There's a detailed replica of Columbia as it looked a hundred years ago located upstairs at the Columbia Historic Preservation Society. It's just one part of what you'll discover at the Columbia and Susquehanna Model Railroad - and that organization is one of two train groups using the space at 21 N. Second St. in Columbia. The lower level holds an elaborate display by members of the Lower Susquehanna Valley Modular Railroaders.

Both displays will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays through Jan. 5, 2025.

The displays provide entertainment for visitors and an opportunity for club members to share their passion for the hobby.

"I love all the details in the display," said Chris Cauler, treasurer of the Lower Susquehanna Valley club. "I remember as a kid putting my trains up under the Christmas tree. Now we get to be bigger kids as adults but come and run trains. It's the best."

Cauler, who has extensive train layouts set up year-round in his own home, said his favorite part of the open houses is seeing the reactions of people when they walk in the room.

"Sometimes, I'll hand a remote to a kid and let them try running the train themselves," he said, noting that one of his favorite parts of the display is a newly constructed mountain section that features an underground hobo camp. "We're continually adding to the display." Other unique features of the lower-level exhibit include a drive-in movie theater, complete with a light-up concession stand and movie screen.

Upstairs, the display features the miniature town of Columbia along with other area attractions and scenes. It's been housed at the Columbia Historic Preservation Society for decades, and it's located in the former sanctuary of a church built in 1850. Stained-glass windows provide a colorful background for the display, which features HO-scale trains.

Like Cauler, volunteer Dan Martin of the Columbia and Susquehanna Model Railroad loves watching the faces of visitors when they come into the room.

"I see a lot of open mouths and a lot of people going, 'Wow! I never expected to see anything like this,'" he said. "Some people will stay here and look for a considerable amount of time at the town of Columbia. Others will look at the rock quarry. Some just like to watch the trains. People have different interests when they come in and different things they gravitate toward."

Featuring a layout of more than 2,000 square feet, the upstairs display is always a work in progress. Members of the club put in a significant amount of time working on it, with Martin estimating he sometimes works five or six full days a week. Objects are handmade and hand-painted throughout both the upstairs and downstairs layouts.

It's a labor of love for Martin, however, as it is for all of the club members.

Martin grew up in Oregon, just two blocks away from Southern Pacific train tracks, and he's loved trains ever since.

Cauler is not only a member of the Lower Susquehanna club; he's on the board of the Train Collectors Association, an international organization with close to 30,000 members.

He loves sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm for trains with visitors.

"We take the time to not only run the trains, but to also talk to people," he said. "We try to get people interested in the hobby and learning how to do it. I love being able to show it off and say, 'This is how we did X, Y or Z.'"

There is a small admission charge to the displays for visitors age 12 and up, and the proceeds support the ongoing work of the Columbia Historic Preservation Society.

"It's been a blessing having these guys here," said Chris Vera, president of the Columbia Historic Preservation Society. "It's bringing more people into our town and into our museum."

For more information on the clubs, search for "Columbia and Susquehanna Model Railroad" or "Lower Susquehanna Valley Modular Railroaders" on Facebook.