Boys and their toys

The David Sheaffer Memorial Train Expo chugged back to the Mohican Winterfest after a one-year hiatus due to work being done on the building that houses it, but it came back this year and with it came the boys and their toys, many of those toys being decades-old collectibles.

The nice thing about these aged toys is most were in pristine working condition, much to the joy of the masses who walked into the free train expo to witness a slice of yesteryear when toy trains were idolized by just about every boy.

What made this event even more special — at least for five of the guys who set up their train kits in miniature lifestyle fashion — was they were enjoying the experience as they had for decades, as brothers.

The Miller brother trio of Jim (Haysville), Tony (Millersburg) and Paul (Lakeville) had an elaborate set that drew plenty of attention. The Miller brothers grew up loving trains and said this event offers a time they can get together and do something they share with a passion.

According to Jim Miller, many of the train pieces are originals from the 1950s, trains the boys had collected as youth. Other pieces are newer, and Jim Miller said that is simply part of the joy of collecting.

“Yeah, you just kind of keep adding more pieces as you get older,” Jim Miller said. “It’s like we can’t escape our boyhood. A lot of this stuff we’ve just kind of saved and hung onto for many years.”

He said the original engine for the main train set wasn’t operating. The engine is from the 1950s. Jim Miller called it post-war Lionel.

The setup for the Miller train convention was the largest of the event. It featured three different height levels with five tracks and various switch-offs. Along the tracks were a series of lighthouses, buildings, people, automobiles, lanterns and more, all adding to the aura and historical appeal of the track.

Jim Miller said many people are drawn to train shows for different reasons. He said it is always appealing to kids because they love watching the trains operate, with the smell of the ozone, the fascination of watching the cars blow smoke, toot their horns and careen around the track in a rhythmic cadence.

Tony Miller said for older generations there is something nostalgic about it.

“It brings back all of these pleasant memories for a lot of people,” Tony Miller said.

For decades back in the boys’ youthful days, trains were a huge part of Christmas. It wasn’t unusual to wake up early Christmas morning, race to the Christmas tree and see a Lionel train chugging around the Christmas tree.

“Those are some great memories for us,” Jim Miller said. “Time sure flies, but this keeps us coming back to our childhood and gives us something to do together.”

He said while they chat among themselves throughout the day, cherishing the memories, they really set up shop for the kids, hoping to introduce the love of miniature trains to new generations.

That this event gives the three brothers a special time to share together makes it that much more endearing.

Across the room, brothers Terry and Kem Loughman from Mansfield were busy watching their old and valuable train collection operate.

Terry Loughman said they had actually learned a great deal from the Millers, who helped them overcome some electrical issues on the day. Such is the joy these types of events create in sharing a passion for trains together with like-minded others.

When the boys were young, their parents gave them a train set in 1954. It was the Texas Special, a high-value collectible with a three-rail track made specifically for the Texas Special. Another gift was a complete set of miniature Barnum & Bailey circus figures and accessories including the big top tent.

Both were featured in their train setup.

“It’s all original,” Terry Loughman said, “including the box it came in.”

They’ve been playing with the set for decades, including coming to this show together for years.

“It’s something we’ve enjoyed bonding over for many years,” Kem Loughman said.

They agreed seeing so many train enthusiasts under one roof is always an invitation to venture back into the past and reminisce.

“It’s a great way to bring people together,” Terry Loughman said, especially those with whom they’ve shared meals, caught lightning bugs, played ball, built forts in the woods, shared life, grown up and loved for decades as brothers.