Organizers have a chance to catch their breath after a busy weekend running the first ever Railroad Days in Truesdale.

The event was organized and run Saturday and Sunday by the Central Missouri Railroad Association and the city of Truesdale, in collaboration with a number of community partners. There was a model train show and swap meet in the Rebecca Boone Elementary School gym, along with vendors and activities spread through the school, Truesdale City Hall and a city-leased property along the railroad tracks through town.

Truesdale City Administrator MaryLou Rainwater said the city and most of the 28 vendors involved were pleased with the first year of the event.

“We talked to several of the guests who were visiting, and they all seemed happy. We were pleased with the crowd,” Rainwater said. “With the weather starting out cold on Sunday, we didn’t know how that was going to turn out, (but) that turned out good also.”

The event went well because of the joint effort of all those who contributed, she said. If there was one complaint, it was that people wanted the various events to be closer together.

Vendors and a mobile petting zoo were set up at the city’s leased property at Market and Depot streets, about a block away from the train show and live music at Rebecca Boone. Actual train cars were parked for display about a mile away off of Spoede Lane and Truesdale Avenue. 

At Truesdale City Hall, visitors could hear historical presentations from visitors including Wentzville history teacher Jerry Cannon and Norfolk Southern Railroad historian Jennifer Davis McDaid.

The Central Missouri Railroad Association is a club of local train enthusiasts. Member Mike Daly called the train show “a fantastic show,” and said the club had four times the traffic and net income compared to local meets it has hosted on its own in previous years. 

The train show and various activities combined to draw a much broader demographic than any element would have on its own, from kids to seniors, Daly said. And the weather, for the most part, was perfect.

“I couldn’t have asked for more for the first year,” Daly said, adding the he hopes for the turnout to grow in future years. “This shows the city and the club working together can really benefit the community.”

Estimates for attendance were more than 400 at the train show and over 700 for other activities, although it’s unknown how much those counts overlap. Organizers said most of the attendees were from Warren County, but some were from locations such Columbia or Jefferson County.

Chuck Madinger of Innsbrook displays a collection of model trains for sale Oct. 14 at the Railroad Days train show at Rebecca Boone Elementary School. Madinger said he used to travel to train shows from Nebraska to Minnesota and still has a collection at home. Record photo/Adam Rollins.

A family explores the details of a model train display at the train show and swap meet during the first annual Railroad Days in Truesdale, Oct. 14-15. Submitted photo/Jennifer Barhoumy.

Major Daniel Hudson, aka "Conductor Dan," delivers railroad safety presentations as part of Operation Lifesaver. He is pictured here with Truesdale police officer Casey Doyle at Truesdale City Hall Oct. 14. Record photo/Adam Rollins.

Warren County Commissioners on Oct. 10 signed a proclamation declaring Oct. 8-15 as Railroad Week in Warren County. They were joined by representatives of the Railroad Days Steering Committee, Central Missouri Railroad Association, and the city of Truesdale. Record photo/Adam Rollins.