An Event for Young and Old Arriving Sept. 15 at Lake Nona Middle School

My name is Mike Mills, and I’ve been a resident of VillageWalk for three years. I am also an avid model train collector, which has led me to coordinate the Train Show for the Southern Division of the Train Collectors Association (TCA), one of the largest and most respected collecting societies in the world. I, along with a group of toy train enthusiasts (TCA members), will host the Train Meet on Saturday, Sept. 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lake Nona Middle School.

We’d like to invite the community to come by and be introduced to the fascinating world of model railroading and all of its facets. Best of all, children 12 and under are admitted free along with one adult family member. Admission for those over 12 and all adults is just $5. All children will receive a welcome gift, and there will be a scavenger hunt, raffles with door prizes and a hands-on play area.
Our hobby is made up of model trains that range from Z (very small) to G Scale (very large). Other scales are N, HO, S and O. Lionel brand has the most well-known O scale trains on the market. Some hobbyists collect items just within one brand or scale, while others collect anything railroad. Many of us build and operate train layouts that are only limited by our imagination or space. There are even train clubs and individuals who operate outdoors and landscape with real rocks and foliage. An extreme example of this kind of group is close by in Lake Wales. The Ridge Live Steamers are a club that operates on acres of land and runs fully rideable extra large scale trains with more than 17,000 feet of track, trestles and bridges. Pretty amazing!

Thanks to Thomas the Tank Engine, Brio (a wooden toy company founded in Sweden) and Lego, many of our children and grandchildren have been able to play with trains without being collectors. Thomas and Lego have trains that are electrified and can also be run by remote control. The model train industry as a whole has advanced into the digital age. All the major manufacturers have trains that can be programmed and run with remote controls or computer commands and even through your smartphone. It’s incredible how much information is on the internet and YouTube.

So, what is going to be happening at the Train Show here in Lake Nona? The middle school cafeteria will be filled with 100 vendor tables selling all kinds of trains and related items. The vendors will be TCA members from all parts of Florida. They will bring both new items and old classic trains for sale. There will be rare and common collectibles, and at least one of our vendors will have parts and supplies to keep everyone’s trains running. There will be a number of operating layouts to see and enjoy as well.

Throughout the day, there will be workshops on a variety of train-related topics conducted by highly knowledgeable model railroaders. Topics will include scenic techniques, digital electronics and the basics of model railroading. Be sure to sign up early at the entrance desk at the event as the workshops are expected to fill up quickly. Each workshop should run between 30 and 45 minutes.

As a bonus, we are expecting visits outside the venue from some local classic car enthusiasts. Additionally, food and refreshments will be sold by the Central Florida Children’s Home and the Lake Nona Middle School PTA as fundraisers. We are hoping for a great turnout so we can have more train meets in the future.
For more information about model trains, visit any of these related websites: www.tcasoutherndivision.org, www.TrainCollectors.org, www.Lionel.com, www.ridgelivestreamers.org, www.miniatur-wunderland.com.

TCA Southern Division Train Show in Lake Nona
Where: Lake Nona Middle School
When: Sept. 15, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Cost: 12 and under free along with 1 adult family member (1 free adult per family)
Over 12 years of age and other adults $5
For more information, call Mike Mills at 612-382-0325 or email at [email protected].