30th Annual Utica Train Show

Yesterday, I went to see the annual toy train show at beautiful Union Station, right here in scenic Utica, New York.

I actually think that I've been to every one. You are probably wondering how that is that possible, considering that I don't even like trains. Well, it's because my father has been putting on this show, for the Toy Train Collectors Society since day one. My dad has always been a collector of Lionel Electric Trains, and since the mid-1970's, when we discovered that Lionel actually had never gone out of business, my dad has been very active in the train collecting scene. He started collecting again, joined all of the clubs, and became very active with the regional TTCS club, eventually deciding to have a toy train collector's show, right here in Utica.

I may not be much of a fan of toy trains, but I do enjoy taking the train into NY City, whenever I have to go to the city, and I do enjoy visiting Union Station. Completed in 1914, Union Station is one of the classic early Art-Deco railroad stations, filled with scads of beautifully decorated plaster ornamentation, and marble. It still has the long benches that have held many a traveler over the last ninety years, and also still has the old-fashioned Barber Shop, that has been there since the beginning.

The original restaurant is no longer there, but I can assure you that it was very cool. It had a very large oval, marble counter, with fixed, oak stools, a brass foot-rail all of the way around the circumference, and served classic diner fare. That space has been remodeled many times over the years, and has been occupied by many restaurants. The current occupant is the host of the Halloween Party that I go to every year.

The train show has been very successful for three decades, bringing in serious collectors, interested onlookers, and people who just want to relive the good old days, within the confines of an ideal backdrop.

I grew tired of trains in my early teens, but really do enjoy going to the show, taking in the sights and sounds, and people-watching. Two years ago, I even recorded a few segments for my Podcast there, and played them on the program.

If you are local, and haven't been to the show yet, you really should take the time to check it out.