Annual model train show chugs into Lehi

LEHI — Model train shows typically offer kids and their parents a good chance to see little trains up close. Sometimes they get to watch them go through tunnels and over bridges, and up and down hills.

But generally children are not allowed to steer the trains.

Wes Burr, a retired BYU professor of family life, and his wife want to change that.

For the Ophir-Tintic & Western 21st Annual Model Train Show at Thanksgiving Point this month, the Burrs are bringing a kid-friendly, remote control-driven setup with three puffing, whistling, chugging trains.

"This is my first year involved with the show," Burr said. "Mostly, it's just men and women operating their trains. This year, there will be at least one display for children to operate."

Burr and his wife have spent nearly 18 months creating an HO-scaled train and surrounding landscape on two large tables. The display includes a 25-pound mountain with tunnels, a stream, a lake — complete with the "Loc Wes" monster — and scale versions of Lehi Roller Mills, Texas Roadhouse and Pleasant Grove's Purple Turtle restaurant. There's also a Subway, a KFC, a Los Hermanos, a pizza parlor, a fire station and a lumber yard for the "Tim Burr" Lumber Company.

One of the tiny homes looks just like the couple's home in Lehi, with Ruth's 1937 Lincoln convertible in the driveway.

Little people picnic, swim, wave and work in the town as the three trains steam by.

Children will each get a 5- to 10-minute turn, tooting the whistle, traveling through the "town" and getting a feel for miniature-train engineering.

He's not too worried that any harm will come to his train as the children will work the remote control standing behind a rope beside he and his wife.

"We've learned from our grandkids what kids can do and what they might do," Burr said.

The Burrs have an entire room in their home dedicated to train models. The setup to be displayed takes up most of a second room.

They've spent lots of couple time over the past few months creating the to-scale buildings, trees, lakes, tracks and roadways.

Ruth Burr said it's a joint effort as her husband shoots pictures of local train icons and recreates their logos on the computer while she works on the finer details like trees, shrubs and people.

Next year, they'll add a working carnival to the board.

Their train set will join 14 other models of various sizes in the displays built by train modelers from the western region — and the show will include a train display built entirely of Lego building blocks.

If you go:

What: Ophir-Tintic & Western Model Railroad Club 21st Annual Model Train Show

Where: Thanksgiving Point Show Barn, 3003 N. Thanksgiving Way, Lehi

When: Jan. 20 from 3-9 p.m. and Jan. 21 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Cost: Adults $5, children under 11 are free

Tickets: Purchase at the door

Sharon Haddock is a professional writer with 35 years experience, 17 at the Deseret News. Her personal blog is at sharonhaddock.blogspot.com.

Email: haddoc@desnews.com