2010 Railroad Show Summary

Nearly 5,000 “kids of all ages” crowded the aisles amid the twenty-five exhibits and the thirty-one vendor booths at the 33 rd Annual Rogue Valley Railroad Show. A long-standing Southern Oregon holiday tradition, this year's Railroad Show was held on Nov. 27 and 28, 2010, at the National Guard Armory in Medford , Oregon .

Some exhibits at the Show emphasized railroading history and railroad safety, while others exemplified the art of model railroading. The twenty operating model railroad layouts among the exhibits encompassed a wide variety of sizes, themes and styles. Meanwhile, hourly door prize drawings and a large show-ending raffle allowed many lucky patrons to take home a gift.

The larger modeling scales were well-represented. The G-scale modular layout operated by Southwest Oregon Large Scale Trains (SOLST), the largest operating layout at the Show, featured an eclectic mix of scenes ranging from a haunted house to a golf course to a bear-overrun lodge. Among the Siskiyou Toy Train Club's ( Ashland , OR ) multiple O-scale layouts was a 1920's era Delker Electric Train Tower - a fascinating helix, powered by twin-transformers, and designed for use in department store and toy store window displays. Duane Ericson's “La Colorada” On30-scale line featured a long wood suspension bridge arching across a deep gorge. Adding a European flair, Shawn Anscombe's ( Ashland , OR ) OO-scale layout beautifully depicted the country village of Dunster , England . Although not operating within the confines of the Armory, the Southern Oregon Live Steamers exhibit included a Thomas the Tank engine (that will be operating at the Medford Railroad Park next spring) that proved extremely popular with our younger attendees. The largest ‘models' displayed also were crowd-pleasers – a handcrafted ¾-scale reproduction of a small luxury passenger coach with an accompanying 18-inch gauge electric locomotive, exhibited by Richard Houston ( Medford , OR ).

Both the Rogue Valley Model Railroad Club and Lower McKenzie Modular Railroad Club ( Springfield , OR ) exhibited large, detailed modular layouts in the ever-popular HO scale. Both layouts featured multiple rail lines surrounded by realistic structures and scenery mimicking the local Oregon area.

The smaller gauges also were well-represented. Bob Marcy ( Grants Pass , OR ) exhibited two complex N-scale layouts complete with farms, mountains, castles, and lighthouses. The White City Model Railroaders' display featured N-scale trains moving about harbors, towns, industrial complexes, and mountains. The Southern Oregon Z-Scale Modelers ( Medford , OR ) showcased their elaborate modular Z-scale layout, with both a railroad and an operating highway winding through innumerable trees in scenic mountain terrain. Our youngest exhibitor, Jacob Rasmussen ( Medford , OR ), proudly showcased a Z-scale “Layout in a Case” – complete with town and railway - built by Jacob and his grandfather.

Several interactive exhibits provided a “hands-on” model railroading experience, including a large Lego ® train layout constructed by the father-son team of Vinnie and Robbie Moscaritolo ( Medford , OR ). Young engineers tested their skill on the RVMRC's popular “Junior Pretzel” HO-scale line and two “switching puzzles” – an HO-scale layout by John Huckaby (Ferndale, CA) and an O-scale layout by Art McKee (Prospect, OR). Visitors to the Operation Lifesaver booth could occupy the engineer's seat in a simulated locomotive cab, as well as learn about railroad safety.

Exhibits by the Southern Oregon Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society and the Ashland Historic Railroad Museum highlighted the rich railroading history of the Southern Oregon area. Syd Stoner ( Medford , OR ) proudly showed his restored maintenance motorcar, while the Jacksonville Museum Quilters displayed railroad-themed quilts and the Morse Telegraph Club kept busy sending telegrams across the Armory floor.

The Show was proud to host the exhibits of three well-known local manufacturers of model railroad equipment: Kadee Quality Products ( White City , OR ), Micro-Trains Line (Talent, OR), and Campbell Scale Models ( Central Point , OR ).

The Rogue Valley Railroad Show is sponsored and staffed by the five organizations based at the City of Medford 's Railroad Park : the Southern Oregon Live Steamers, the Southern Oregon Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, the Morse Telegraph Club, Southwest Oregon Large Scale Trains, and the Rogue Valley Model Railroad Club. All proceeds from the Railroad Show are used to maintain and expand the exhibits at the Medford Railroad Park . The City of Medford Railroad Park is open to the public on the 2 nd and 4 th Sunday of each month, April through October, 11 AM to 3 PM .

Our thanks to the many donors, exhibitors, vendors, and volunteers who have been instrumental to the continued success of the Rogue Valley Railroad Show.