Geraldo Reid: All aboard to the train fair, where the next stop and final stop will be at the Exposition Center. The 48th rendition of the annual event took place at the New York state fairgrounds, where kids, adults, and seniors alike piled in to experience the different exquisite models of trains. From European train heritage to using dining room tables as a platform for their train towards exhibition, the function was tailor-made for creativity. As it is approaching Christmas season, there were many jolly sentiments shared. Tom Lynch, trailblazer of the European Train Enthusiasts, shared the nostalgic feeling he encounters by creating and controlling these trains.
Tom Lynch: It brings back memories when I was little like 10 or 11 years old when I lived in Germany so it brings back memories back from that which was fun. And I also enjoy talking to people especially the kids enjoy seeing the trains run around, smiles on their faces that helps.
Geraldo: Bob Sixberry had his train out on display in an elegant and free-flowing fashion. But, his story is far from what his train showed at the train fair.
Bob Sixberry: I had a serious stroke when I was younger so I can’t do my trade anymore so I needed a hobby and I had this old bed frame and couple of coffee tables that I knew I wanted, so I just tore the whole bed frame apart and the coffee tables and this is what I made out of it.
Geraldo Reid: Jeff Paston, Chairman of the Great New York Model Train Fair says the overall the essence of the fair opens the imagination for everyone of different backgrounds to dive into the ingenuity of the creations.
Jeff Paston: It’s not just a kids thing, it’s an adult thing men and women get into this. You can learn what you need to learn to recreate these scenes and these worlds and you’re putting a world into a miniature situation so that you could show off the things that you have seen or know about and can show other people what that world was all about.
Geraldo Reid: Among the hustle and bustle of the train fair here at the Exposition Center, children’s faces lit up, while adults too transported back to the days of elegant dining cars and long distance traveling. I would make puns about trains, but they always seem to derail my plans and it’s a bit hard to stay on track.
Geraldo Reid: The overall engineering and imagination for these vendors to make these trains is nothing short of impressive. Having this event to incorporate the many attendees binds the community together. To attend the annual event next year, make sure you have your fare to see these trains. Reporting from the Exposition Center, I’m Geraldo Reid. N-C-C News.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – For many children, adults, and seniors, the Exposition Center at the New York State Fair Grounds was the destination to see different models of trains in motion. The annual train fair experienced its 48th year in hosting the exhibit, with trains from various parts of the country showcasing their creation.
The rideable and handheld trains generated a watchful experience for people of different backgrounds and ages. It offered a sense of communal engagement where meeting new people and having a family day out was there to be enjoyed.
Tom Lynch of the European Train Enthusiasts says the sentiment around the train fair reminds him of his childhood.
“It brings back memories from when I was little, like 10 or 11 years old when I lived in Germany, so it brings back memories from that which was fun. And I also enjoy talking to people, especially the kids who enjoy seeing the trains run around, with smiles on their faces that help,” he said.
For Bob Sixberry, the train fair offered him an opportunity to display his work, but it also had a deeper meaning.
“I had a serious stroke when I was younger so I can’t do my trade anymore so I needed a hobby and I had this old bed frame and couple of coffee tables that I knew I wanted, so I just tore the whole bed frame apart and the coffee tables and this is what I made out of it,” he mentioned.
Jeff Paston, Chairman of the Great New York Model Train Fair says the train allows people to find an appreciation for events like these regardless of demographics.
“It’s not just a kids thing, it’s an adult thing men and women get into this. You can learn what you need to learn to recreate these scenes and these worlds and you’re putting a world into a miniature situation so that you could show off the things that you have seen or know about and can show other people what that world was all about.”
The fair allowed kids to enjoy the inventions and talent on the show while adults were able to express their inner childhood excitement. The fair took place from November 4th to 5th and will look to continue their yearly event in 2024.
