EAST LANSING - Michigan’s largest model train show was held on Sunday, November 14th at the Michigan State University Pavilion.

The event was organized by volunteer members of the nonprofit organization Lansing Model Railroad Club. Vendors came from all over the Midwest to sell their trains, with over 500 tables of toy trains, artwork, collectibles, DVDs, books, railroad artifacts, and much more. All the proceeds from the show benefit the club’s efforts to restore the Michigan Avenue Tower and maintain the historic Grand Trunk Western Millet Depot and expand its model railroad layout.

“It’s great to see everyone come out and get back some type of normalcy,” said John Hartmann, the Events Committee Chairperson for the Lansing Model Railroad Club. “Model railroading is fun, it’s a great thing and a family thing everyone can come together and do and have a great time.”

The National Model Railroad Association Division 5 chapter offered a variety of free how-to demonstrations to inspire people to set-up a model railroad empire of their dreams in the center of the show area. Not only were the demonstrations informative, they were educational with operation lifesavers to teach people to look at railroad crossings and be safe around them.

Michael Frezell, the Recording Secretary for the Lansing Model Railroad Club says, “This has been a lot of work planned and once the state opened back up in June, we got the go ahead to host the show and sent out mailers and were excited to get things planned back in the summer. I’m excited for this and see people back and at the right time just before Christmas. They’re going to want a train around the Christmas tree and I’m sure they’ll find it at our train show.”