There are more than 500,000 model railroad and toy train hobbyists in the United States and Canada, according to the World’s Greatest Hobby Web site, www.greatesthobby.com.

That comes as no surprise to Roger Miller, manager of George’s Hobby House, 1411B W. 23rd St.

“Model railroads are extremely popular and they are especially popular this time of year,” Miller said. “I would say there has been a steady increase in popularity over the past several years by kids of all ages.”

The HO model trains and tracks are the most popular, followed by the smaller N gauge tracks, Miller said. Also popular are larger garden trains and the historical Lionel trains, he said.

“Lionel trains have been around for 100 years and they’ll probably be around for another 100 years,” Miller said.

Jon Dunham, a member of the Lawrence Model Railroad Club, still has a Lionel train set he got for Christmas when he was a child.

“I don’t run it but I have it on display,” he said. “I think my dad played with it more than I did.”