The large-scale model railroad in Steve Moylan’s Deptford home displays life in the fictitous Garden City. The project took the retired township police officer about a decade to complete.
The railroad model includes hot-air balloons modeled after those used by the First and Finest Balloon Crew, a group founded by Moylan that he runs with his family. It was Moylan’s idea to create the First and Finest hot-air balloon to evoke Deptford’s place in aviation history
Local resident and retired Deptford police officer Steve Moylan hosted an open house at his home on Nov. 17 so the public could see his large-scale model railroad.
The railroad covers most of the basement area in Moylan’s Vermont Avenue residence and features a variety of trains traveling through Garden City, a fictional town modeled after 1950s America. Little characters go about their daily activities and also interact with others, such as a woman shown arguing with a police officer over a parking ticket.
Also featured are hot-air balloons modeled after those used by the First and Finest Balloon Crew, a group founded by Moylan that he runs with his family. It was Moylan’s idea to create the First and Finest hot-air balloon to evoke Deptford’s place in aviation history and promote police and community cooperation. Its first voyage was in 1988.
Meanwhile, the public found its way to Moylan’s railroad model with help from signs in his yard and photos of trains. Cameras captured a live video that could be seen on screens in the basement.
Moylan – the “mayor” of his railroad town – began work on the current model shortly after he retired in 2000. Over the years before that, he created smaller models that would eventually be part of the current large-scale project, which took him about 10 years to finish.
Moylan’s passion for railroads began when he was a child growing up in Philadelphia and after a ride with an real engineer on a real train.
“I was maybe 8 years old when my parents took me to Reading Terminal, when it was a real train terminal,” he recalled. “All these trains are sitting there, and my dad says, ‘See that train sitting there? That’s the one we’re going to get on. There’s a little compartment up front. We’re going to get on the first car, because there’s a little compartment where the engineer’s going to be. He’s not there yet, but if you hang around and you’re cute enough, maybe you’ll get invited in.'”
That engineer saw a young Moylan and asked the boy to join him in the “little compartment” as he drove the train. It was Moylan’s first ride, and one that eventually led his parents to buy him a model train, beginning a collection that spanned decades. Some of Moylan’s friends share his passion and were on hand to assist Moylan with his current model.
Moylan is also a part of the National Model Railroad Association – specifically the chapter that includes Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland – and its annual November open houses.
“In the month of November, between New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania, there’s a couple hundred of these (open houses) open all around,” he explained. “It’s to promote the hobby. It’s not to make money and we won’t take any money.”
Moylan plans for his model railroad to remain after dies.
“This will be here long after I’m gone,” he noted. “Matter of fact, my buddies here are working on an agreement with my wife. When I pass, they’re going to rent the basement from her and use the trains, so this will continue on.”
