Fall Train Show Chairman Tom Ratkovich poses in front of the Mid-Ohio Valley Model Railroad Club’s logo sign. Ratkovich will be serving as chairman for the final time on Saturday. (Photo by Mark Suek)

By MARK SUEK

Special to The News and Sentinel

PARKERSBURG — In his nearly 30 years as chairman, Tom Ratkovich has witnessed many changes to the Mid-Ohio Valley Model Railroad Club’s Annual Fall Train Show.

The Parkersburg native and long-time club member also has been privy to a number of changes in the model railroading hobby.

“The hobby has changed in that so much of the buying is done online instead of in person,” Ratkovich said. “I think it’s better to buy at a show or in a hobby shop because you can actually see and handle the item you’re buying. Plus, you don’t have to pay shipping costs and wonder when, or if, it’s going to arrive.”

Amid a changing hobby landscape, two constants have been the local model railroad club, founded in 1981, and its annual show, which is about to celebrate its 30th anniversary.

The Fall Train Show will be held 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at West Virginia University at Parkersburg in the campus student activities center. Admission is $5 per person with ages 12 and under admitted free.

“The pandemic caused a lot of people to have to stay away from events and shows”, recalled Ratkovich, who will be serving as show chairman for the final time. “Folks have gotten into the habit of ordering everything online and not getting out and participating in events like our train show.”

After Saturday, Ratkovich will be turning over leadership of the train show to fellow club member Wayne Batten.

With more than 100 vendor tables and free parking, the show provides an opportunity for hobbyists to acquire model railroad locomotives, cars, sets and accessories, old and new, from hobby shop owners, local collectors and regular dealers on the show circuit.

“We will have everything a person needs to add to a collection or begin in the hobby,” Ratkovich said. “We will also have railroad memorabilia and artifacts. It will be a great opportunity for persons to start their Christmas shopping or purchase items for their favorite model railroader. It’s really a one stop shop for all things model railroading.”

In addition to sales of railroad items, the club will offer operating model train layouts in HO and N scales, a bucket drawing for several railroad-related prizes and an on-site food vendor. Further, the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Historical Society of Clifton Forge, Va., will have a booth at the show with information available about its organization. Several Mid-Ohio Valley members belong to the C&O society.

The Fall Train Show began as a way to promote the club, and the hobby, and was hosted by the Parkersburg Boys and Girls Club. The show was on Mary Street for two years, then moved to the college and then to Division Street in the Lubeck Volunteer Fire Department Bingo Hall (the former State Electric building) before returning to the college where it’s been for more than 20 years.

“There have been a couple of good shows in Marietta,” Ratkovich said. “So we decided to try it here and it’s blossomed into the third-largest model train show in West Virginia. It’s the biggest event of the year for our club and we enjoy promoting the hobby as well as our club. Model railroading is something a person can enjoy their whole life long and there are lots of different ways to do it.”

Since moving to the college, the show has grown in participation, the number of vendors and the amount and quality of merchandise available.

“We (MOVMRC members) appreciate WVUP allowing us to use their facility for these many years,” Ratkovich said. “It’s a great place to have a show and we hope to continue our relationship with them for many more years.”

As the show has grown, so has the railroad club, a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization which has 67 members and is housed in the rear basement of NOE Office Equipment at 610 Green St. near the Belpre Industrial Parkersburg Railroad tracks and Sixth Street crossing in downtown Parkersburg.

Following the show, the club’s next event is its annual Christmas Open House from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 6 at NOE Office. The open house is part of Downtown PKB’s Winterfest celebration and occurs before, during and after the Parkersburg Christmas Parade and just prior to the Parkersburg Christmas Tree lighting ceremony.