Don Haley, an avid model railroader, said “We come into this world naked and totally dependent on others. Everything we think, know, and love has been learned. I also believe passion is learned, too.” Haley references his development of passion for model railroading, and leads readers to contemplate their reasons of why and how model railroad hobbyists find fulfillment, joy, and purpose in their choice of leisure.

Who are these model railroad hobbyists?

Wayne Sidelinger is a North Carolinian model railroad hobbyist veteran. He’s an original member of Wilson Area Railroad Modelers Club, started in 1985. “Members are all the way from Durham to Greenville to Virginia and on down,” he says.

Sidelinger has built multiple replicas, including the bridge over the Diablo Canyon in New Mexico and the massive Canadian Pacific Railway bridge over Mountain Creek in British Columbia. “I took some pictures of it when I was out there and I came home and built that,” Sidelinger said, pointing to his creations. “Some of these things are time-consuming...With the pictures I was able to duplicate that bridge right down to the last degree, that is an exact replica of that bridge,” Sidelinger proudly explains.

Model railroad hobbyists are craftsmen, architects, and woodworkers. They are historians and artists.  Constructing intricate creations, requires  a lot of different model train supplies. A train lover must research a specific period in time and create a distinct scenery, where model train accessories can accent and bring a layout to life.

Why is model railroading a choice hobby?

A good number of model railroad hobbyists have found that model railroading can bring the entire family together. Many children of all ages find similar fascination to the model trains as model railroad hobbyists do. Create precious memories with children and grandchildren by sharing a beautiful hobby that teaches patience, detail, and the joy of creating something by hand.

Where can an interested individual go to start learning more about model railroading?