Train show at Penn Central Mall a success for vendors
Oskaloosa's Model Train Show at Penn Central Mall on November 20, 2010
Penn Central’s model railroad club had many guests on Saturday as the Train Show made it’s stop for everyone to enjoy.
There were people of all ages browsing the vast assortment of model railroad parts for sale. Vendors from across the state came to buy and sell.
Urbandale resident Nance Jane was there with her husband who was also buying and selling model railroad equipment. She had come with her custom ornaments that she makes.
Muscatine, Maquoketa and Indianola, Iowa was represented by those that enjoy their hobby. Most were there to sell off their extra stuff as is the normal when a project is completed you have a tendency to want to start over. Model railroaders are no different.
“I have been to the train show, this being my 5th year” an East side Des Moines resident said about the show.
Richland Iowa’s Paul Greiner brought his extensive collection. “This is a hobby that has turned into a hobby” Greiner said. “It can’t really be a business when you don’t make any money” he joked.
“This all started when I bought a train set on a 4′ by 8′ piece of plywood at a farm sale of all things” Greiner stated. Eventually Greiner would like to have a retail store. His many customers come from the shows that he attends, not only from the show itself but by phone at later times. Greiner said he had recently been to a show in Texas and it was so busy he ran out of business cards, so he was forced to write his info on scratch paper and give that to people. Those with that scratched together business card are the one’s that call him most often he says.
You can reach Paul’s home business “Ringer’s Trains & Things” in Richland, Iowa by contacting him by phone 319.456.6116.
I spoke with Judy Phillips of Wood n Stuff of Oskaloosa about the show. They had started it many years ago, but for the last 3 years she says, the club has taken it over. They help sponsor the train club, so it was a natural thing for the club to take over.
Wood n Stuff is located in the Penn Central Mall, and you can contact them by phone at 641.673.4757.
