On the tracks at Whiting Mills

WINSTED —  The Whiting Mills Artist studios building at 100 Whiting St. on Sunday, Feb. 21, hosted an afternoon featuring live steam G scale trains, historical train movies and music by local musician Delaney Morgan. 

Families enjoyed intricate scale-model setups and mingled with artists and artisans displaying their work at Whiting Mills.

Three clubs ran trains on Sunday. Harvey Campbell, with his steam-powered setup, spoke of the events his group participates in throughout the year.

“We do Sam Collins Day in Collinsville and we do the Christmas show down in Fairfield for a couple days,” Campbell said. “We’re just three or four guys that like to run trains.” When asked if he runs trains at home, he replied, “Mine run around in my garden.” Campbell said they come to set up their trains at Whiting Mills once a year.

A common theme among the model railroaders and spectators for the afternoon, was the fact that most have inherited trains from family members, or enjoy setting up with their families.

Campbell said he received his dad’s “old Lionel” when he was little.

Also present were father and son Ed Sweeney and Timothy Sweeney of the Torrington Model Railroaders. Along with some of the bigger shows the Torrington Railroaders participate in, such as the Armory show in Torrington, or the giant Amherst Railway Society Railroad Hobby Show at the Big E every year, they also set up trains at rest homes, children’s clubs, and libraries.

“I’ve been interested in trains all my life,” Timothy Sweeney said. “I have a train room in my basement.” Along with participating in weekly clubhouse meetings, Sweeney holds model train workshops and clinics at Whiting Mills. “I have a clinic coming up the third Saturday in March, on  rock casting and how to make a rock face,” Sweeney said. “It’s very creative.” Sweeney added that he recently finished a 2-foot by 4-foot model of the Hendey Manufacturing Co. in Torrington, which took  him over two years to complete. 

The Torrington Model Railroaders also have a tentative date set for a show at their clubhouse on the tracks in Torrington.