Big Springs Museum in Caledonia hosted a show in early March that drew dozens of train lovers and collectors of all ages. The tempo of numerous train cars rounding the track fascinated the children and the scaled life-like replica railcars reminded the older spectators of a real train that once ran through their neighborhood. Representatives of Flower City Tinplate Trackers, a club dedicated to operating O-gauge and H I-Rail trains, exhibited a 20-foot track for the Hogwart Express. Harry Potter fans immediately recognized the engine from the popular book and movie series. The club is also a popular attraction at the Hemlock Fair where they’ll exhibit a 50-foot track running the Polar Express and Thomas the Tank Engine, to the delight of children of all ages. You can also find the club’s train exhibits at Strong Children’s Museum and the Greece Library. The father and son team of Sean and Aidan Sullivan, brought their family-made track and a variety of railcars, some as old as 40 years that had been part of Aidan’s mother, Jean’s train set. Side by side with Alan Garrett’s train, there was plenty for the youngsters visiting the train show to look at. The chug-a-lug of the trains and toot-toot of the whistle mesmerized the children who stood by to watch the railcars make their way around the track. "Model trains are something a parent and a grandparent can relate to with their kids. Trains make lasting memories," said one spectator. It looked like many more memories were made over the weekend at the Big Springs Museum Train Show.
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