Greater Springfield area to host first Lego train show

Date: 8/10/2009

By Kaitlyn Schroyer

Staff Intern



SPRINGFIELD Lego trains have been around since the 1970s, but with the boom of the 1990s and the spread of the Internet, they have taken off in a new way.

On Aug. 15 and 16 at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Greater Springfield, the Porter Lake Lego Train Show will be setting off. Lego train shows have been happening around the nation through such Internet groups as the New England Lego Users Group (NELUG).

"It's the first time ever that we've done a show here in Springfield," Ted Welsh, one of those involved with the making of the show, said.

The show will include four major trains with many sections such as a farm section, a city section, a futuristic section and an airport section. And it's not only those who put on the show that can participate.

"We are asking participants, especially kids, to build something. Whether it is an airplane, truck or Lego people, they can bring it in. We will tag it so it will be returned to them and place their creation somewhere around the show. Those participating will also be able to come in for free on Sunday," Welsh explained.

This will be the group's 10th anniversary. NELUG's most recent show was at the National Modeling Railroad Association's show in Hartford, Conn. They put on several shows a year and are not the only ones.

"There are groups all over. There's some in California, Chicago, North Carolina, Florida, and more. They all put on their own shows in their area," Welsh told Reminder Publications.

"This is also serving as a fundraiser for the church," Welsh noted. "We were thinking of ways to help bring in money and open up to the community. It's really quiet during the summer so it was not hard to set up."

The show will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 15 and from noon to 5 p.m. on Aug. 16. Admission is $4. The church is located at 245 Porter Lake Drive.

"We're really looking forward to it," Welsh commented. "It's great to help the club and the church. The folks that come to this will have a lot of fun."