In the News
EagleWings 6th Annual Show
Mar 2, 2005
By Jo Anne DeKeles
LSOL.com Customer Service Manager |
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Model train enthusiasts in Phoenix, AZ celebrate the glory of garden railroads at the 6th Annual Wild Eagle Railroad Open House, April 16-17
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Model train enthusiasts in Phoenix, AZ celebrate the glory of garden railroads at the 6th Annual Wild Eagle Railroad Open House, April 16-17, with a model train landscape show to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Arizona, granting the wishes of local children with life-threatening medical conditions.  The show features 15 layouts at homes throughout the Valley, including the home of Eaglewings Iron Craft train owner Dan Hoag. His layout includes three overhead railroads and incredible garden railroad landscaping with waterfalls, ponds, tunnels, and bridges, including two bridges featured on the popular ABC show "Extreme Home Makeover Edition." Hoag's display also includes G-scale garden railroad demonstrations.
The event is suitable for train lovers of all ages. Admission is free, however donations are accepted on behalf of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Arizona. "Most people have never seen anything like it before," said Hoag. "Since we began in 1999, we have seen attendance increase every year - last year's event drew nearly 800 people. We have also been able to get several garden railroad-related vendors to have displays at the open house to demonstrate their products on a small scale so that people can see what else is available. The first open house only featured my layout; we have since grown this to fifteen layouts/locations including my own for people to visit and enjoy.  We are hoping that people will come from out of state to enjoy a weekend of garden railroading with us. This year, we have even more vendors that will be participating than ever before." Eight vendors will be displaying their products and conducting demonstrations; for a complete list, visit www.eaglewingsironcraft.com.
One of the featured locations will be the Adobe Mountain Railroad Club, which has G, HO, and N scale layouts, and a large (8 miles of track!) 1 1/2" scale trains to ride on. Other train clubs will have their layouts open for tour as well. He and other experienced "engineers" will share their expertise with fellow enthusiasts and youngsters. He believes gardening and train building is a great family hobby. "To me, family oriented hobbies are important because kids can learn while spending time with their loved ones," Hoag said. "More and more kids like trains, and it is really neat to be able to teach them about plants and how to build things." Come and see the beauty of the desert in bloom, thanks to all of the rain they have received this winter! 
You will see how Arizona garden railroaders adapt their hobby to the climate, and how they create beautifully diverse layouts The Hoag home, 4007 N. 22nd Avenue in Phoenix, is open to the public Saturday, April 16, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, and Sunday, April 17,10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. In addition, a dutch treat dinner/get together is planned for Saturday at the famous Tia Rosa restaurant in Mesa, AZ. This will give train enthusiasts an opportunity to relax, network and share ideas in a festive and fun atmosphere. For more information, visit www.eaglewingsironcraft.com. Top of Page
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