Train Gang does it for the kids
A trolley runs in front of “Six and a Half Springs” ski slope on the Train Gang’s display in the George Washington hotel in Washington. The display will be free and open to the public weekends through the holiday season.
Ralph Yarborough works on a train from the display. Half the fun of putting on the train display for the members of the Train Gang is tinkering around with the trains.
Five-year-old Rusty Stasny was lifted by his uncle and placed on the footplate of a steam locomotive with his hands on the throttle bar. His uncle reached around him, pulled the throttle bar and that’s all it took for Stasny to fall in love with trains.
Now, years later, Stasny passes his love of trains to other children through a train display at the George Washington hotel in Washington.
“I enjoy watching the kids come in. When you see their faces, it reminds me of myself when I was their age,” Stasny said.
Stasny, who lives in Bridgeville, joined the local group named the Train Gang, led by Joe Jack, to tinker with trains and display his father’s model trains. The display is open to the public throughout the holiday season on weekend afternoons and evenings. With 15 running trains, animations, a rocket ship that launches and buildings that resemble local scenery, the display offers something of interest to everyone. Entry to the display is free, but donations are accepted.
Even though trains aren’t commonly found under Christmas trees anymore, Jack was determined to create a display for the public. Jack started with a display in Beaver, but when he and his wife moved to Washington County, he brought his hobby with him and hosted a display in Canonsburg. After the Canonsburg building was leased to a different company, Jack was still determined to bring a train display to the area and the George Washington was happy to oblige.
“I said, ‘There must be a need and must be a place we can put that up.’ It was like putting popcorn out to the pigeons. People did show up,” Jack explained. “They were strangers at that time, but now they’re a part of the group and we have fun. I don’t know who has more fun, me or the kids.”
The Train Gang meets throughout the year to plan the display, organize the showings and, of course, play with the trains.
“We’re all a bunch of kids that never grew up. Our bodies did, but we didn’t,” Jack said.
About 15 train enthusiasts make up the small group. Most of the display buildings and figurines are purchased by the members with money from their own pockets. The donations the group receives go toward local charities of the group’s choosing.
“The first child that walks in here and his eyes get as big as saucers, that is our reward for the whole thing,” he said.