Above, Dave Skinner operates the model railroad in the basement of his Woodbury home. Skinner's Kade Railroad is one of several model railroads in Gloucester County that will be open for tours this month.
By Kaelin O'Connell
koconnell@sjnewsco.com
During the 15th annual Model Railroad Open House, four local train enthusiasts are inviting the public to tour a shrunken Swedesboro, a tiny Woodbury Heights, a scaled-down Deptford and a miniature West Virginia.
But be warned: The displays are tiny in scale only.
In Skinner's Woodbury home, a massive display sprawls across the basement. All four walls are painted with the hills of West Virginia, and every inch of wall space is lined in track. Skinner's display is historically accurate (hung photos of actual train stations match their modeled counterparts identically) and painstakingly realistic (one modeled building even has a urinal).
"When my son was 6 months old, I decided he needed a railroad around the Christmas tree," said Skinner, who wears an official "Kade Railroad" hat and has a "KD" patch sewn on his shirt pocket.
He started the basement model in 1989, had it up and running two years later, and has been expanding it ever since. Skinner proudly announced he was known for his "adding," and the crowded scenes prove he's right. An almost-finished wooden building sat on his workbench, and Skinner offhandedly remarked: "I don't know where I'm going to put that."
A passenger train passes a cement plant and coal mine.
It will surely have a spot by Sunday, when Skinner, Jake Evaul of Woodbury Heights, P.J. Mattson of Swedesboro and Steve Moylan of Deptford open their homes and displays to visitors.
This is the 15th year for the open house, which is always scheduled during November, Model Railroad Month. Turnout over the two-day event has ranged from 250 to 600. Skinner encouraged train enthusiasts, those new to the hobby and those with children to attend. He even allows kids to run different stations along his Kade railroad.
"We're trying to introduce a great hobby -- and it is -- to the kids," Skinner said.
If you go:
Open houses will be held Sunday, Nov. 16 and Saturday, Nov. 22. Visiting hours are from noon till 5 p.m., and admission is free. The featured models in the Model Railroad Open House are:
Dave Skinner's Kade Lines modeled off West Virginia, located at 73 N. Childs St., Woodbury.
Jake Evaul's Camden and South Jersey R.R. modeled off Woodbury Heights, located at 45 Maple Ave., Woodbury Heights.
P.J. Mattson's Raccoon Valley R.R. modeled off Swedesboro, 129 East Ave., Swedesboro.
Steve Moylan's Oak Valley R.R. modeled off Deptford, located at 835 Vermont Ave., Deptford.
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