If you can’t get enough of the model railroad scene, make sure you go full steam ahead to the Concord Model Railroad Club’s 32nd annual show at Everett Arena this Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The model railroad show is the club’s biggest event of the year, and it also serves as the club’s lone fundraising event. It’s been going on for 31 years now, and it looks to still be chuggin’ along just fine.
The show is quite the spectacle. Almost every square inch of floor space in the arena becomes occupied by railroad layouts, items for sale and enthusiasts from all over the state.
“We’re going to have about 80 dealers selling merchandise in all scales, from N gauge up to O scale,” said Richard Fifield, show chairman.
There will be four or five operating layouts, Fifield said, meaning you can check out some top-notch, enthusiast-level setups in action. The club’s own layout – 71 by 36 feet – will also be in attendance, set up in the middle of the arena as a centerpiece of sorts.
Then there’s the White Elephant Table, where “people bring in items they no longer want or just want to get rid of, and they put a price on it, and people walking around see it, and if they like it they’ll buy it,” Fifield said. The club takes 10 percent of whatever’s sold.
Apart from all the model train setups and products for sale, there will be some chances to win some swag, too.
“We’re going to have a couple raffles, where we’ll be giving away a model train set, some dinner tickets for the New Hampshire Dinner Train up in Lincoln,” Fifield said.
There will also be door prizes given out during the day, about four, Fifield said. He said he expects to have about 600 people there, “hopefully more.”
“Looks like it might rain that Sunday morning, which is always a good thing,” he said. “If it rains in the morning, it’s too wet outside to do anything so they’re looking for something to do inside.”
Tickets, which will be available at the door only, will be $5 for adults and kids 12 and under get in free with an adult. There will be a $12-per-family maximum, so you don’t have to break the bank (save that for the merch inside).
Oh yeah, and the arena’s food stand will be open, too, so show up hungry.
For more info, contact Fifield at 736-8061 or rhfsaf@aol.com.
