The Sandhills Central Model Railroad Club will host its annual pre-holiday train show from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, and Sunday, Nov. 22, in the basement of the Campbell House, 482 E. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines.

Admission is $3 for everyone, except that children under four feet, eight inches tall are admitted free.

Why that particular measurement?

"Because that is the distance between the two tracks on a modern railroad," says a club spokesman.

Visitors to the show will see a large HO-scale train layout featuring the town of Southern Pines and surrounding areas.

Numerous freight and passenger trains will be operating at the same time on different tracks. Steam locomotives of another era as well as colorful modern diesel engines will start from several large rail yards, and will wind their way through tunnels, fields, neighborhoods and towns before completing their routes.

Younger visitors will delight in seeing Thomas the Tank and Harry Potter's Hogwarts Express as they make their way around the tracks.

The Sandhills Central Model Railroad Club was founded in 1979, and started its first train shows for the public in 1982. Until 2007, the club ran all of its model trains in Southern Pines.

However, club members are currently building a second layout in the historic restored depot in Aberdeen. This new layout, currently still under construction, features the town of Aberdeen, and other areas of interest throughout the county.

On Saturday, Dec. 12, the Aberdeen layout will be open to the public during the town's annual Christmas parade. Admission to this event is free; however, donations are welcomed.

Club members meet every Wednesday at 7:15 p.m. at either the Campbell House or Aberdeen Depot locations.

For information regarding meeting locations, membership or any other information regarding the Sandhills Model Railroad Club, call Jim McNiff at (910) 692-7439.