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The Hi-Railers formed in Paterson in 2003 with a shared enthusiasm for model trains. The track layout only extended 40 feet then, but now stretches across 185 feet at the Sixth Avenue headquarters.
Bob Iuliucci, secretary for the club, said they have the largest "O-gage" train setup in the country. O-gage means a three-rail track for the model trains.
The main layout features a New Jersey theme with models of landmarks like the shore, downtown Newark and more.
"It's a fun layout, lots of stuff to see and lots of things to have enjoyment about," Iuliucci told Daily Voice.
The Hi-Railers host shows for the public several times a year to show off their display. Around 20 trains can run at once during the shows, with the next event scheduled for Jan. 24.
The longest train has 100 cars on it, one of the aspects Iuliucci said is the most fun.
The club has additional tracks in addition to their main layout in the middle of their building. One setup lets kids operate the train themselves. Another track was donated to the organization after it was featured in "The Sopranos."
It takes plenty of work to keep the train running, though. The club, which has nearly 50 members, meets every Wednesday. Members are also expected to put in at least eight hours a month maintaining the tracks.
Mike Caruso, a member for a year, said he joined after visiting some of the open houses. He became friendly with the group and said it's a fun experience for them all.
"It's like a shared love of trains, real trains, that everybody has," Caruso said. "You're like a little kid all over again. You're taking trains out of the box, putting them on a track. It's like opening up a new toy when you're 11 years old."
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