For over 120 years, electric trains have been among the most popular toys in America. Model trains have always magically ignited joy in children and adults alike. When Americans started placing trains around Christmas trees back in the early 1900s, rail travel was the primary option for going long distances which made trains a huge part of our everyday lives.
With an aging population of devotees, rising prices, shrinking living spaces and 24/7 entertainment options at our finger tips, that toy train fascination has dramatically shrunk. In a fast-paced culture that is captivated by the new and innovative technology of today, a free fall in model train interest was nearly inevitable. However, in the midst of the busyness of our modern day, there does continue to be a beacon of hope for the nostalgic fascination with model trains. Thanks to the dedication of enthusiasts around the globe and at places like the Flat Rock Model Train Depot and Museum, there are still places to experience this creative 3D modeling magic up close and in person.
The Train Depot and Museum attracts visitors from across the state and in Ohio as a perfect destination for marveling at the many trains and dioramas on display. The unique museum currently features 15 trains running simultaneously and incorporates the history of the trains that the auto icon Henry Ford actually brought to Flat Rock, the Detroit, Toledo & Ironton/ DT&I, (the electric railroad connecting Detroit, Toledo and Ironton) which hauled glass, parts and other materials for his factories.
Not-for-profit organizations like the Train Depot and Museum have also become an ideal spot where those without the space or financial resources to fully immerse themselves in this hobby are able to work collectively on a massive layout that gets routinely viewed by museum visitors. The team that cares for and curates this iconic mechanical display takes great pride in bringing a part of our youth and history to life through the magic and wonder of toy trains.
For younger generations, the draw to getting into model trains is the advancement in technology this hobby has undergone. Interest in model trains still competes with video games and other technological time-grabbers for the attention from the next generation of enthusiasts but places like the Train Depot and Museum are keeping the dream alive. In fact some of the very same technology that train modelers feared might kill the hobby is actually coming to its rescue. New technology is helping make this fascinating hobby more enticing as manufacturers employ digital tools and organizations like the Train Depot and Museum to engage social media to show more new audiences what model railroading is really about.
Interested volunteers can gather on Monday nights 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM for repair, maintenance and improvements to the layout of Lionel and American Flyers and to learn more about a hobby that even Rock and Roll Hall of Famers like Rod Stewart and Neil Young have discovered.
The Flat Rock Train Depot and Museum is located at 28700 Arsenal Road in Downtown Flat Rock and is open to the public, Saturdays from October thru April and by special arrangement for school groups. Themes are changed at least three times a year, Christmas, Halloween, and Thomas the Tank Engine.
