WASHINGTON COUNTY – The Color Country Model Railroad Club’s 2015 “Model Railroad Tour” officially opened Friday showcasing to the public years of dedicated craftsmanship, ingenuity and engineering.

Every layout has a story

In the backyard garden of Tom Meyer there lies two developing cities that, as Meyers said, were looking for a way to generate more revenue for the people who lived in the area.

A G scale garden railroad setup graces the yard of Tom Meyers, St. George, Utah, Nov. 13, 2015 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

In order to transport goods as well as people between the cities and beyond, he said, the residents decided to build a railroad.

This G scale garden railroad features a kaleidoscopic circus complete with train and a wealthy horse breeder with a private landing strip on his ranch as well as many other details for guests to delight in.

Meyers, along with his wife, work together on the layout that is still under construction; the couple have a mine planned for sometime in the future.

Meticulously modeled after the Southern Pacific Lines found running the tracks in central California during the mid-1950’s, the imaginary Palos Verde Division of the Southern Pacific is the work of Jim Harper and friends, according to material presented at Harper’s home.

A meticulously crafted O scale model railroad setup belonging to Jim Harper is available for viewing during the Model Train Home Tour, Santa Clara, Utah, Nov. 13, 2015 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News — A meticulously crafted Proto 48 O scale model railroad setup belonging to Jim Harper is available for viewing during the Model Train Home Tour, Santa Clara, Utah, Nov. 13, 2015 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

Originally showcased in a garage in Reno, Nevada, the reincarnated model railroad now resides in Santa Clara where trains traverse their way from the Pacific coast to the Sierra Nevadas.

Harper said he has been a model train hobbyist all of his life and has put nearly 20 years into the current model railroad.

Bringing out the kid in all of us

Larry Schneider stood in his backyard controlling his G scale garden railroad from a hand built control panel that conveniently and creatively stows away in a support pillar for his back porch wearing a shirt that says “still plays with trains.”

Those four words could well be the theme of the entire train home tour as hobbyists and guests alike shared in the joy and nostalgia that the scale-sized trains invoke.

A young train enthusiast admires a model railroad display during the Model Train Home Tour, St. George, Utah, Nov. 13, 2015 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

“I had a train when I was a child and my children had trains and my grandfather was (an) engineer … so I got to ride in the front of a real train one time with him,” Schneider said, “and I guess that kind of is in my blood a little bit as well.”

Schneider said whenever he wears his shirt it opens up conversations and helps to relive memories of childhood and adventure.

The “Model Train Home Tour” continues Saturday-Monday throughout Washington County and is free for the public to attend.

See photo gallery below.

Tour map

Click on icon in upper left corner of map for names of homes associated with each pin on the tour. Map courtesy of Color Country T-Trak Club / Color Country Model Railroad Club.

Schedule and addresses

Saturday

10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Tom Meyers | Garden G Scale | 4739 High Park Drive, St. George | map
10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Larry Schneider | Garden G Scale | 1681 Garnet Ridge Drive, St. George | map
10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Jim Mullin | Lionel O Scale | 1275 Lizzie Lane, St. George
10 a.m.-6 p.m. | Charles Job | HO Scale | 4840 Festival Park Drive, St. George |map
10 a.m.-6 p.m. | M David Merrill | HO Scale | 563 W. 2040 S. Circle, St. George | map
1-6 p.m. | Jim Harper | Proto 48 O Scale | 2166 Thomas Trail, Santa Clara | map
1-5 p.m. | Paul Bottino | Garden G Scale |170 S. 330 West, Ivins | map
2-4 p.m. | Carl Machutta | Lionel O Scale | 2439 E. 2540 South, St. George | map
2-9 p.m. | Byron Rasmussen | Lionel O Scale | 1731 W. Whitestone Drive, St. George | map

Sunday

1-5 p.m. | Tom Meyers | Garden G Scale | 4739 High Park Drive, St. George |Click here for map
1-5 p.m. | Charles Job | HO Scale | 4840 Festival Park Drive, St. George | map
1-5 p.m. | Larry Schneider | Garden G Scale | 1681 Garnet Ridge Drive, St. George | map
2-4 p.m. | Carl Machutta | Lionel O Scale | 2439 E. 2540 South, St. George | map
2-4 p.m. | Victor Lorch | Lionel O Scale | 1731 W. Warm River Drive, St. George | map

Monday

4-6 p.m. | Tom Meyers | Garden G Scale | 4739 High Park Drive, St. George |Click here for map
4-6 p.m. | Larry Schneider | Garden G Scale | 1681 Garnet Ridge Drive, St. George | map
4-7 p.m. | Jim Mullin | Lionel O Scale | 1275 Lizzie Lane, St. George
5-8 p.m. | Bob Mallory | Lionel O Scale | 1942 Wide River Drive, St. George | map
5-9 p.m. | Jim Harper | Proto 48 O Scale | 2166 Thomas Trail, Santa Clara | map
5-9 p.m. | Jim Mullin | Lionel O Scale | 1275 Lizzie Lane, St. George
5-9 p.m. | Charles Job | HO Scale | 4840 Festival Park Drive, St. George | map
5-9 p.m. | M David Merrill | HO Scale | 563 W. 2040 S. Circle, St. George | map
5-9 p.m. |Byron Rasmussen | Lionel O Scale | 1731 W. Whitestone Drive, St. George | map

Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery.

A G scale garden model railroad belonging to Larry Schneider makes its way around the track during the Model Train Home Tour, St. George, Utah, Nov. 13, 2015 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

An HO model railroad setup belonging to Charles Job is on display for guests of the Model Train Home Show, St. George, Utah, Nov. 13, 2015 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

The controls of an HO model railroad setup belonging to Charles Job is on display for guests of the Model Train Home Show, St. George, Utah, Nov. 13, 2015 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

A G scale garden railroad setup graces the yard of Tom Meyers, St. George, Utah, Nov. 13, 2015 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

A young train enthusiast admires a model railroad display during the Model Train Home Tour, St. George, Utah, Nov. 13, 2015 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

A G scale garden railroad setup graces the yard of Tom Meyers, St. George, Utah, Nov. 13, 2015 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News

A meticulously crafted Proto 48 O scale model railroad setup belonging to Jim Harper is available for viewing during the Model Train Home Tour, Santa Clara, Utah, Nov. 13, 2015 | Photo by Hollie Reina, St. George News