{"id":120626,"date":"2019-07-24T07:28:56","date_gmt":"2019-07-24T12:28:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thevwindependent.com\/news\/?p=120626"},"modified":"2019-07-24T07:29:02","modified_gmt":"2019-07-24T12:29:02","slug":"model-railroad-show-swap-this-weekend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/2019\/07\/24\/model-railroad-show-swap-this-weekend\/","title":{"rendered":"Model Railroad Show & Swap this weekend"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

SCOTT TRUXELL\/<\/strong>independent writer<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hobby enthusiasts are expected to converge on the Van Wert County Fairgrounds for this weekend\u2019s Model Railroad Show and Swap, an event that grows each year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The annual show, which is sponsored by the Van Wert County Historical Society, will be held from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Model Railroad Show and Swap will feature layouts of all sizes, along with merchandise from dozens of vendors.<\/strong> VW independent file photos<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis year we have at least 45 different vendors, with over 230 tables rented,\u201d show spokesman Chuck White said. \u201cIn the past we had several from places like North Dakota, South Carolina and Florida. This year, we have several coming from New York and Pennsylvania, along with Kentucky and Illinois. Most everyone else is from Ohio, Indiana and Michigan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe show is definitely getting bigger,\u201d White added. \u201cThis year we\u2019ve reserved four buildings, up from three last year, and our table count is up. Last year we had 223 and we might exceed 235 this year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe hope it will be better. We\u2019re looking to borrow golf carts locally to help those with mobility issues.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to dozens of vendors looking to buy, sell and trade all different sorts of model railroad paraphernalia, the show will feature some impressive operating layouts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Model Railroad Show and Swap will feature layouts of all sizes, along with merchandise from dozens of vendors.<\/strong> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have at least five major layouts coming,\u201d White explained. \u201cOne, the Cincinnati Northern (which once ran through Van Wert), is a gorgeous layout and may give the Michigan group, The Peninsula Club, a run for the winner of our Favorite Layout Contest.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLast year, the Peninsula Club got more votes than all the other layouts combined,\u201d White continued. \u201cBesides the major layouts, we\u2019ll have several Time Savers. There will be a total of six or seven attending, with only one or two here both days.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt least two of these have never been to our show. New this year will be a locomotive races layout, sponsored by the local NMRA division. We\u2019ll also have two \u2018N\u2019 scale layouts that have never been to Van Wert and altogether we\u2019ll have about 15 different layouts and displays.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While many model railroad zealots are adults, White believes this show also attracts a younger audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think we\u2019re successful because we\u2019re trying to appeal to the kids,\u201d White said. \u201cThis year, we\u2019re initiating a Junior Engineer Certificate. Each child ages 6 to 12 will be given one upon entering the show.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn the back side of the certificate will be a number unique to that child. They then will go from layout to layout, and also to each of the various displays, where upon completion of running a train or finding items on the layout, they\u2019ll be given an entry slip. Each slip will have their number and a unique punch.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe also appeal to the hard core model railroaders, but that\u2019s a given with almost any train swap. We\u2019re unique because of the layouts and displays we have and we\u2019re able to attract these clubs, groups and individuals for several reasons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne is that they can set their layouts up for more than just one day. They usually have a great time, and each year we\u2019ve been giving each a gratuity to help defray their expenses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

White added that funds donated by Van Wert businesses, organizations and individuals have helped make the annual event one of the best train shows in Ohio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, this year\u2019s show is partnering with the \u201cOperation Back to School Project.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re offering each parent, adult, guardian or grandparent of a OBTSP child, a free pass for Sunday,\u201d White said. \u201cLast year the OBTSP gave out over 800 back packs and this year I hear their goal is 1000. We supported this project with a donation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

White also noted that food, prepared by the Van Wert County Historical Society, will be available, including delicious pies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adult admission to the show is $6 or $8 for both days, with funds benefiting the Historical Society. Children 12 and under will be admitted free of charge.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

SCOTT TRUXELL\/independent writer Hobby enthusiasts are expected to converge on the Van Wert County Fairgrounds for this weekend\u2019s Model Railroad Show and Swap, an event that grows each year. The annual show, which is sponsored by the Van Wert County Historical Society, will be held from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-120626","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-30 21:30:55","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/120626","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=120626"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/120626\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=120626"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=120626"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=120626"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}