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By Melissa Arnold

There’s something about a train set that captures the imaginations of kids and adults alike. Maybe the clatter of the tiny wheels on their metal tracks calls to mind our favorite Christmas movies, a busy day at Penn Station, or the promise of a future adventure.

For me, the memories are of my mother’s Uncle “G” (for Guido), who maintained an elaborate miniature world in his basement for the family’s youngest visitors to enjoy. His sprawling setup included trains, buildings, snow-flecked trees, people and even animals. I was enthralled by the scene. And at Christmastime, my Dad and I would set up a more humble collection of Lionel train cars under the tree. Our big highlights were the functional log car and cardboard mountain tunnel. 

In Dix Hills, nearly 80 members of the TMB (Train Masters of Babylon) Model Train Club meet regularly to bring their own imaginary scenes to life. The group includes men and women of all ages who are united in their love of O-gauge trains.

Founded in 1994, the group has gathered in various locations around the Island to build and eventually run train displays. New venues were required as both the membership and its displays continued to grow. They’ve recently moved from a 4,000-square foot space in Farmingdale to their new 6,500-square foot location rented from a Dix Hills private school, and are looking forward to sharing their new build with a series of open house events.

“We are not just a bunch of people who forgot to put the trains away after Christmas. For us it’s a full-time, year-round hobby,” explained club president Steve Scagnelli. “A home-based layout can be set up in as quick as a few weeks. When you tackle a layout as large as our club’s, it takes several years.”

Scagnelli, a retired accountant from Plainview, got his first Lionel train set for Christmas in 1961. He shelved the hobby when he went to college and started working, but the interest rekindled years later when his young son got hooked on – you guessed it – Thomas the Tank Engine.

“I wanted to do something that I could share with my son,” Scagnelli said. “[Building scenes] encompasses all the elements of the STEAM acronym: science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics.”

The work of planning and executing a build can be intense, especially with so many people involved. It’s a democratic process, and Ideas and suggestions from group members are funneled through committees that determine the best ways to include them and when. It’s also dependent on what materials are available 

The club meets four days a week, though members have 24/7 access to the space. Everyone has their own interests and areas of expertise, and all are encouraged to help out regardless of their skill level. First the track is planned, then the table is built and the tracks are laid. Wiring and electronics go down next, with lots of detailed scenery to add depth to the display. 

“The old adage is that you’re never really done. A model train layout is never truly complete because there’s always a new idea, or something you can add or repurpose,” Scagnelli said. 

The previous Farmingdale setup had four train lines and a separate subway station. The new Dix Hills location features steam and diesel trains, a NYC subway replica, and the layout from the Blue Comet episode of HBO’s iconic crime drama, “The Sopranos.” The club’s version is slightly altered from the one seen on the show, and it includes interactive buttons so that visitors can be a part of the action. The current layout has been in progress for more than a year and will continue to expand.

Each showing will feature a different set of trains, providing a fresh experience and a fun way to show off the club’s collection. Many of the members buy trains, scenery kits and other supplies from local hobby shops, including Trainland in Lynbrook and Nassau Hobby Center in Freeport, online markets like eBay and even amongst themselves.

It can be a pricey hobby for collectors, Scagnelli admits — box cars can cost around $75, while detailed engine and passenger cars with sounds sell for hundreds of dollars. But no one in the club is required to buy their own trains, and those that do tend to save up as others might for a concert or vacation.

Over the years, more than 50,000 people from across the country have visited the club, sometimes with several generations of family in tow. Many have trains of their own.

The group also travels occasionally to train meets held around the northeast, where they can connect and learn from other enthusiasts. Some members also enjoy traveling to see “real” trains as well.

“I enjoy all the aspects of the hobby, whether that’s operating my trains, collecting trains or building the layout. We strive to grow our membership and a world-class model train layout,” Scagnelli said. “But what keeps me involved is the friendships of the members, interacting with other clubs and the hundreds of connections made online. We want to be active in the community and share our love for the hobby with our neighbors.”

The next open house for the TMB Model Train Club will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 8 and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Feb. 9 in the Upper Room Christian School basement, 722 Deer Park Ave., Dix Hills. Admission is free, donations are welcome. For more information, visit www.tmbmodeltrainclub.com.