If you go ...
• What: Green County Model Railroaders Inc. 35th Annual Model Railroad Show and Swap Meet
• When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 28 and 29
• Where:SLICE Arena, 1632 4th Ave. W., Monroe
MONROE - Matt Torkelson-Boeck, 15, Monroe, has always been intrigued by trains.
But when he won a model railroad kit a couple years ago at the Green County Model Railroaders' show, he had no idea the hobby would grow on him - or with him.
"It's fun," he said. "It's time consuming, but worth it. It's the enjoyment of having something to do."
"It keeps him off the video games," added his mother, JoDee Torkelson.
Torkelson-Boeck and his newer, larger train set will be at the annual model railroad show and swap meet this weekend at SLICE Arena in Monroe.
Torkelson-Boeck displayed his model railroad last year at the show. Then, it featured a simple farming landscape. But the farm has since been embellished with a few more buildings and country accessory pieces.
JoDee Torkelson admitted to being at a loss about setting up the original kit. But thanks to model railroad members in the city, Torkelson-Boeck now has a sturdy display table, complete with landscaping and a textured surface - "turf," as he called it.
It took him, with the help of model railroader Kevin Johnson, about eight hours to put together one weekend.
Since then, Torkelson-Boeck's train has grown from five pieces to about 16.
"He has more train than track now," his mother noted.
His hobby has made buying presents for the teenager a little easier, she added.
Torkelson-Boeck said a lot of pieces are gifts from his uncle, Greg Boeck, who shares his interest in trains.
As a result, he has a wide range of notable names on the cars: Union Pacific, Wisconsin and Pacific, Canadian Pacific ... even Baby Ruth.
Now at an age when he's talking about driving, getting a job and buying a car, Torkelson-Boeck said he still enjoys his model railroad and especially showing it to younger friends, such as his 11- and 9-year-old cousins.
"You should see the look on their faces," he said, smiling.
Torkelson-Boeck is thinking about a future in paleontology, but he also has plans, albeit unspecific plans, for his railroad.
As a hobby, it will "keep growing and growing," he said. "It's never going to be finished. You can always make changes - or add to it."
But when he won a model railroad kit a couple years ago at the Green County Model Railroaders' show, he had no idea the hobby would grow on him - or with him.
"It's fun," he said. "It's time consuming, but worth it. It's the enjoyment of having something to do."
"It keeps him off the video games," added his mother, JoDee Torkelson.
Torkelson-Boeck and his newer, larger train set will be at the annual model railroad show and swap meet this weekend at SLICE Arena in Monroe.
Torkelson-Boeck displayed his model railroad last year at the show. Then, it featured a simple farming landscape. But the farm has since been embellished with a few more buildings and country accessory pieces.
JoDee Torkelson admitted to being at a loss about setting up the original kit. But thanks to model railroad members in the city, Torkelson-Boeck now has a sturdy display table, complete with landscaping and a textured surface - "turf," as he called it.
It took him, with the help of model railroader Kevin Johnson, about eight hours to put together one weekend.
Since then, Torkelson-Boeck's train has grown from five pieces to about 16.
"He has more train than track now," his mother noted.
His hobby has made buying presents for the teenager a little easier, she added.
Torkelson-Boeck said a lot of pieces are gifts from his uncle, Greg Boeck, who shares his interest in trains.
As a result, he has a wide range of notable names on the cars: Union Pacific, Wisconsin and Pacific, Canadian Pacific ... even Baby Ruth.
Now at an age when he's talking about driving, getting a job and buying a car, Torkelson-Boeck said he still enjoys his model railroad and especially showing it to younger friends, such as his 11- and 9-year-old cousins.
"You should see the look on their faces," he said, smiling.
Torkelson-Boeck is thinking about a future in paleontology, but he also has plans, albeit unspecific plans, for his railroad.
As a hobby, it will "keep growing and growing," he said. "It's never going to be finished. You can always make changes - or add to it."