Back on track

By Elise Franco

Model train enthusiasts chug into Niles for flea market

NILES — Hundreds showed up to test the tracks at the Youngstown Model Railroad Association’s train and model railroad flea market.

About 150 vendors set up displays of model trains, railroads, books, photos and other various equipment Sunday afternoon at McMenamy’s Restaurant and Banquet Center on U.S. Route 422, hoping to catch the eye of a passing enthusiast.

Jim Pope, president of the railroad association, said the flea market is in its 13th year at McMenamy’s and its 35th year overall.

Pope said the association has the flea market twice per year, in January and in March. He said January’s attendance was down because of a snowstorm that hit the area the day before, but he was happy to see attendance back up on Sunday.

“We’ve had one heck of a flea market here today,” he said. “About 500 people came through.”

Pope said most of the people who come through the market are train and railroad lovers, and even those who don’t necessarily collect trains can find something they want.

“We have a wide variety of equipment or train-related items,” he said. “Some vendors have books that they’ve written or photos they’ve taken.”

Pope said many of the 150 vendors present Sunday are flea market regulars.

Jon Ulbright, 64, of Wooster said he’s reserved a table for nearly 25 years, and will continue to do so.

“They put on a good show here,” he said. “If you bring some nice stuff, it sells well. I’ve always done well.”

Ulbright said he’s been in love with model trains since he can remember.

“I had them when I was 5 years old, and I began collecting in 1967,” he said. “I’ve got the collecting bug. It’s like a disease.”

Ulbright said he’s very particular about the types of trains he keeps in his collection. He said he only collects Lionel models, and he prefers those that are from the pre-World War II era.

“Those ones don’t look as realistic. They look more toylike,” he said. “That’s what turns me on to them though.”

Ulbright said he is putting on his own train and toy show March 22 at the Buckeye Event Center on Henry Street in Dalton. He said he’s already booked more than 300 tables and hopes to see many of the same vendors from Sunday’s market.

Tom Abruzzi of Girard brought his children, Alex, 8, and Annelise, 4, to check out some of the display tables.

Abruzzi said he collected model trains and railroads as a child and has passed the interest down to his son.

“I bought Alex some Santa Fe diesel engines for Christmas when he was 6 months old,” he said. “Now we have too many to count.”

Alex said his favorite thing about collecting model trains is watching them run. He said he loved watching the three-rail “O” gauge train display that was running in the back of the banquet hall.

Abruzzi said he and his son built a layout in the basement that can run up to six trains at one time.

“It’s cool,” Alex said. “But it’s still under construction right now.”

efranco@vindy.com