How to go
Where: Preble County Fine Art Center, Ohio 732, 601 Hillcrest Drive, Eaton
When: 6:30 to 9 p.m., Friday, Dec. 18, Sunday, Dec. 20, Saturday, Dec, 26 and 1 to 9 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 12, and Saturday, Dec. 19
Cost: Free
Information: (937) 456-3999
EATON — Some big kids will be showing off their toys to younger kids this month as part of the Christmas trains exhibit put on by the Miami Valley S Gaugers.
The club, which has about 35 members in Southwest Ohio, includes both collectors and operators of scale model railroads. They will be showing off their collections at the Preble County Art Center in Eaton several days this month.
“You have to be there,” said Bob Guckian. “Some of these kids have not seen trains running and their eyes light up when they see them in operation.”
As a youngster, Guckian had trains but got back into it in the 1970s with a layout for his stepson. In 1980, Guckian got into the American Flyer trains seriously and joined the club in 1988.
“People of my age, 66, typically always had trains at Christmas and around a Christmas tree. In the late ‘50s, it died off. Now the baby boomer generation, is getting older and are getting back into trains.”
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