November 17, 2004
photo

Herald photo by Carol South
Eric Pentacost, an upper elementary student at the Grand
Traverse Academy, checks out his boxcar during the school's
Take Your Train to Work Day.

Students take one thrilling ride

Northen Michigan Railroad Club offers public big-scale fun with hobby trains

By Carol South
Herald contributing writer

       All aboard for learning and fun.
      Members of the Northern Michigan Railroad Club treated students at the Grand Traverse Academy to a slice of their scale hobby Friday morning.
      In the school's gym, they set up multiple tracks on a raised platform in a large oval, allowing students to check out a variety of trains and assorted accessories. A series of buttons lining the platform let students turn a windmill, flash lights, raise a crossing arm and sound whistles.
      Classes visited the set up one at a time throughout the morning as club members Sam Vance of Rapid City and Dave Crouse of Williamsburg answered questions and demonstrated different features. Members of the Northern Michigan Railroad Club enjoy sharing their hobby and every year they host the Festival of Trains in Traverse City. This year's show is scheduled for December-January 1 at the Grand Traverse Heritage Center.
      The train display at the Grand Traverse Academy was part of a nationwide Take Your Train to Work Day, designed to promote the model railroads. Reggie Horning, an upper elementary teacher at the school and a member of the railroad club, initiated the club's visit. He wanted to share his favorite hobby with the students, hoping to spark an interest.
      "There's a lot of looking with their hands going on here," Horning noted of the kids' enthusiasm as they swirled around the platform pressing buttons and goggling at the sights.
      Horning believes that the high-touch hobby of trains remain an important pastime even in today's high-tech world.
      "With all the computer games out there, it is amazing how many kids are into this," said Horning, who received his first train when he was six. "Parents say their kids would not be interested in trains but this is something they can create themselves and there's some sort of revival going on."
      "I think you can only live in a virtual world for so long," he added.
      Horning and the school also invited students with train sets to bring in some of their equipment for the day.
      "We wanted them to share their hobby and interest with the rest of the school," he said.
      Eric Pentacost, an upper elementary student, brought an engine and some cars from an extensive collection he has been amassing for years. His interest in trains began young with Brio trains, a sturdy wooden set. He received his first HO scale train set at age five and has not looked back, regularly buying new cars for his collection.
      "Trains are fun and easy to run," said Pentacost, who has at least six trains at home. "They're really fun at Christmas because you can set them up around the tree."
      Classmate Anthony Zoulek started working with model trains two years ago, tapping into his grandpa's collection. As most train hobbyists do, he sets up a display at Christmas.
      "I like setting them up and running them," he noted.
      The hobby of model trains requires patience and teaches the basics of planning, engineering and electricity.
      "It's really fun for me because I like engineering and making things," Pentacost said.
      Model trains often have a connection spanning generations. Horning's grandfather got him started and now he and his daughter enjoy changing the engines, cars and accessories displayed on their set up at home.
      "We have ours up all year round but we do rotate what's displayed there," he said. "It's kind of neat because every time it comes out different."