The Tracks of Ralph’s Tears

Her Story:

“I don’t understand why I’m behaving this way,” said Muriel, an attractive woman in her late 40s. “I thought being involved in Ralph’s hobby would bring us closer.

“I’ve always loved trains. When I was a little girl, Daddy would put the Lionel set around the Christmas tree. Then Ralph brought home an HO set and a sheet of plywood. I thought, ‘It’s the ‘90s, why not?’

“At first, it was just some fake grass and tiny figurines. But now it’s out of control. I want it all: stations, towns, more switches, bigger transformers, more remote controls, and--I’m so ashamed--even steam engines. I love my husband, but the trains, I need my trains.”

His Story:

Ralph, an engaging man in his early 50s, seemed confused by his wife’s obsession.

“I thought it was great when Muriel wanted to work on the model railroad with me,” he said. “But she started staying up nights. Then the 4-by-8-foot layout was too small, so we expanded.

“The next thing I knew, the trains had taken over the whole house. Then Muriel started staying out to all hours. I thought it was another man. But no, she’s taken over a vacant lot with a 5,000-square-foot model railroad. Will I ever get my wife back?”

Ralph and Muriel are fictional. But the 5,000-square-foot HO-scale model railroad, is a reality. It is located at 5458 Alhambra Ave., Alhambra. The Sierra Pacific Lines were put together by the Pasadena Model Railroad Club. And they are having an open house today from 1 to 5 p.m., Tuesday from 7:30 to 10 p.m., and November 21 and 22, from 1 to 5 p.m., and also 7 to 10 p.m. on the 21st. Suggested donations are $2 for adults, 50 cents for children. Binoculars are recommended.

P.S. HO scale is 87.5 to 1, which means if the Sierra Pacific Lines were real, they’d be somewhat bigger than Little Rock, Ark.