Thursday, February 23, 2023
LocalNewsOnly
For Immediate Release
Train-A-Palooza Model Train Show at the Grapevine Convention Center
March 11 and 12, 2023
GRAPEVINE, TEXAS (February 23, 2023) — The Lone Star Hi-Railers model railroad
club of Grapevine, Texas is proud to announce its ninth annual model train show
Train-A-Palooza, will be held at the Grapevine Convention Center (GCC),
1209 S. Main St., Grapevine, Texas on March 11 and 12, 2023. According to the
model railroad club, the event was formerly held at the nearby Grapevine Founder’s
Building and has grown to the point of needing a larger facility.
Club spokesman and event organizer Mike McLintock said, “Both club members and
independent vendors have asked for more space to sell their model train items and
pushed for an additional day to allow more of the public to attend the annual
show.” McLintock went on to say, “We are pleased with the growth and expansion
of the event into the 14,000 square foot GCC.” All of the exhibit space has been sold
since November.
The event is set to attract model train enthusiasts from all over Texas, Oklahoma,
Arkansas, Louisiana and Kansas. Vendors will include club members, private
individuals and companies who sell model trains, toys and accessories. This year,
attendees coming from the TEXRail commuter train can ride to and from the
convention center from the Grapevine TEXRail train station via free shuttle bus.
According to McLintock, the club has commitments from The Museum of the
American Railroad in Frisco, TX. Along with other working model train layouts, the
Texas Brick Railroad Club from Houston will have its working LEGO train display
operating at the show. The nationally known Lionel Collectors Club of America
(LCCA) will be an exhibitor at the event and has designated Train-A-Palooza as an Lone Star official LCCA “Special Event,” inviting its members from the region to attend. Train-APalooza will include sales tables, and the Choo Choo Express train will be offering rides to the public in the GCC parking lot. The entry ticket price for the public is $5 for adults, $2 for 11 to 18 year-olds, and children under 10 are free, with accompanying adults. Tickets will give access to the show both days and the Lone Star Hi-Railers’ huge three-rail O gauge model railroad located in the Historic Grapevine rail yard area in an actual 65-foot-long baggage car. Show hours are
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The club has been located in Grapevine for more than 14 years and feels strongly
that the city is a natural location for model train activities, as the town’s focus is on
real trains. McLintock expanded by saying, “Grapevine was our first choice for
locating our club’s headquarters because of its central location in the Metroplex, the
presence of the Grapevine Vintage Railroad, and the addition of the TEXRail
commuter train from Fort Worth to the DFW Airport. The community and city have
been very supportive of our club.”
The GCC is located at 1209 S. Main St., just a block north of the Highway 114/121
interchange. Parking is free and lodging is close to the GCC with renowned
restaurants that can be found all over the city. The Grapevine Visitors Shuttle will
provide free transportation between the TEXRail station to the GCC and the Lone
Star Hi-Railers baggage car layout during show hours.
For more information, contact Mike McLintock at MAMcLintock@verizon.net or
(214) 693-0258. For more details about Train-A-Palooza and the Lone Star Hi-Railers,
visit the web site www.lonestarhirailers.com. The club’s baggage car train layout is
open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays, during show hours.
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