Lucien Black is only 6 but already he has a collection of 20 toy trains - and tracks that run throughout his family's house.
So the Owhata Primary School pupil was in heaven yesterdaywhen he went along to the Rotorua Model Railway Club's annual Model Train Show being held over this Easter weekend at the Arawa Racecourse.
Annette Black went along with her son, Lucien Black, 6, who she said was a "fanatical train person".
They attended the show on both Saturday and yesterday.
She said they had model train sets in the lounge at home which ran into the kitchen/dining area, and Lucien had 20 trains.
Lucien can tell you all different things about trains and he had three trains on his savings list at the moment, she said.
She said Lucien's interest started at about the age of 3 or 4, and came from his cousins who had train sets.
He had the hand-me-downs and had added to them.
Lucien said he liked how trains worked and liked it when they went fast around the tracks.
Image 1 of 9: Lucas Brightwell, 3,
Rotorua's Logan Rosanoski said they had gone along on both Saturday and yesterday too, as her 16-month-old Arlo Mason loved machinery things because they moved.
She said when she was younger a man across the street had a whole table in his shed set up like the layouts at the show.
She said the man let them go over once and have a look - "we thought we were so lucky".
They were thinking about buying some model trains for the children. Her husband was a daycare teacher and was thinking it could be something cool for the children there, she said.
She said it was a unique event and offered something different to do.
"I think it's great. There were so many people here (on Saturday)."
Local Ben Agnew said it was a great morning out for his sons.
He said his sons loved trains and the Thomas the Tank Engine set had been a favourite with them.
"Model gizmos and gadgets are pretty cool for kids. It's cool to come and see them set up."
Rotorua Model Railway Club president Mike Swain said they had a great turnout on Saturday with a few hundred people coming through the show.
Mr Swain said it was a family friendly event and he enjoyed hanging out with his friends there all weekend.
There were collectors who had come over from Cambridge, Hastings and Wellington to display their sets at the show, he said.
He said he had been collecting model train layouts for about 15 years and had always had an interest in real trains.
Club member Craig Iddles said they always tried to have fun with the show and it was great seeing the smiles of the children, including the 'big' children - "You get adults that go 'wow'".
Life member Barry Jenkins thought it was great entertainment for a small cost.
The Details:
- What: Model Train Show
- When: Easter Monday, 10am to 2pm
- Where: Arawa Racecourse
- Cost: $6 adult, $3 child, $18 for family of three children