The trains have been waiting for this moment all year – when the Lawrence Model Railroad Club takes its train layouts out of storage and dusts them off for the club’s seventh annual train show and swap meet.

In advance of Saturday’s show, club members gathered Wednesday at Steve’s Place, 31st and Louisiana streets, to test their layouts. Jon Ardahl was working on the club’s HO-scale layout, which had some kinks to be worked out. For instance, two cars refused to stay coupled to the rest of the train.

“These modules have all been downstairs in storage,” Ardahl said. “We’ve got to get it up here, clean the track, make sure things are running.”

The layouts are made up of several individual modules that are designed by club members.

In one module, familiar Lawrence sights, such as Hy-Vee and George’s Hobby House, dot the landscape. In another, trains have to climb steep mountain terrain while fishermen try their luck in a stream below a tall railroad bridge.

The HO-scale layout is in the middle range of model scales to be on display Saturday at the train show. The smaller N-scale and the larger G-scale also will be represented.

Though he was working on the HO-scale layout, Jim Ballinger was really excited to see the G-scale layout. He said the trains are larger, louder and more realistic.

“That’s something to drool over,” Ballinger said.

Much of the train show will involve looking at – but not touching – the layouts. But there will be some interactive options. A child-friendly Geo Trax train layout will be on hand for children to play with, and there will be a switching layout that will challenge attendees to maneuver trains from one track to another. Those who accomplish the challenge will receive a switching certificate.

Part of the train show proceeds will help benefit Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen. Club members collected canned food last weekend at Checkers, 2300 La. Show coordinator Jim Taylor said the club received about 150 canned goods and $42 in donations.