ORWIGSBURG - As Schuylkill County residents start putting up their Christmas decorations this year, there's a new collector's item for the train underneath the tree.
Starting this year, Fryer's Store, 210 E. Market St., will produce a model train car with the name of a local business every fall for the holiday season.
"Over the years, different organizations make train cars. We notice there hasn't been any new ones for years," Glenn Frantz, owner of the store, said.
This year, two cars were produced: a refrigerator car, or "reefer," for Heisler's Cloverleaf Dairy, Walker Township, and a gondola for Weiner Iron & Metal, Pottsville. Heisler's car was supposed to be released last year but was delayed for design purposes. It will still have the 2011 year on it while the Weiner gondola will have 2012. Artwork was done by local graphic artist Don Houlihan, Frantz said.
"Every Christmas, people still look to set up their trains. They are still popular today. Kids want them for Christmas and their birthdays," Frantz said.
Both cars are O-gauge compatible and $59.95 each. Frantz said if a customer commits to the third car by February, they will save $10. He said the store sold about half of the limited edition cars. There are about 150 reefers and 100 gondolas remaining this year.
"I expect all to be sold by the end of the year," Frantz said. "A lot of people collect local things. People who moved out of the area like to collect the local things, too. Then there are people that just like to collect things in limited number."
Frantz said he hopes to have an engine or caboose available in the next couple years.
Fryer's Store has been selling model trains since the 1980s, Frantz said. His grandfather opened the first store in 1929 in Hamburg. The second store in Orwigsburg was opened in 1954.
He said toy trains never go out of style and he still sets one up every Christmas.
"I've been playing with trains since I was 10 years old," Frantz said. "They have improved over the years and it's just amazing some of the things they can do. They smoke, make sounds and can be operated by remote controls. The kids like the action and there's so much to them you can learn, like construction techniques and wiring."
Part of the proceeds will benefit the Northern Berks/Southern Schuylkill Historical Society in Port Clinton.
"The historical society has lost a lot of funding, so I wanted to try and find ways I can help them," Frantz said.
"We are really appreciative," Luke McLaughlin, president of historical society, said.
The historical society has its own train display for the holidays and an open house.
"It's popular with kids of all ages." McLaughlin said. "People remember what their dad and grandad had and wanted the same thing when they had room."