Tallahassee's North Florida Fairgrounds hosted a 2-day model train show and sale over the weekend. The event attracted hundreds of miniature railroad fans from all over.
A mighty freight train is passing through a vast steel mill as flames shoot from vats of molten metal. (train sound)
But both the train and the steel mill can fit onto the typical dining room table top. It was just one of dozens of incredibly detailed model train layouts at the 32nd Annual Show and Sale hosted by the Big Bend Model Railroad Association. Among the many vendors was Lewis Collier who sells mostly old-fashioned Lionel model trains from his hobby shop near Athens, Georgia.
"A lot of that here this weekend, plus the other scales. A lot of stuff here this weekend, a wonderful show."
Ironically, model trains are now far more diverse and interesting to railroad fans than most of today's full-size trains. The model buffs mourn the consolidation, standardization and fiscal woes that have made real trains almost boring in comparison to their tiny cousins.
