BEND, OR -- For the twenty-second year running, the Eastern Cascades Model Railroad Club is holding their Annual Open House.
The Train Club's Bruce Blanford says the event is free to the public and a fun opportunity to be part of the railroading world. "We're inviting the public to come out and enjoy the hobby of model railroading with us. We have our HO layout and the rest of our Club will be working with the 1 1/2" layout where people can get the train rides. We'll have eight or ten trains running - can't tell for sure because we always have visitors coming who add to the number of trains."
Blanford, one of the Train Club's charter members, says the Club exists because trains will always spark the imagination and kids should have the opportunity to learn about them in a more manageable size. "There's a group of people that got together, not necessarily worked for the railroad, but they've always be fascinated with trains, and over the years we've grown to the point where we've gotten a group together that really enjoys working on and operating the trains, plus the infrastructure that goes along with it."
He says, "The Open House is free to the public, there's no charge, we have lots of parking, and it looks like the weather will be fairly cooperative this weekend, so we hope a number of people will come out and enjoy the hobby of model railroading with us."
Blanford says there will be food trucks, like Tennessee Grilled Cheese, and music, and there's always plenty of shade.
The event takes place between 10 a-m and 4 p-m at the Train Club property on Modoc Lane off Ward road in SE Bend.
