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Geneva, IL —
Model train tracks twist and turn around little villages throughout the basement of Henry Richler’s Batavia home.
His trains look like, and in recent years, even sound like the real thing, from the noise of the engine braking to the conductors communicating with each other.
Model train sets have become more sophisticated, high-tech and extensive than ever before, garnering new interest in the hobby, some said.
Fred Krause believes there’s so much local interest in model trains from people such as Richler that he’s opening the first specialty hobby shop that Batavia has had in about 30 years.
His grand opening celebration is this weekend at 60 Island Ave.
“There’s something in the hobby for everybody,” Krause said.
Designing a good layout for model trains requires a jack-of-all-trades of sorts, someone who can do woodworking, electrical work, create artistic scenery and who knows history.
“It’s a great winter hobby,” Krause said.
Considered a train model expert by hobbyists, Krause began his business venture online, where he now has more than 800 regular customers world-wide.
But before venturing into Batavia, he first opened a trial shop in Geneva about five years ago to appeal to local hobbyists.
“I only had one customer in Illinois (through the web site business,) which kind of shocked me,” Krause said.
Now, Krause said he has 140 regular local customers, as well as a growing web business.
He’s opening his shop in a nearly vacant strip mall in the heart of downtown Batavia. The shopping center faced possible demolition last year when the Batavia Park District looked at building a rec center in its place. However, bonding for the rec center failed in
November’s referendum, and the owners of the strip mall are investing money into renovating the building.
Krause’s decision to move into strip mall is good news to city officials, who are looking to revitalize the downtown area. And it’s good news for hobbyists such as Richler, who spend about 20 hours per week on model railroading.
For some projects, Richler doesn’t need Krause’s shop. For example, Richler hopes to construct model grain elevators out of Pringles cylinders for a farm scene his model train passes.
“I make a lot of things by hand,” Richler said.
But for parts of Richler’s digital command control system, Krause’s shop has what he needs — and if not, Krause can get it for him.
Model train tracks twist and turn around little villages throughout the basement of Henry Richler’s Batavia home.
His trains look like, and in recent years, even sound like the real thing, from the noise of the engine braking to the conductors communicating with each other.
Model train sets have become more sophisticated, high-tech and extensive than ever before, garnering new interest in the hobby, some said.
Fred Krause believes there’s so much local interest in model trains from people such as Richler that he’s opening the first specialty hobby shop that Batavia has had in about 30 years.
His grand opening celebration is this weekend at 60 Island Ave.
“There’s something in the hobby for everybody,” Krause said.
Designing a good layout for model trains requires a jack-of-all-trades of sorts, someone who can do woodworking, electrical work, create artistic scenery and who knows history.
“It’s a great winter hobby,” Krause said.
Considered a train model expert by hobbyists, Krause began his business venture online, where he now has more than 800 regular customers world-wide.
But before venturing into Batavia, he first opened a trial shop in Geneva about five years ago to appeal to local hobbyists.
“I only had one customer in Illinois (through the web site business,) which kind of shocked me,” Krause said.
Now, Krause said he has 140 regular local customers, as well as a growing web business.
He’s opening his shop in a nearly vacant strip mall in the heart of downtown Batavia. The shopping center faced possible demolition last year when the Batavia Park District looked at building a rec center in its place. However, bonding for the rec center failed in
November’s referendum, and the owners of the strip mall are investing money into renovating the building.
Krause’s decision to move into strip mall is good news to city officials, who are looking to revitalize the downtown area. And it’s good news for hobbyists such as Richler, who spend about 20 hours per week on model railroading.
For some projects, Richler doesn’t need Krause’s shop. For example, Richler hopes to construct model grain elevators out of Pringles cylinders for a farm scene his model train passes.
“I make a lot of things by hand,” Richler said.
But for parts of Richler’s digital command control system, Krause’s shop has what he needs — and if not, Krause can get it for him.
The digital command control system was developed during the 1990s with more features added in 2007. The DCC is a computer and electronic system that gives model trains more realism by adding several sound effects.
“(Model railroading) is coming back a little because of the DCC system,” Richler said.
He’s part of an entire community of model railroaders. Twice a year, Richler hosts an open house in his basement, where roughly 30 local model railroaders visit to discuss the hobby and view Richler’s latest creations.
The enthusiasm of model railroaders is why Krause feels his shop will be successful. And while it’s a hobby most popular during the winter, he hopes some people will make it part of their summer projects.
“Garden railroading is becoming more and more popular,” Krause said.
