Gadsden, AL – On October 5, 2024, the Coosa Valley Model Railroad Club held its annual Fall Train Show, showcasing an impressive array of model trains, railroad memorabilia, and educational opportunities for attendees. Jerry DeBene, the club president, highlighted the event’s significance as a community gathering, emphasizing its potential for inspiring students with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) concepts through hands-on experiences.
DeBene explained that the decision to host a fall show was made to accommodate the project’s size and funding requirements, as the Cultural Arts organization had invested substantially in developing the track and scenery. “We thought instead of waiting until the spring, let’s have a fall show,” he noted, highlighting the diversity of vendors present. Attendees could purchase model trains of various scales, books, shirts, hats, and other railroad-related items for a $5 admission fee.
Rich Garber, President of the Redstone Model Railroad Club, located on Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, shared insights about model railroading. “We have weekly meetings out there and have a complete layout in the building. You can find us on our website, and if you need access to get on, call us from that, and we can usually escort people in to visit. Our regular meetings are every Tuesday night,” Garber stated.
Garber’s passion for trains began at an early age. “When I was four years old, I was watching my dad play with his trains, and then he got me my own engine so I could run it on his layout. I’ve literally been doing this since elementary school,” he recalled.
He also highlighted the many facets of model railroading: “When you get down to it, there are so many aspects that model railroaders do. You can be a civil engineer, system engineer, layout designer, scenery, track, operations. There are so many different hats that you can wear when you’re doing model railroading.” Garber noted that many enthusiasts specialize in specific areas, whether it be building scenery or operating trains.
Jacob Oliver from the Redstone Model Railroad Club added, “So we’ve been in Huntsville, Alabama, for about 60 years. We had two layouts in the building. The first one was basically the Northeast Corridor. They rebuilt that. The building took stuff like a tornado, so we’ve been around a while. About five or six years ago, we tried an early version of the modular stuff, and it was Rich Garber, Mike Peterson, and Harley Keener who just walked by.
“It’s kind of slacked off in the last year and a half. We’ve had a bunch of new blood, and we started building modules. Michael Stevens is doing what’s called Freemo, and we’re doing what’s Mitemo. It’s basically a different standard. As you can see from the modules, they’re compatible. We have shims, tall legs, but the point is, everything comes together, and we run trains for people.”
Adding to the conversation, Michael Stephens with Steel City Free-Mo shared his experiences with modular layouts. “My group is a loose association of friends and other like-minded modelers that are trying to create or go by a standard so we can all interoperate on a modular layout setting to the highest level of realism that we can.”
Stephens, who started with a small layout running around his floor as a fifth grader, now enjoys a professional connection to his hobby. “I’m an engineer on a Class One railroad, actually operating the trains in real life as well as HO scale,” he explained. When asked what a Class One railroad is, he clarified, “A Class One railroad is one of the major railroad companies in America. You can find us online at Facebook at Alabama Modular Layouts, and there’s more information on there about who we are and what we strive to do.”
The club meets monthly, providing opportunities for anyone interested in model railroading to join. Membership is open to all, including junior members, with an annual fee of $30. DeBene encouraged attendees to participate in building and operating the layout, which offers a family-friendly environment that fosters learning. “It’s powerful,” he said. “You can build trees, paint, do electrical work, and learn carpentry. It keeps kids off their phones and tablets, teaching them valuable skills while having fun.”
DeBene also described the extensive layout depicting the Gadsden area in the 1940s, featuring hand-built structures and interactive elements for children, such as push buttons that activate lights and sound effects. “The goal is to create a museum-quality layout that captures the charm of the old-time city and allows visitors to experience the history of the area,” he stated.
The club’s efforts not only provide entertainment but also engage young minds in STEM-related activities, making the Fall Train Show a valuable resource for educational growth in the community. Attendees left with a sense of nostalgia and inspiration, reflecting the club’s commitment to preserving railroad history while promoting modern learning opportunities.
*Photos and Video by Shasta Jones
