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Women in Model Railroading. Rail Fair 2025 -Jeff Gross
October 2, 2025/
by Jeff Gross, contributing writer
I encourage companies, doctors’ offices, and corporate buildings to set up a Model Railroad in their waiting room or foyer as this writer set up a card table with a O27 train running in a circle at the Seven Cedars Fall Festival. The interest in the operating train was substantial. Many a smiling face was witnessed and the youngsters were very respectful with a “Look, but don’t touch” viewing. At various points in time restaurants in Rhode Island have had a G Scale operating train layout suspended from the ceiling. The commentary from the diners is always one of enthusiasm while watching the trains.
Somewhere out west is a bar that delivers patrons drinks via a Lionel Train! Also running on that same line is a snack train. A fully operational pub train in Europe can be seen here: The Restaurant Where Your Order Arrives By Model Train
A yard sale on Saturday in Glocester had ladies looking for Lionel Trains. One woman asked about the price on a pair of Marx switches and water tower both in the original boxes. She was sharp as she counter offered a lower price than that what was indicated on the box. She stated that yes it was weird a woman is buying model trains but she enjoys them as her brother and herself split the sets they both inherited. Apparently, she really enjoys running them.
I countered with I didn’t find her interest in the Model Train hobby weird at all, and I am encountering numerous women and girls getting involved in the hobby. Since my “Women in Model Trains” article back in 2023, numerous ladies are now involved in the hobby and can be seen shopping at the various train shows in New England. This includes a number of
young ladies who are members of various model train groups. Speaking with some train show managers, they agree there is an uptick in the female gender portion of the hobby, which is a great benefit. Ladies, here is a thought: “Do you have an interest in Model Trains – and also cooking?” One can start up an exclusive Model Dinner Train restaurant like the one featured in the above YouTube video link.
It is important that women/girls with interest continue to enter the Model Train hobby, as the hobby is losing men at an accelerated rate. I lost my dear friend, Jesse, who was also a Model Train collector July 1st of this year. A day does not go by that Jesse is not in my thoughts. My heart and prayers go out to his wife, Susan, and family.
Jesse was an ace when it came to American Flyer Trains. He had an extensive operating layout in American Flyer S scale. Starting when he was 5 years old, Santa Claus would put American Flyer Trains under his families Christmas tree. He had quite the collection. With that collection and expertise Jesse could tell me what year a particular set was made and what
stores in the New England area carried that set. With Jesse’s knowledge I often would look for trains with Macy’s, G Fox, Jordan Marsh, and Filene’s price tags still attached. To a fair degree these price tags will indicate what style of train were popular in a given area. My friendship with Jesse was strengthened when we researched a Keystone Camera Co. American Flyer Train set that I acquired in Winthrop Maine decades ago.
Jesse was a US Navy Veteran and the banter that went between him and I will always be missed. He always appreciated my sarcastic humor. I pray Jesse’s daughters and granddaughters (Yes the “X” chromosome is very strong on Susan’s side of the family) continue to operate and enjoy Jesse’s American Flyer layout. Jesse will always be with us and never forgotten.
This weekend, Oct 4 & 5, 2025, from 10am – 4pm, at the Boxboro Regency Hotel & Conference Center in Nashua, NH, the Nashua Valley Model Railroad Railfare 2025 will take place. All scales of model railroading will be represented there, including the new micro–scale TT gauge. The show is always well attended and there is also a female train dealer, April, who is carrying on her husband’s legacy by keeping “Steve’s Trains” operational. She has a vast selection of HO scale engines and freight cars.
I invite you to bring your sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters, nieces and nephews to the Nashua Valley show! Attending may forge the bond of a lifetime by establishing a connection with a pastime that all ages can enjoy. The Model Train hobby may also provide some hope in a world that has plunged into darkness with the celebration of glorified violence in movies and games were young people spend too much of their time.
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Jeffrey “Jeff” Gross spent 21 years as an Analytical Chemist at the USCG R&D Center in Groton, Connecticut, Woods Hole Laboratories, and Helix Technologies. Changing careers is a “great learning experience for everyone”, Jeff says, and I’m an avid outdoorsman and conservationist, a student of the sciences, and the world. The US holds too many wonders not to take a chance and explore them”.
Jeff is the Model Train and Railroad entrepreneur. Proud Golden Retriever owner. Ultra strong Second Amendment Advocate and Constitutionalist. “Determined seeker of the truth”.
Patron Member, Second Amendment Foundation.
His subjects include Outdoors, Second Amendment, Model Railroading, and Commentary. He can be reached at: [email protected].
Posted in Jeff Gross, Lifestyle
Closer to home, come out on Saturday Oct 4th from 10AM to 1:30 PM. The Little Rhody Division of National Model Railroaders Association will be at the Warwick Public Library on 600 Sandy Lane with a display of our n-scale modules, and a small Harry Potter themed G-Scale display. Watch the trains running, talk with the members, learn how you may become involved. We will have a hands-on clinic showing how to make the n-scale modules. There is no charge to attend and no vendors selling items. An event flyer appears on our website https://littlerhodydiv.org/ Call ahead if you want to make your own module Saturday. Several women are members of Little Rhody Division NMRA; it’s not so weird.