Train enthusiast pays tribute to Pennsylvania Railroad

The small western New York town looks like it did in the 1950s with one major exception. The Allegany River doesn’t have any water. Even if it did, it would be flowing the wrong way.

It’s a little creative license on the part of model train enthusiast Larry Summers. Among the trees, mountains, buildings, roads and towns, Summers maneuvers his trains with digital controllers. It’s a love that began as it did for many train hobbyists, as a boy.

“My dad bought me my first train, and it went from there,” he said.

Train enthusiasts like Summers will likely be out at this weekend’s Wiregrass Model Railroad Show and Sale. It’s a hobby that combines painting, sculpture and electrical know-how.

Sponsored by the Wiregrass Heritage Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, the event will feature more than 120 tables of model railroading equipment and supplies from dealers throughout the Southeast. There will also be large model railroad layouts on display, and if weather permits an outdoor train ride for children on Saturday and Sunday.

“If it wasn’t for the train show, nobody would have access to all that stuff,” Summers said.

Taken in all at once, Summers’ train setup at his home in Geneva County is impressive. Its mountain scenery mimics the area around Salamanca, N.Y., where Larry and his wife lived for seven years while Larry worked as a church planner. The couple — Larry, a Pennsylvania native; Judy from Slocomb — lived in the Wiregrass before they moved to New York in 1993 and returned in 2000.

His love of his home state and a western New York town combined with Summers’ love of trains a few years ago. Sidelined by heart problems, Summers was under strict doctor’s orders to limit physical activity. He turned to model trains and began building a layout for his grandson.

Summers focused on the route of the old Pennsylvania Railroad and created details that meant something to him and his family — a replica of a Kentucky church pastored by his son-in-law’s grandfather; a ski resort located near Elicott, N.Y.; a rock wall that resembles the ones surrounding the waterfalls and gorge of Letchworth State Park; a wooden trestle bridge that took him six months to create; a diner with a flashing neon sign and one letter blown out in a tree-lined neighborhood.

The small details keep jumping out at you.

“You look and you see something new,” wife Judy said.

And Larry Summers loves to show his work to people, especially children.

For two years, Summers spent nearly eight hours a day on his railroad world, using drywall and drywall mud to create some of his scenery. Summers was a second generation drywaller — his son, Todd Summers, is the third generation in the business. Larry has learned some other tricks along the way. His wife, Judy, created trees out of dried baby’s breath. Strips of woven cardboard became mountains.

“I like doing the process,” Larry said. “I like scenery the most ... It’s fun; it’s relaxing.”

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If you go ...
What: 19th annual Wiregrass Model Railroad Show and Sale sponsored by the Wiregrass Heritage Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society.
When: Saturday, Sept. 19, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, Sept. 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds on U.S. 231 South in Dothan.
Cost: $5 for adults and free for children ages 12 and under accompanied by an adult. Children’s train ride will be an additional charge and should run all day Saturday and noon-4 p.m. on Sunday.
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Want to see more?
Visitors are welcome to view Larry Summers’ train layout. Call 494-5945 or 494-5942 to make an appointment.