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Full steam ahead: Model railroaders set for Monroe show

MONROE — As a child, Greg Griffin had a model railroad layout on the back of his dad's dart board.

The board was about 4 feet by 8 feet, and when his father wasn't playing darts, Griffin would take the board down off its hinges and set up his model train.

Griffin returned to his childhood pastime about 15 years ago. A few years after returning, he joined the Green County Model Railroaders.

"I was looking for something to do as a hobby," he said.

This weekend, the 51-year-old will be sharing his hobby at the Green County Model Railroaders' 33rd Annual Model Train Show-Swap Meet.

Building a model railroad takes time to plan, research and build the final product. Griffin notes that anyone building a model railroad has to wear many hats, including those of an electrician, landscaper, and artist. These different hats allow model railroad enthusiasts to share a lot of little stories and scenes.

"I like the research part of it," Griffin said. "I always liked the history."

The research Griffin has done in previous designs has included both his sons, Jason and Justin, and their interests.

One year, Griffin displayed an Egyptian/archeological dig, an interest of Jason's. Justin gave his dad the inspiration to build a Harry Potter-themed railroad, complete with the Hogwarts Express train.

"We like to try to keep the kids interested," Griffin said. "It makes it more fun."

Now that his children are out of the house, Griffin is excited to display an era that he himself is interested in—1930s Detroit—as well as the Wabash Railroad. Griffin was born in northeastern Indiana, part of the area where the Wabash line traveled.

The train show will include about 15 train layouts of all sizes, most of which are from club members, along with about 16 vendors selling model train merchandise.