Central New York Man Has Been Playing With Trains For 70 Years

Many of us relive childhood memories every year during Christmas, but not Richard Wielgosz of Marcy. He's never quit living them. For more than 70 years, Richard has been playing with toy trains. And thanks to him we can still relive our model railroading days every year at the Utica Train Station.

I remember being on my Father's shoulders looking at that.

Richard says Santa brought him his first train in 1946 and he still has it along with some other models and the conductors' suit. The love for trains must run through the Wielgosz genes. It was Richard's father whose love for real trains got him started. As a young child, Richard remembers being at the scene of the deadly 1940 Little Falls train crash.

taking us all over the state to attend train shows.

The love of trains carried on into Richard's children as well. Son, Wil remembers dad "taking us all over the state to attend train shows." Together, they decided to bring a show to Utica, got permission from Conrail the owners of the Utica Train Station to use the facility, and 39 years later it continues as the most well-attended train show in New York.

Sunday, January 20 the Wielgosz' will join fellow train enthusiasts to present the 39th annual Toy Train Show at the Utica Train Station. From 9:30 until 3, 128 tables will be filled with 40 different vendors' stock of everything imaginable in every size possible. Locomotives, train cars, layout accessories, and even a "Sick Train Clinic" to make repairs. Oh yeah, lots of working train layouts too.

A $5 donation is requested for adults, children 5 to 12 $2. More information is available at the Utica Train Show Facebook page, Oneida County Tourism's website or call 315-725-2889.