The Great Train Swap Meet returns to the main gym at Battle Ground High School at the end of the month, and attendees can expect model railroading and antique train memorabilia to be on sale.
The Great Train Swap Meet will take place from 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on Sept. 30 in the main gym of Battle Ground High School, 300 W. Main St.
The swap meet features more than 150 tables where model railroad enthusiasts will be buying, selling and trading a variety of different scales, with the most popular being HO-scale (1/87th life-size), N-scale (1/160th life-size) and O-gauge (1/48th life size). There are many other different sizes of model railroading, called scales, that all are in proportion to the real life-size thing.
“The history of model trains stretches back nearly 150 years, almost as old as the railroad itself,” Railroad Model Craftsman website states. “The first models were not constructed to any one scale or standard, as [they] were more like toys without any way to have different trains working together. As standards were set for toy trains, manufacturers chose to build common scales.”
The hobby of model railroading brings together many skills and is a great hobby for anyone to get into, Southwest Washington Model Railroaders President Bob Perier said.
“I don’t have trains in my family history or anything, but you don’t have to,” Perier said. “It’s part of American history, and also there’s so much in the hobby when you get into it that if you’re more into electronics, you can specialize in that. That’s the nice thing about being in a club. You don’t have to be a master of all trades.”
A model railroad club usually has people who specialize in building scenery, electronics and wiring and other key components to bring the model railroad all together, Perier added.
The swap meet will include plenty of tools, models and more for those in the hobby as a few traveling vendors will be at the event. Along with traveling vendors, those wanting to sell model railroading and train-related memorabilia can email Larry.sprenkel@gmail.com for information about being a table holder.
A date has not been decided but Perier added the Southwest Washington Model Railroaders will be holding an open house as an upcoming event, as well.
