Dec 2002 - Lionel Collectors Club of America

sceniced with about 600feet of track and trainsrunning everywhere. Thelayout was constructedand is maintained by theRoanoke Valley O-GaugeClub. For a completestory on this fabulouslayout check out Run#158, the April 1998 issueof O-Gauge Railroading.Jim Molinary and FredDole did a masterful jobin telling and showing this25’ by 21’ layout.If circuses are yourthing, then be sure to seethe model circus exhibit.George I. Neal built thisexquisite model over a 15-year period. And justthink, railroads andcircuses seem to gotogether. Why, if it werenot for the railroads andthe special railcarsdesigned to handle thecircus loads, where wouldBarnum and Bailey betoday? After all it was therailroads that enabled thecircus to play those onenightstands and movefrom city to city overnight. When you look atthe craftsmanshipinvolved and gaze at thelarge tent housing theexhibit, know that the tentis hand sewn. Now, that’sa hobby!As you walk throughthe museum, you’ll travelback in time to those daysthat we all seem to thinkwere better. Theycertainly were slower,though not safer, becausealso on display is atraveling exhibitdepicting the “Splendoron the Titanic”. Thiscollection of costumesand exact replicas fromthe 1997 movie will befeatured until June 1,2003.In the 1850’s therailroad came to the littlehamlet of Big Lick, andRoanoke was born. Whatthey call the MainGallery depicts this richhistory and how therailroad industryimpacted the region.There are otherexhibits that make yourtime here well spent.Some of them include theAfrican AmericanHeritage on the N&W,Coal and America’sIndustrialization and thedisplay of Conestoga’s,carriages andautomobiles.All in all, this was avisit that I thought wellworth the trip. If you areever in Roanoke, or arepassing close by, youmight want to considerthis piece of Americana.Now, it’s on to seeThomas and to ride theGreat Smokey MountainRR.Photographs byBob Carter27The Lion Roars December, 2002