http://triblive.com/neighborhoods/yourmonvalley/yourmonvalleymore/9679645-87/model-club-railroad#axzz3vLfxcx00
The Mid-Mon Valley Model Railroad Club exhibit, housed in the New Eagle Borough Building at 159 Main St., will be open noon to 5 p.m. on weekends through Jan. 3. The request for an additional weekend came from a borough official.
Club secretary-treasurer Susan Werner predicted this weekend and next will be the busiest since the exhibit opened Nov. 28.
“Attendance has been about average, 20 to 30 visitors per day, which is perfect because the space is really small,” she said. “But these next couple weekends we expect about double, maybe 40 to 60.
“The holidays are running down, and the insanity that comes with it will pass. ... Everyone, boys and girls of all ages, love the trains. Allowing the extra weekend will help us keep the holiday spirit going a little bit longer."
(My Model Railroad, My Rules)
These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway. As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).
My club made a pretty prominant Pittsburgh area news paper
Good show, Jimmy!
It is so hard to get media exposure for small community organizations these days, despite the seeming multiplicity of outlets for information. Whatever y'all are doing, keep it up. That's a respectable showing for a busy season. Trains and Christmas were closely connected because of traveling to get people together at the holidays, so offering an outreach opportunity like this keeps alive memories of a distant past brought together for many by the RR.
Model trains were often a seasonal display for many dept stores and other retail outlets. Most of that sort of thing has been swept away by consolidation and national branding, so you're filling an important seasonal role. And local officials love anything that brings shoppers out, as do merchants who might serve them. It could turn into a new holiday tradition, so might be worth follwing up with potential stakeholders for next year while the warm glow is still in the air. Good luck!
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Thanks man, we do our best with the area and the demographics. We do have a bit of a challenge recruiting new members, but don't most clubs any more? The one thing not mentioned in the article is the fact we do operating sessions during the regular year, and we can probably easily support 7-8 one person crews, and possibly double if we decided to do two person crews.
Btw, Susan was right-yesterday we had over 30 visitors during the entire day, and were busy the entire five hours we were there. It was a very successful day, with only a couple minor hiccups with the DCC system and the locomotives catching each other (one track main with 3 trains running).