How to go
What: Andy Edleman, VP of Mike's Train House
Where: Dixie Union Station Model Train Store, 110 W. Main St. Mason
When: 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 9
Cost: Free
MASON — Model train collecting and enthusiasm is on an upswing, according to one local train hobbyist.
Gary Lane said interest in model trains is at a decade-long high. Lane operates the Dixie Union Station in Mason and said he has seen more interest from families and women in the once predominately male-oriented hobby. Part of the shift is the influx in technology in model trains, Lane said.
“It’s not just, sit a train down around the tree and watch it run in a circle,” Lane said.
“There’s a lot of technology going into trains now. They can emit different sounds, run in different ways, all using handheld devices. I think the image of the model train enthusiast has really changed in the past 20 years.”
One of the men at the forefront of model-train innovation will visit Lane’s store next week.
Andy Edleman, the vice president of Mike’s Train House will host a meet and greet from 5 to 9 p.m. March 9 at the Dixie Union Station model train store. MTH is one of the leading designers and innovators in model training collecting.
Edleman will be on hand to talk to model train enthusiast and demonstrate some of MTH’s newest technology.
Lane said Edleman would be bringing some surprises with hints about future MTH projects but had been sworn to secrecy as to the actual nature of what Edleman may be showing.
“Interest keeps going up and up,” Lane said. “I think people were stuck at home because of the economy and high gas prices and found this was a relatively inexpensive hobby to take up.’’
Dixie Union Station is located at 110 W. Main St. in Mason.
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