Model train groups, vendors roll through Monroeville Convention Center for fall show

Greenberg’s Great Train & Toy Show rolled through the Monroeville earlier this month.

It is one of the largest gatherings of model train enthusiasts and sets up shop three times a year at the municipality’s convention center at 209 Mall Blvd. About 6,000 people were estimated to have walked through the doors Nov. 5-6.

Show manager Neal Carnaby said the Pittsburgh Steelers bye week helped with the turnout.

“That helped our attendance today,” he said. “We’re possibly even up a little than last time (in July) given today. Today was much stronger than I expected.”

There were about a dozen active train displays at the show.

One of the newer groups at the show was the Iron City N-Scale Modelers. Several members each brought modules that connected to an estimated 25-square-foot display.

“This is our second time here,” said Bradd Williamson, 54, of Jersey Shore, Lycoming County, one of the N-Scalers. “Nobody has enough space in their home to set this whole thing up, so we have to wait for a big show like this so that we can set our entire layout up. That’s why we want to go to stuff like this.

“It is a lot of fun to come out and run trains with my good buddies that I don’t get to see too often because I live three hours away. We do have Zoom meetings every two weeks. About every three months or so, we gather some place and put all these modules together and run trains.”

Williams said one of his grandfathers, Enfield Bierly, took him on a train ride when he was around 5 years old, and he has been hooked on trains since. Other relatives also worked for a railroad company.

The Pittsburgh S-Gaugers brought their interactive display to the convention floor. It had more than eight different actions, including unloading pieces of lumber, cutting wood, dumping fake coal ash and letting sirens blow, all with the push of a button.

Pittsburgh Independent Hi-Railers featured some of the larger trains at the show. They had O-Gauge, O-27 and O-Scale, with each type requiring a three-rail track to power the trains. They had engines that let out small puffs of smoke.

There were also historical displays of the Pittsburgh & West Virginia Railway.

Gary Filson, a model railroader from New Jersey who recently moved to Irwin, was at the show with several family members including son Ian and granddaughter Claire.

Filson said he’s been involved with trains for about 10 years, and he enjoyed the Monroeville experience.

“It’s really good,” Filson said. “Nice number of vendors and I like the layouts. I’ll definitely come back.”

Carnaby said some vendors saw a lull in transactions, which he credited the election that took place a few days later.

“Some vendors are doing well, some not so well,” he said. “I think a lot of it will straighten out after Tuesday. Two weeks before elections, people are always a little crazy as far as whether they’ll spend money or not. I think it impacts everyone in retail.

“There’s a little indecision. People don’t know which way it’s going to go, so they hold on to their money. It doesn’t matter who wins. They’ll let go of their money after the election. It’s one of those quirky things.”

About 100 vendors participated in the show. They had everything from parts and accessories to engines and cabs. Others had models of buildings and various pieces used to set a scene.

There was a test track so people could check their purchases prior to leaving.

“We don’t have (anything) like this in Johnstown,” Dave Shepler said about his hometown. “Brady’s (Train Outlet in Greensburg) is the closest actual train shop around.”

Greenberg’s Great Train & Toy Show returns to Monroeville Jan. 7-8.

More information about the train show and its other tour stops is available at trainshow.com. For more about convention center events, visit monroevilleconventioncenter.com.