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What started as a simple toy train given to a 4-year-old boy has developed over 59 years into a hobby that occupies a two-story, 1,500-square-foot building.
This weekend, Chuck and Laurie Lind will open their home to visitors curious about their extensive model-railroad display.
And they aren't alone. Four other open houses in Bryan-College Station will be taking place Saturday and Sunday.
For years, Houston-area model-railroad enthusiasts have scheduled open houses in October and November. For the past five years, Bryan-College Station modelers also have participated.
"I go to Houston a lot and compete in the [model-building] contests there, and I got asked if I'd open up and participate in the open houses here," said Chuck Lind. "We've got others around here interested, too. We might add two more houses next year."
There's no easy way to quantify the amount of time, effort and money Lind has put into his models, but here's a snippet: There are at least 3,000 handmade trees throughout the display, depicting logging practices in the 1930s. Lind can complete about four trees in an evening.
There are also about 50 handmade buildings, complete with handmade shingles and, oftentimes, small hand-painted people performing tasks inside the buildings.
"A lot of people think of this as just a Lionel around the Christmas tree," he said. "And this is not a Lionel around the Christmas tree. A lot of people are pretty-well blown away when they come take a look."
An astute observer of the model town can see examples of Lind's humor scattered throughout the display, which includes a building labeled Keith Richards' Drug Emporium, among others.
The Linds said they also open their home for private tours if groups are interested. They can be reached at 219-3305.
