Southern Utah Model Train Exhibits

 

either St. George nor Kanab Neither St. George nor Kanab are railroad towns — the railroad builders bypassed us (likely due to the impassibility of the Virgin River Gorge at the time): the closest track to us (on the route from Las Vegas to Salt Lake City) is a lonely stretch of desert in western Nevada.

Nevertheless, both towns have avid modelers — some being actual former rairoad workers (from other places of course.)

Once in a while they have exhibits — some of which are truly amazing.

One notable layout occupied pretty much the whole upper level of a two story home! That particular modeler had come from Portland, Oregon and brought the layout with him. He sectioned it up into a number of pieces, transported it in a U-Haul, and then re-assembled it in his new home in St. George.

For many, it’s a life-long avocation. Some of the layouts evidence years — even decades — of long, meticulous work adding detail here and there. For others, it’s a more part-time endeavor — usually when the owner has some spare time to work on it. For perhaps the majority it’s a retirement activity — something to keep their hands and minds active.

But ultimately, neither Rome nor railroads are built in a day.

For my part, while I have loved model railroads since I was a kid (I got my first S-Guage American Flyer under a Christmas tree) and had started a number of layouts hither and thither, I don’t have the patience or long term commitment (not to mention moving around a lot) to complete them.

So, I enjoy and appreciate other people’s railroads.

Here are a few examples from the St. George and Kanab exhibits. More in the gallery.