ at any time.

“It just takes your focus from the real world down to the miniature. There are many, many things in here that normally people won’t even see, but we see them because we shrink ourselves down to that size.”

The club and its miniature world welcome visitors most Tuesday evenings from 7p.m. to 10 p.m.