Three-year-old Harper Hilliker of Sequim examines a model train display during a model train show and swap at the Sequim Prairie Grange hall west of Sequim in 2015. The event, hosted by the North Olympic Railroaders, will feature several model train setups and a variety of vendors with items for sale or trade. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)

Three-year-old Harper Hilliker of Sequim examines a model train display during a model train show and swap at the Sequim Prairie Grange hall west of Sequim in 2015. The event, hosted by the North Olympic Railroaders, will feature several model train setups and a variety of vendors with items for sale or trade. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)

North Olympic model railroaders set show for Sequim Grange Saturday and Sunday

The club looks to re-create the Peninsula’s railway.

SEQUIM — Trains may be gone on the Olympic Peninsula, but long live the love of locomotives among local hobbyists.

For the 17th year, members of the North Olympic Peninsula Railroaders, a miniature railroad collectors’ club, will present their annual show Saturday and Sunday at the Sequim Prairie Grange.

Entry will be free to the show from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at the grange, 290 Macleay Road.

The club makes itself visible with booths and train displays at the Dungeness River Festival and Clallam County Fair, but in recent years, the group began its biggest project yet.

John Kumparak, club vice president, said in 2013, the group started intensely researching the former railway so members could re-create it in miniature form — in mobile sections from Discovery Bay to Joyce.

“We want to mimic the Peninsula as much as possible,” Kumparak said.

Researching, discussing

They’ve been researching through the Clallam County Historical Society, North Olympic Library System and in discussions with former railroad employees.

Each section will be an area with landmarks, such as the Joyce General Store.

Steve Stripp, president of the club, said as they progress, they’ll begin researching additional areas and creating new modular sections for areas such as Port Townsend.

Club members also plan to only run replica trains of what actually ran through the area, such as the General Motors Electro Motive Division F7s.

They’ve taken replicating the railway so far as to photograph the Johnson Creek Trestle’s individual sections to ensure their model is accurate.

“It began with basic research and we found more facts on top of facts, which led to more discussions about accuracy,” Kumparak said.

“We’re finding that we’re expanding our knowledge and it definitely gives us an idea of what was where.”

In the club’s findings, they continue to investigate some discrepancies about the former railway, but club members hope to have the layout finished by next year. At minimum, they would like to have a complete section so they can travel with it and possibly give lessons in classrooms.

One of the more meticulous aspects is creating handmade trees for the layouts. They’ll need hundreds, possibly more, to re-create the local landscape.

Kumparak said he’s still surprised every year that a few students who visit the Dungeness River Festival don’t know trains used to run through Sequim or the Railroad Bridge’s purpose.

If you’re out of the loop, the Milwaukee Railroad ran across it from 1915 to 1980 for timber until it was sold to the Seattle and North Coast Railroad and abandoned five years later.

Last year was the 100th anniversary of the bridge.

About the show

While work continues on the historical replica of the local railways, club members look to bring their biggest show yet to the Sequim Prairie Grange over the weekend.

Stripp said it features at least 25 vendors, their most yet, and model trains of most sizes and makes.

Club member Hank Sampson plans to display his replica of Dolores, Colo.’s train station, while other members such as Dick Wolf run a garden scale railway and the club’s traveling display.

Kumparak said they’ll see at least 11 different types of trains on the tracks of the main layout, and other types will be on hand such as live steam model engines.

This year, organizers added an hour Saturday and subtracted an hour Sunday due to a dance that night. As is tradition, club members raffle off full train sets for children 14 and younger, and there will be raffle drawings every hour. Children also can try their train skills with a Brio wood set and a Thomas the Tank Engineer set.

For more information on the show, call 360-582-1316 or email stevenstripp@juno.com.

North Olympic model railroaders set show for Sequim Grange Saturday and Sunday
This year’s Train Show and Swap Meet in Sequim Prairie Grange this Saturday and Sunday features more vendors and possibly trains than ever before. (Dick Wolf)

This year’s Train Show and Swap Meet in Sequim Prairie Grange this Saturday and Sunday features more vendors and possibly trains than ever before. (Dick Wolf)

The traveling display returns this weekend to the Sequim Prairie Grange for the North Olympic Peninsula Railroaders’ annual train show. It’ll feature several types of trains over the weekend event. (John Kumparak)

The traveling display returns this weekend to the Sequim Prairie Grange for the North Olympic Peninsula Railroaders’ annual train show. It’ll feature several types of trains over the weekend event. (John Kumparak)

John Kumparak, vice president of the North Olympic Peninsula Railroaders, stands by the club’s replica of the Johnson Creek Trestle. As they work on it, club members say they are using individual photographs to ensure authenticity. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)

John Kumparak, vice president of the North Olympic Peninsula Railroaders, stands by the club’s replica of the Johnson Creek Trestle. As they work on it, club members say they are using individual photographs to ensure authenticity. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)

Members of the North Olympic Peninsula Railroaders say their latest project re-creates the railway from Discovery Bay to Joyce in miniature form. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)

Members of the North Olympic Peninsula Railroaders say their latest project re-creates the railway from Discovery Bay to Joyce in miniature form. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)

North Olympic model railroaders set show for Sequim Grange Saturday and Sunday

More in Entertainment

The One Horse Ranch Garden will be part of the Clallam County Master Gardeners’ 2025 Petals and Pathways tour on June 28. (Master Gardeners of Clallam County)
Petals and Pathways garden tour set June 28

Self-guided event includes eight Sequim locations

Free music series begin next week

Free concert series will be conducted this summer in Sequim, Port Angeles… Continue reading

Brinnon ShrimpFest set for this weekend

A stage presentation to benefit food banks, a history exhibit and the… Continue reading

Brinnon Fire Association to host ShrimpFest on Saturday

The Brinnon Fire Association will host the 33rd Brinnon ShrimpFest… Continue reading

Alternative prom set for Port Angeles church

Social Norm’s will host its third Gayla from 6… Continue reading

One of the secret gardens on the Jefferson County Master Gardeners tour. (J. Touger)
Jefferson County secret garden tour set for Saturday

The Jefferson County Master Gardeners Foundation will sponsor the… Continue reading

A protest photo included in the traveling exhibit “Patient No More: People with Disabilities Securing Civil Rights,” on display at the Jefferson County Historical Society on Thursday.
Jefferson County Historical Society to open exhibit Thursday

The Jefferson County Historical Society will open “Patient No… Continue reading

Cancan dancers such as these will perform at Hog Wild Goes to Moulin Rouge on June 28 at Field Arts & Events Hall in Port Angeles. (EnJoy)
Hog Wild event to feature dancers, acrobats

Tickets available for purchase through this weekend

Theatre group to host play to benefit food banks

The Wacky Wednesday Theatre Group will present “The Absolutely… Continue reading

A camping scene, circa 1895, with the McClinton brothers as the photographers. (North Olympic History Center)
History center to host reception for library exhibit

The North Olympic History Center and the North Olympic… Continue reading

Singer-songwriter to perform at Rainshadow Concerts

Dan Navarro will perform for Rainshadow Concerts at 7:30… Continue reading

Collage workshop set for Port Ludlow Art League meeting

Carol Nielsen and Pamela Raine will host a hands-on… Continue reading