OVERWHELMED IN KANSAS
By Gordon Wilson TCA #76-10233

Throughout the years in my travels throughout the United States , every so often a “hidden gem” unexpectedly surfaces. Generally speaking, such occurrences in the toy train world are as scarce as hens' teeth. To ponder the “why's” of such a statement, one need look no further than the psyche and experiences that have been developed for a long period of time by seeing SO MANY toy trains. In short, it takes something truly spectacular to elicit a statement of more than a polite “This is really nice.” I had such an experience my first time at the York Meet in 1976. Two other times that come to mind were visits to the homes of pro-golfer/TCA member, Ed Dougherty and Hawaiian attorney/TCA member, James Sattler. On Thursday, June 29, 2006 , another of these awesome, really get-your-attention, and unexpected toy train experiences happened in Wichita , KS .

About two years ago on TTML (basically a TCA-sponsored chat room) posts from weldoc@juno.com began appearing. Dr. William Laughlin, President of the Wichita Toy Train Club, became a regular contributor. His posts had more than a passing interest to me, as we have friends who live in Wichita , whom we visit with regular frequency. Prior to leaving for this year's TCA National Convention in San Antonio , I e-mailed Bill to advise him that my wife and I would be in Wichita near the end of June. I had heard about the Wichita Train Club from Bill and through my friends who live in Wichita , as well as from Rolland LaHaie, a Desert Division member who was spending time in Wichita as a result of job-related responsibilities. From all indications, I concluded that this club was a small group of toy train enthusiasts who met periodically to run trains and discuss their hobby, as do many of us. Bill had told me they were a “small club” that met in the basement of a store in Wichita Mall. This would turn out to be a case where a message on a computer screen does NOT tell the whole story.

Upon arriving in Wichita , thanks to my friends who live there, we found our way to Bill's office, “ Chiropractic Crossing” . Yes, Bill is a successful chiropractor, and in the parlance of “It's a Small World,” Bill is an alumnus of the same chiropractic school as is my chiropractor in Scottsdale , Arizona . But, I digress. We arranged to meet at his office on the morning of June 29. From there, my wife, my two close friends from Wichita , and I followed Bill to the nearby “clubhouse” of the Wichita Toy Train Club. Did I say “small”? This basement under a retail store, I would conservatively estimate to be at least 30,000 square feet. It was at least twice as large as our own National Toy Train Museum , and perhaps four times larger than were the trading pits at the San Antonio Convention. I was absolutely dumbstruck at what we saw, not just in size, but also in quantity and quality.

From the street level of the shopping plaza on Amidon Street , a wide set of stairs takes you directly into the main public area, where there are six operating layouts plus a large area of hands-on train activities for the younger visitors. Among these “activity” items is a large battery operated “Ride ‘em” train, a “Thomas the Tank” crawl-through mini obstacle course, and a table full of Brios and Learning Curve wooden pull trains. The largest layout is modular, approximately 14' x 50'. This is the layout that can be easily disassembled and reassembled in malls, hospitals, and nursing homes. All of the layouts are equipped to be operated with TMCC and/or DCS. The S-gauge layout is designed to encourage children to operate up to six trains at one time.

Moving out of the main area, you come to a bi-level totally American Flyer layout. The top level is comprised of HO and S-gauge, containing many American Flyer Post-War buildings and accessories. On the lower level is a combination Flyer Wide Gauge (Standard Gauge) and Pre-War “0”, plus it is very well stocked with accessories from that time period. Nearby, in this very spacious area, is a movie/video/DVD theater. The storage area has a plethora of commercial shelving and an assembly/work room.

From here one briefly re-enters the main public area and then exits quickly into a corridor containing some incredible display cases (Bill told me they were purchased from a Toys ‘R' Us store in Wichita that went out of business), restrooms, and the club's piece de resistance . This “piece” is the creation of late member and former longtime WTTC Vice-President Bill Taggart, a master of modeling, weathering, and incredible detail. While some of the buildings are of his own creation and imagination, most are ones that you or I could purchase at our local toy train or hobby stores. The big difference, at least for me, would be a lack of imagination, skill, and patience to disguise them as he did. You will need to look very closely to recognize Plasticville, Lionel, Korber, Kibri, and other manufacturers' commercially available buildings and structures. Remember how impressed most of us were with the interior detailing of Lionel's Hobby Shop when it first appeared several years ago? What Mr. Taggart did with the interior of some of these buildings is tantamount to comparing a Rolls Royce to a Yugo! His super detailing makes Lionel's look like the work of a rank beginner. Awesome is a highly overused word, I know, but I can think of no other descriptive adjective to adequately describe his work and skill. There is no way another would be able to see and digest all the subtle details on this layout in one viewing. It transcends a model train layout. It is a work of fine art or sculpture.

If the layouts and activities of this club were simply shared with the 100 members, their families, and friends, it would be spectacular. However, every Saturday from noontime on, the Wichita Toy Train Club's men and women open their vast array of toy trains and activities, appropriately named TRAIN – MANIA II , to the general public. Children of all ages regularly participate and get involved in this wonderful hobby. Adjacent to this public space is yet another large open space, which has been designated as the “Party Room.” All any of the visitors needs to do is notify a Wichita Toy Train Club member a week in advance, and a toy-train themed party will be on the agenda when requested. During our visit, Bill made the following observation: “Fifty years ago parents got their kids interested in toy trains; today kids are bringing their parents into the hobby.”

This was truly an experience that was totally unexpected. Train-Mania II is not your average “Let's go play trains” group, but rather a dedicated cadre of men and women who are willing and able to share their passion and love of this hobby with any and all who may wish to partake. Should you ever find yourself in the vicinity of Wichita , Kansas , this is one attraction you will not find in an AAA tour book, but it is one you should not miss! I do not work for the Chamber of Commerce of Kansas or Wichita , but I do recognize a good thing when it jumps up and hits me square in the face. I once thought of Kansas as a flat piece of land upon which to grow wheat and corn. Nothing could be further from the truth. Dodge City, to the west, is known for Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson; Abilene, to the north, was once the end of the Chisholm Trail and now has an excursion railroad ride, along with the President Dwight David Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, and the Greyhound Racing Dog Hall of Fame; Wichita has it all: music, food, an America's Cup yacht display & Museum (Koch Industries), professional baseball, Wichita State University, and certainly not the least, an incredibly fine advocate for our hobby, The Wichita Toy Train Club/Train-Mania II. Check it out – you will not be disappointed!!