MIDTOWN (WXYZ) — At Detroit Historical Museum, 74-year-old Peter Dudley really knows how to keep things on track.
"Yes, I've been a volunteer since 1997, which was the year we built the current exhibit," says Dudley.
The Glancy Trains exhibit has been a crowd favorite for years. 13 trains moving along 12 electric-powered tracks, all thanks to a team of 3 volunteers.
"The main thing the volunteers do is to keep the trains running," said Dudley.
From keeping the tracks clean to repairing the trains, Dudley is always busy in his workshop over the weekends.
They go from zero to 35 mph in a split second, which is another reason we have to make sure they don't derail, said Dudley.
The collection, which dates back to the mid-1900s, belonged to Alfred Glancy Jr., a real estate financier and former owner of the Empire State Building in New York City. Detroit Historical Society's Rebecca Salminen-Witt says Glancy enjoyed hosting "train parties" for friends and family each holiday season at his home in Grosse Pointe Shores. After his death in 1973, the Glancy family donated the set.
"Every kid who comes here wants to see these trains, Mr. Glancy was obviously a train guy himself. His children actually are still involved with the museum. They still love these trains, visit them and support them," said Salminen-Witt.
Salminen-Witt says that as the exhibit grows, thanks to donations from various sources, it truly highlights Detroit's rich history.
"Most people are really excited about the renaissance that they are seeing at Michigan Central Station. They were developing that train station right at the cusp between train travel, railroad travel and the beginning of the automotive, well as we know the cars took over," said Salminen-Witt.
And it turns out a lot of Detroit's history is baked into the exhibit.
"We've got that big tire, people are familiar with on your way to the airport, you pass on I94, on the other end of the exhibit, we have the big stove. So, Detroit was the stove manufacturing capital of the country. And, of course, trains hauled those stoves everywhere," said Salminen-Witt.
"I often come out from behind, from the workshop, and I talk to people about local Detroit railroad history," said Dudley.
"Does this remind you of your childhood?" asked Faraz Javed, 7 News Detroit reporter.
"I received my first train as a christmas present from my grandparents. That particular December we traveled on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad leaving from Michigan Central Station," said Dudley.
Now, the Glancy Train exhibit runs year-round at the Detroit Historical Museum. And Dudley says they are always in need of volunteers. To find out how you can become one, just head to this website.
