Community Activities

Once you have become a model railroad enthusiast, your family's desire to share your newfound passion with others may well lead you to one of the many professional associations that have grown up around this family hobby. The National Model Railway Association has annual conventions and contests that advocate world wide scale model railroading. Many major cities and small towns also have local model railway clubs that meet to share tips and swap stories.

There are also regional model train organizations that encourage beginners to come by and browse for ideas and new treasures to take home and add to your design. There are organized swap meets and excursions where you can take the family to meet and trade as well as see the more obscure offerings of hobby shops and dealers that don't always make it onto retail shelves.

Other great family outings include model railway shows that hold contests for the best exhibits and award prizes in a variety of categories. See intricate city scapes, rural recreations and futuristic model train sets and discover some of the subtle tricks to making award winning displays. These shows serve as great inspiration for future projects and a reminder of how seriously some people take the hobby of model train building.

As you can tell, one of the best parts of model train building is that the fun never really stops, there are always new things to add, fresh ideas to try and great bargains that just can't be resisted. Whether you are fascinated with collecting antique models or intrigued by all the latest hi-tech gadgetry, there is something to enchant every taste and imagination. Gathering with other model railway enthusiast creates quality time with other families who have discovered the joy of making model trains a hobby to last a lifetime.