The Great Train Extravaganza returns to Empire State Plaza

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - The original and largest model train event in the Capital Region took place at the Empire State Convention Center on Sunday. The Great Train Extravaganza had over 60 vendors selling model trains, books, photos, Lego train sets, and railroad memorabilia.

Show organizer Sarah Lauser said that the show is representative of the history of railroads in the Capital Region.

"Over in Schenectady we used to have the American Locomotive Company plant, and that was basically one of the places that built the engines and moved all of the things all over the country, and we still have a lot of rich railroad history still in this area," Lauser said.

One of the oldest vendors at the show, Bill Cotrofeld, said he has been doing the show for about 35 years. He said he got into the show after wanting to sell his son's train collection.

"Our son would keep buying trains, and trains, and trains," Cotrofeld said. "So I had an attic full of trains."

Lauser said the vendors at the event showed off and sold specialty memorabilia and even rare train sets. The money raised from the show goes towards buying train sets for Toys for Tots.