* This is not a sponsored article. My son is affiliated with the Virginia, Piedmont & Central HO Model Railroaders Club, one of nine model railroad organizations participating in the 47th Annual Model Railroad Show at the Science Museum of Virginia. We are not being compensated for writing this article.
My youngest son, the Railfan, has loved trains since he was a year old. Thomas & His Friends was on every afternoon on the Sprout Channel (remember Sprout?) and he was fascinated by all the locomotives.
As he turned 3 years old, my husband and I decided to purchase a wooden trains and track set. One day, I was watching television in my bedroom while my railfan played with trains. Looking over at him at one point, I was absolutely shocked by what I saw.
With all of his wooden train tracks, he made a train route so elaborate that I immediately grabbed my phone and took a picture. He had a gift, and I wanted to ensure that my husband and I helped him develop it.
My husband gave our railfan his first model train of his favorite train line, a CSX locomotive, for his 6th birthday, along with a few model train tracks for him to use with the locomotive. Clearly, he was in train heaven!
The next year we took him to his first Model Railroad Show at the Science Museum of Virginia as an early birthday gift and he was hooked. He recorded all the model trains with his tablet and my husband’s phone.
Our homeschool journey started the following year, and my son wanted to further explore his interest in trains. We started looking for ideas and found the Virginia Piedmont & Central HO Model Railroaders in Ashland, a HO scale railroad club. At the time, there were a few older teens, but mostly adults. My son became the youngest member of the club. Each month, members get the chance to run their model trains on the club's railroad. A few months later, he was running his model train with his model railroad club members at the annual Model Railroad Show. On that day, I watched my Railfan operate his CSX model train from afar, and the thought of him realizing his dream brought me so much joy. It was amazing to watch my son live out his passion.
Kids who love trains like my son will love this weekend's 47th Annual Model Railroad Show!
At this 3-day event, STEM and train lovers of all ages have the opportunity to enjoy the discovery process while making memories. This year's event features nine displays in sizes HO, N and O, plus a LEGO display. The museum will show three episodes of Dinosaur Train in the Barbara Thalhimer Theater and turn the RF&P Forum into an interactive family train yard.
The Science Museum is offering timed tickets for the Model Railroad Show to control the flow of traffic. Members are encouraged to reserve tickets on the museum's website before the event to secure their top-choice of entry time. Entry to the show is included with museum admission.
This will be my railfan's third time participating in the model railroad show, along with his 8-year-old best friend, who just joined the club this summer, and model railroad operators of all ages from other clubs around the area. Don't miss this opportunity to support the young model railroaders and the model railroad organizations that put smiles on people's faces!
For more details: The 47th Annual Model Railroad Show
