HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — The Historic Train Depot in Hendersonville recently caught the spotlight as part of the backdrop for Hallmark’s “A Biltmore Christmas,” but step inside the station, and it’s the intricate world of miniature railroads that’s capturing imaginations of all ages.
The depot is home to the Apple Valley Model Railroad Club, where members have built a detailed, reimagined snapshot of western North Carolina railroading in the 1960s. The sprawling layout blends history with creativity, bringing the region’s rail heritage to life on a smaller scale.
“This layout features western North Carolina in the 1960s, but it’s a freelance railroad,” said Larry Morton, the club’s treasurer and former president. “In other words, we might name an area ‘Spencer.’ It’s not an exact replica, but it represents the kind of railroad activity you would have seen there.”…