Collinsville has been hosting the Great Train Show for about 25 years now. The annual event features over 250 tables of train related items for sale and over 50 exhibitors from across the country.

“We have an incredible number of people who come every year,” Swanson said. “They make it a family tradition and it’s heartwarming to see people who came here when they were kids with their parents and now they come with their kids and bring the grandparents. We see several generations of people who love trains.

Due to the nature of model trains, the hobby can be shared by anyone and families and teach valuable life skills, such as carpentry, art, electronics, and history, did he declare.

“It’s a great family activity,” Swanson said. “The show is free for children under 12, so we encourage the whole family to come out and exhibit the children.”

The show featured miniature railroads in operation, including a 20ft by 30ft miniature carnival by RE Estill’s Shows.

“It has been a passion from childhood to adulthood. It’s wonderful to be back here, ”said Roger Estill.

Estill said that when he went to the carnival as a child, he would come home and build a replica of the carnival from his toys. As he grew older, his collection of rides and train cars kept growing.

With COVID keeping everyone indoors last year, Estill has spent most of her time adding to her miniature carnival ensemble.

“You can only watch TV reruns for that long,” he laughed.

Other model railroads in attendance at this year’s event include the 8 x 30 foot Saint Louis Lionel Railroad Club O Gauge, the 30 foot by 40 foot New Switzerland Model Railroad Club N Scale and the Amazing LEGO 14ft x 28ft Layout by Joe’s Brick Depot.

Absent this year was the 50-foot riding train found each year at the show. Due to sanitation and spacing issues with COVID, the train has been banned from the event, but is expected to make a return to the show next year.

“It’s an annual thing that people look forward to,” added Swanson.