(Feb. 20, 2005) -- LB's Convention Center had the sights and sounds of Grand Central Station -- large crowds and train whistles -- for what was billed as the "World's Greatest Hobby On Tour": a major model train show.

The show featured thousands of square feet of operating model railroads, displays and merchandising.

"The hobby of model railroading has a unique ability to bring family together in activities that teach many skills. Model Railroad skills span from carpentry to artistry, from electrical engineering to historical research. Model Railroading is the World's Greatest Hobby," says a flier for the event.

"The purpose of the World's Greatest Hobby On Tour is to introduce the general public to model railroading, a hobby that already has over [a] million participants in the United States," says a written release.

Anything with Thomas the Tank Engine drew large crowds of kids with parents in tow.

Here's a Thomas library.

Crowds marveled at the artistry and engineering.

The miniature mid-20th century movie theater is showing "A Streetcar Named Desire."

A mighty locomotive passes alongside an oil derrick with a reproduced flame at its base.

One model train route ran alongside an amusement park complete with spinning rides.

This model railroad runs through a logging camp...where crews battle a smokey timber fire.

On late Sunday afternoon, one of the event organizers gave us an off-the-cuff rough attendance estimate for the Sat-Sun event of approximately 25,000...and that was despite rainy weekend weather.

Organizers, who maintain a website at www.wghshow.com, say they also drew sizable crowds in Edison, NJ and St. Louis MO...and now it's on to Denver, CO.