All the excitement and romance of riding the rails -- in miniature -- will be on display at the American Fork Public Library this weekend.

Members of the Golden Spike American Flyer Train Club were on hand last Friday and Saturday and will return this Friday and Saturday with exhibits of some of their favorite model trains. The display will be from noon to 6 p.m. in the rotunda of the library, 64 S. 100 East, American Fork.

Club President Jim Buckley was one of the train enthusiasts with the group. He said he has enjoyed trains just about his whole life.

"I got my first train set when I was 7," he said. "It was a Christmas present. I still have it to this day. It was a little HO freight set. It was set up under the tree Christmas morning and I have been hooked ever since."

And hooked he is. He even wears a T-shirt that says "Still plays with trains."

"I have a room in my house dedicated all to trains," he said. "It actually has grown through the years. I have acquired more pieces. I even picked up another set yesterday. A lady's husband died a few weeks ago and her kids didn't want it. I will let my grandkids play with it."

Spending time with family is one reason Buckley enjoys trains.

"You find out what is important in life," he said. "For me it comes down to family and being able to spend time with grandkids. After the pain and suffering of having kids, you get the bonus of grandkids."

"We love running trains, especially for the kids," he said. "It is nice to see them light up their faces."

It has an extra benefit, he said. Working in reverse, it not only is the adults entertaining the kids, but the adults also get a lift.

"It keeps you young at heart," he said. "It keeps you going." He pointed out another club member, who was showing some of his trains from a wheelchair. He had been stricken with West Nile virus and lost a lot of his ability to move. Eddie Strong, who now lives in Orem, has told Buckley making plans for his trains helped keep him going and start him on the road -- or track -- to recovery.

Strong said he has always been interested in trains.

"I lived out in the country in the Springville area," he said. "I was just one field away from the tracks. I saw trains every day all day long. I was always enthralled with them. I have just always liked them. There is something about that big machine moving. There is something that gets you excited when you see a train."

In addition to loving trains since they were young, Buckley and Strong have something else in common.

"I have got too much," Strong said. "I really don't know how many I have got."

"I have too many sets to count," Buckley said.

There is a draw to the hobby, one that relates to being able to create one's surroundings.

"For me it is being able to kind of control your own little empire or community, build it the way you like," Buckley said. "It is a fun toy -- you run it, keep them running. Through the years the nice thing is it is a hands-on toy instead of something like watching TV.

"It is something you grow. You do a lot of things with the hobby. It incorporates artistic, arts and crafts -- you can build it and create your own little world.

"It is in your blood," he said. "You put a lot of heart into it. When you see these kids having fun, it makes it worthwhile."

Some of those kids attending the exhibit at the library commented on the trains.

Eleven-year-old Joshua Blair of American Fork, said he liked them. "It is cool. We have a couple at home," he said.

His mom, Sarah Blair, said seeing the exhibit made her think of her childhood.

"I grew up with trains," she said. "My mom used to do the Christmas tree in the middle, then a village."

Michael Blair, who is almost 4, was direct in his assessment.

"I like trains. They go fast and blow smoke," he said.

The oldest in the Golden Spike American Flyer Train Club is about 82. There are several in their 20s. There is also a lot of interest from members' grandkids, he said.

Club members put on exhibits like the one at the library, along with larger displays for several train shows throughout the year. More information on the club is available at the Web site, www.gsaftc.com.

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