There are hobbyists, and then there?s Howard Zane, a self-proclaimed “trainaholic.”
In his book, “Howard Zane: My Life with Model Trains,” the Columbia resident chronicles his trials and successes as a layout designer and model railroading fanatic.
The focus of the monster-sized book, a heavy 11×12 hardcover, is the production of Zane?s 2,850 square-foot masterpiece ? Piermont Division, one of the largest train layouts in the world.
Inspired by post-World War II West Virginia from 1945 to 1954, Zane designed, constructed and perfected the historically accurate scenery over the past twenty years.
Over two decades, nearly 20,000 people have flocked to Zane?s basement to see the 22-scale mile layout.
Over 400 photographs by Geren W. Motensen Jr. accompany Zane?s narrative. Mortensen?s pictures capture the artistry of the sprawling, detail-laden town and country landscapes including buildings, billboards, waterfalls, rivers, store signs, curtains, fire escapes and lit street lamps.
Vivid, colorful photos also convey Zane?s imagination and the contagious excitement apparent in his meticulous work.
The entire layout boasts 150 moving locomotives, 3,500 vehicles, 800 freight and passenger cars, at least 5,000 figures and 15,000 trees. Zane uses technical terms when needed to describe specific elements of the layout, but it?s obvious he wrote the book with novices in mind.
“Model railroading appeals to many because it blends history, electronics, horticulture and carpentry. After reading a book like this, people can either be inspired or intimidated. I?d like readers to take away inspiration and say ?Wow, I can dothis too,? ” said Zane.
He hopes his story will ignite a passion in readers to get involved in the traditional pastime. Several chapters in the book detail methods and techniques used in building sections of the Piermont Division within a short amount of time.
Zane is the co-founder of the largest exhibition of its kind in the U.S., The Great Scale Model Train Show, which is on display four times a year at the Timonium Fairgrounds.
The book is available online at www.zanestrains.com
