It’s more fun building a collection when you can share it with others.
On July 9, Martin Kimmel of Wayland had the opportunity to proudly share his extensive model train collection when about 100 members of the Lionel Operating Train Society (LOTS) toured his personal display.
“If you’ve never seen a layout, this is an impressive one to see,” Chris Matuszak, president of Cincinatti-based LOTS said about Kimmel’s display.
The tour was part of the week-long LOTS national convention, conducted in Rochester from July 9-14. Two bus loads carried groups from Rochester to visit Corning Museum of Glass on July 9, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. En route, the bus stopped by Kimmel’s residence for the tour.
His home display was one of several in this part of the state that the group visited during the week. Kimmel has been a member of LOTS for about 15 years, and has been to a number national conventions across the country himself. He has been an avid train collector for about 30 years.
This year marks the 33rd annual convention for LOTS.
In addition to opening his collection for the tour, Kimmel helped arrange a special limited-edition Lionel Kodak tractor trailer car to be manufactured for attendees. A Genesee Beer box car was also manufactured for the convention-goers.
While he moved his collection from his basement to a 30-by-50-foot garage loft eight years ago, Kimmel wasn’t completely finished with his display last fall when he was asked to be a tour stop. His daughter Jackie, sons Michael and Chip, plus several grandchildren helped ready his layout for the occasion.
The finished product wrapped up about two months ago, which encompassed seven working trains of various sizes chugging along tracks on tables and around the ceiling, walls and floor; plus engines and cars displayed on shelves.
His workable trains go through a number of tunnels and around villages that include kinetic objects such as a drive-through McDonald’s, rides in an amusement park, a haunted house with a witch flying around, Santa and his reindeer in another part of his “world” flying around a wintry scene, plus tidbits reminiscent of local objects such as hot-air balloons that lift and windmills that spin.
His train cars depict a variety of fun logos such as Coca-Cola, Campbell’s Soup, DOTS candy, Radio-Flyer, Hershey’s, Wheaties, Popsicles and more; plus has a working LEGO train, LEGO plane suspended from the ceiling and a LEGO village to boot.
When asked what trains he likes to collect the most, Kimmel said he tries to collect the Erie Lackawanna line, which ran locally.
For his participation, Victor Bodek, LOTS board chairman; Matuszak and incoming president Ed Mazur presented Kimmel with a certificate of appreciation.
It’s more fun building a collection when you can share it with others.
On July 9, Martin Kimmel of Wayland had the opportunity to proudly share his extensive model train collection when about 100 members of the Lionel Operating Train Society (LOTS) toured his personal display.
“If you’ve never seen a layout, this is an impressive one to see,” Chris Matuszak, president of Cincinatti-based LOTS said about Kimmel’s display.
The tour was part of the week-long LOTS national convention, conducted in Rochester from July 9-14. Two bus loads carried groups from Rochester to visit Corning Museum of Glass on July 9, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. En route, the bus stopped by Kimmel’s residence for the tour.
His home display was one of several in this part of the state that the group visited during the week. Kimmel has been a member of LOTS for about 15 years, and has been to a number national conventions across the country himself. He has been an avid train collector for about 30 years.
This year marks the 33rd annual convention for LOTS.
In addition to opening his collection for the tour, Kimmel helped arrange a special limited-edition Lionel Kodak tractor trailer car to be manufactured for attendees. A Genesee Beer box car was also manufactured for the convention-goers.
While he moved his collection from his basement to a 30-by-50-foot garage loft eight years ago, Kimmel wasn’t completely finished with his display last fall when he was asked to be a tour stop. His daughter Jackie, sons Michael and Chip, plus several grandchildren helped ready his layout for the occasion.
The finished product wrapped up about two months ago, which encompassed seven working trains of various sizes chugging along tracks on tables and around the ceiling, walls and floor; plus engines and cars displayed on shelves.
His workable trains go through a number of tunnels and around villages that include kinetic objects such as a drive-through McDonald’s, rides in an amusement park, a haunted house with a witch flying around, Santa and his reindeer in another part of his “world” flying around a wintry scene, plus tidbits reminiscent of local objects such as hot-air balloons that lift and windmills that spin.
His train cars depict a variety of fun logos such as Coca-Cola, Campbell’s Soup, DOTS candy, Radio-Flyer, Hershey’s, Wheaties, Popsicles and more; plus has a working LEGO train, LEGO plane suspended from the ceiling and a LEGO village to boot.
When asked what trains he likes to collect the most, Kimmel said he tries to collect the Erie Lackawanna line, which ran locally.
For his participation, Victor Bodek, LOTS board chairman; Matuszak and incoming president Ed Mazur presented Kimmel with a certificate of appreciation.
