Cranford Creatives: Inside Cranford Resident's 20-Year Journey to Build a Model Train City

Cranford resident David Leber has spent nearly 20 years building a miniature N-scale railroad city in his basement. The sprawling layout features an urban downtown, industrial district, working signals, illuminated buildings, operating accessories, and hundreds of tiny details.

The project began after Leber's wife asked him to find a new hobby. "When I was younger, I built a lot of wooden model ships," he said. "My wife said, 'We don't have any more room to put these in the house. Find something else to do.' So I said, 'I'll make a train. And that's how it started.'"

The railroad consists of two connected layouts, each built on the back of an interior door. After completing the first layout, Leber built a second with a more urban feel before linking them together into one continuous railroad.

The project faced significant setbacks when Hurricane Irene flooded the family's basement. "We had two or three feet of water. It didn't get up to the train, but everything got moist and cruddy, and the basement was a disaster," Leber said. He stepped away from the hobby for a time before returning with renewed enthusiasm.

Leber carefully wove pieces of his family's history throughout the layout. "I wanted to make something themed around the 1930s and 1940s," he said. "It has a New York feel to it." A General Electric building honors his father, who worked for the company. Trucks bearing the Yale name reference his son, and the railroad is the Central Railroad of New Jersey, a nod to his wife's business, Jersey Central Art Studios. The custom photographic backdrop includes scenes from downtown Cleveland, where Leber grew up.

Every building, road, and structure was assembled by hand. The railroad includes working signals that activate as trains pass, an operating turntable and water tower, sound effects, and dozens of illuminated buildings. Leber chose N scale because it allowed him to fit more railroad into a smaller space while being less expensive than other scales.

Although he enjoys visiting model railroad displays, including exhibitions by the Union County Model Railroad Club, Leber prefers a relaxed approach to the hobby. "Some people take it to another level," he said. "To me, it's just a fun thing to do, something to keep me busy and keep me out of mischief."

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FAQ

Q: Who is David Leber?
A: David Leber is a Cranford resident who has spent nearly 20 years building an intricate miniature N-scale railroad city in his basement.

Q: What inspired Leber to start building model trains?
A: Leber had built wooden model ships as a younger person, but when his wife asked him to find a new hobby to make room in the house, he decided to build a model train instead.

Q: How is the railroad constructed?
A: The railroad consists of two connected layouts, each built on the back of an interior door. The two layouts are linked together into one continuous railroad with an urban and industrial theme.

Q: What does the railroad feature?
A: The railroad includes an urban downtown, industrial district, working signals, illuminated buildings, operating accessories, sound effects, dozens of hand-assembled buildings, a working turntable and water tower, and a custom photographic backdrop.

Q: How has Leber incorporated his family history?
A: Leber wove personal touches throughout the layout, including a General Electric building honoring his father, Yale trucks referencing his son, the Central Railroad of New Jersey recognizing his wife's business, and a Cleveland backdrop from his hometown.

Q: What happened during Hurricane Irene?
A: The family's basement flooded with two to three feet of water, creating significant damage. Though the train itself wasn't damaged, the basement and surrounding materials were affected, and Leber stepped away from the hobby temporarily before returning with renewed enthusiasm.

Q: Why did Leber choose N scale?
A: He chose N scale because it allowed him to fit more railroad into a smaller basement space while being less expensive than other scales like HO scale.

Q: Is Leber part of a model railroad community?
A: Yes, Leber enjoys visiting model railroad displays and exhibitions put on by the Union County Model Railroad Club, though he maintains a relaxed personal approach to his own hobby.

Q: What is Leber's philosophy about his hobby?
A: Leber views his model railroad as a fun, creative outlet to keep himself busy and engaged. He prefers his relaxed approach over taking the hobby to extreme levels of detail that some enthusiasts do.

Q: Where can I find more Cranford arts and community stories?
A: Union County Life covers arts, culture, and community profiles from Cranford. Visit unioncountylife.com for more local stories celebrating creativity and community.