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Model-Train Show Recalls Rich Local Railroad History San Leandro Historical Railway Society Display Delights Wannabe Engineers Young and Old

Posted on: Wednesday, 7 December 2005, 09:00 CST

By Brian Foley, STAFF WRITER

SAN LEANDRO -- Along the tracks behind the old Southern Pacific depot, a train carrying automobiles barreled through, vibrating the air with its massive presence.

Looks like two locomotives on that one, said Joe Warzecha of Pleasanton.

Three, his 15-year-old son, Kyle, corrected him.

Warzecha and his son were two of the several volunteers at the weekend open house hosted by the San Leandro Historical Railway Society. Visitors were welcomed with the organizations massive layout of a half dozen model trains designed to replicate a 1940s landscape.

What kills me is that kids know everything about these trains, said Warzecha. But they all look the same to me.

While parents checked out the model trains, kids entered the raffle for a chance to win a Hogwarts Express model train, as seen in the popular Harry Potter movies.

Kids like trains because of their size and noise -- the whistles and waving at the engineers, said Joe Winkel, a railway society board member. Adults enjoy this because they were into it as kids. It brings them back.

Nostalgia and history go hand in hand for the Railway Society, which -- aside from its train displays -- emphasizes San Leandros rich past with the railroad.

The depot, built in 1898, connected the areas cherry orchards to the rest of California. It became a passenger stop until World War II when it was closed down. But its preservation allowed for the organization to purchase the building for $1 in 1988 and house its expansive train collection.

We are more than just a model-train club; We are a historical society, said Winkel.

The organizations 20 members range in age from 14 to 88, but all share a youthful appreciation that doesnt wane as one gets older. Chris Hochschild of Alameda, a society member for a year, said model trains was a childhood interest that died when his mom discarded his set.

They clean up your room and give away your trains, he said. Moms are the worst thing for model trains.

Winkels passion for trains also stemmed from his youth. Growing up in the 1950s, he said, every boy had a train.

But I didnt take care of it. I didnt foster it, he said. I got away from it in high school. But once you have a train and run one, you never lose that feeling. And in the back of your mind, you want to run one again.

Winkel said the Bay Area is full of families with a history in the railroad. A vast majority of people who come here had a relative work for the railroad at one time, a fact that brings them here, he said. At one time Southern Pacific had 60,000 to 70,000 employees alone.

Charles Christian, a curious visitor to Sundays open house, recalled his dad who worked for Southern Pacific. At 80, the San Leandro resident has just begun his model train hobby even though hes always wanted one since he was a kid.

I got a little layout at home Ive just started building, he said. My wife and I have been rail fans for many years but we just started this year. Im in good health and I just want to have fun.

Staff writer Brian Foley can be reached at (510) 293-2480 or bfoley@dailyreviewonline.com.

Source: Oakland Tribune

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