Two years ago, Randy Hackman and his father, Kenneth, set out to create the second-largest outdoor model railroad that's open to the public.
They overshot their goal.
"We are definitely the world's largest public outdoor garden railroad that's free of charge," Randy said. "There are only two larger than us, and they are completely private. They don't even allow tours."
Since beginning the project, the father-son team has recruited several other friends and fellow model railroad aficionados to help. The team puts in a total of 8-12 hours a day on average. "We do it every day," he said.
Despite their "world's largest" claim to fame, they're still going full steam ahead. Currently, they're working on Phase 2 of a 10-phase project, Randy said. They hope to complete at least a phase a year.
The Hackmans live just outside Jefferson City, west of Capital Mall. The train display in their yard will be one of several on display this weekend as part of the Show Me Central Convention and Train Show at Capitol Plaza Hotel.
While the area model train displays are only open to convention-goers, the convention will be open to the public on Saturday at the hotel (see related story). And the Hackman's display is open to the public for people who contact them in advance. Their website is ocrailroad.wix.com/kjrc.
Part of the train layout - built with 7 1/2-inch gauge tracks - will feature trains large enough for kids to ride. Right now, that part of their layout is on loan to a park in Phoenix.
Their railroad takes up much of their yard. They're building it in G gauge, which is roughly a 1:20 scale. That's much larger than the typical HO scale, which has a ratio of 1:87.
The train layout features 3,000 feet of G-gauge track, with plans for a total of 15,000 feet.
The railroad is modeled after four real narrow gauge railroads in Colorado: The Cumbres and Toltec, Georgetown Loop, Cripple Creek, and Durango and Silverton. Most still are operational.
Everything will be set in the time period from 1800-1910, from the trains to the buildings to the way people dressed.
Natural features in their backyard blend into the train layout. A creek in the yard will represent the Animas River, while other parts of the yard will represent a canyon and the Rocky Mountains. A lake has been created in the middle of the display, and tunnels have been dug out, one of which has been formed in a berm in the yard. The scenery will be as authentic to Colorado as possible, from native flowers to evergreen trees.
The plan calls for some 5,000 perennials to be planted to accompany the train layout.
Train show on tap this weekend
Anyone with an interest in model railroading or train displays is invited to attend Saturday's public segment of the Show Me Central Convention and Train Show at Capitol Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City.
The public is invited to the hotel from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to view train displays or buy model railroading supplies from 70 vendors. The two main displays will be a modular train layout and, from a Kansas City group, a Lego train layout, said Brad Slone, convention committee chairman.
To make the modular layout, which is expected to be between 20 and 30 feet long, different members will each contribute a 2x4-foot section. Each section will flow from one to the other to make up the entire display, Slone said.
The entry fee is $5, although children 13 or under who are accompanied by a guardian are admitted free.
Anyone who has a passing interest in model railroading can get a "hands-on feel" for what it's like by going on Saturday, Sloan said.
"If you maybe had a train running around the Christmas tree, but don't really know what you can do with it, this is a good opportunity to expand on that, and just see what the hobby's really all about," Sloan said.
Those who pay $30 to register for the three-day convention (Friday-Sunday) have access to other events, including various seminars on model railroading, a tour of train displays by area model railroaders and a Saturday night banquet, where Neil Besougloff, senior editor for Model Railroader magazine, will give the keynote speech.
The event is the 65th annual Mid-Continent Region Convention of the National Model Railroad Association. The Mid-Continent Region comprises seven area states.
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