News - Local News

POSTED: Thursday, Sep. 24, 2009

Lynden Lions' train show marks 25th year

LYNDEN - Rich Kayser has never been a model railroading enthusiast the way his father was, but he still loves serving as chairman of one of state's largest model train shows.

This year's Lynden Lions Club train show is special for the 55-year-old Lynden resident because the event, now in its 25th year, will honor show founder, his father Norm Kayser, who died April 21.

"I think trains hold a fascination for just about everyone," said Kayser, who has carried mail for 33 years around Lynden. "When I was a little kid in the small (Eastern Washington) town of Dayton, I'll always remember how we had train tracks practically in our front yard. The train depot was a block away."

Question: What's at the show?

Answer: Not only are there about 150 swap tables with all kinds of vendors from throughout the Northwest, there are all kinds of exhibits. If it's model railroad-related, it's here. If you have kids and you've never been to our show, you really ought to give it a try. Kids and adults alike love the show, and we get thousands of people.

Q: How did your father get involved?

A: He originally got interested in circus trains by the time I was grown-up. He started the show in 1985 because he thought it would be a great fundraiser for the Lynden Lions Club. It has definitely proved to be that. Dad was chairman for the first 10 shows, and I took over. I think he was happy to just do trains again. There was a lot of little boy in him.

Q: You work the sound systems for games at Lynden High School, right?

A: I've loved sound systems for 40 years, even before I was a drummer in the rock band Blue Frost for five years just out of Lynden High. And I love community service. It was very rewarding directing Camp Horizon (for 21 years) at Birch Bay, helping to find good times for people with special needs.

Q: Do you appreciate a good train layout?

A: When you see a great layout, you really have to check it out to see what people have done. They're fascinating for everyone.

Q: What was your dad's first show like?

A: It turned out to be larger than we expected. I remember the Expo Building (at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds) was at least half-filled for that first show. We outgrew the building and moved to the Henry Jansen Agriculture Building.

Q: What makes the show special?

A: People tell me this is not only one of the biggest shows in the state and on the whole West Coast, but it's also one of their favorite shows because Lynden is such a hospitable town. Our admission is very reasonable, with a $15 cap for families. We put on a dinner Friday night for the vendors, and some of them camp out on the fairgrounds in their RVs.

Q: What's one of coolest exhibits?

A: One of the most fascinating displays is a guy who brings a train layout entirely built with Legos.

IF YOU GO

What: 25th annual Lynden Lions Club International Model Train & Circus Builders Show.

When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, at the Northwest Washington Fair's Henry Jansen Agriculture Building.

Admission: $15 families, $5 adults, $4 seniors, $3.50 kids 6-12, free for kids under 6 if accompanied by an adult.

Details: lyndentrainshow.com or rjkayser@msn.com.