Frank Cerauli built the magnificent 15 x 30-foot O gauge layout that fills part of his home on dreams. In that important respect, he hardly differs from so many of the creative and hard-working men and women who derive great satisfaction and pleasure from operating miniature trains, whether they be toys or scale replicas.
To put it another way, this thoughtful and kind gentleman spent many years as a youngster and then as an adult envisioning what his layout would look like. He let his imagination soar as he considered the trains he wanted to run and the scenes he intended to construct and decorate. The dreams were inspiring and yet a bit frustrating, only because Frank wasn’t sure he would ever make them come true.
That was because Frank had to nurture his passion for toy trains when he had very little. As a youngster, he wasn’t able to lay claim to the finest electric trains. Even inexpensive windup models seemed beyond what his family might provide. So the ever imaginative boy transformed the empty boxes of spaghetti and macaroni his mother was ready to discard into locomotives, passenger cars, and boxcars. Thus did Frank start dreaming, always believing he would one day have a true layout.
Collecting models
To Frank’s credit, he never forgot about his childhood dreams. To the contrary. They fed a love for model railroading and a promise to himself and his lovely wife, Elvira, that one day he would give life to his dreams and generously share what he wanted to accomplish with others. Frank would let his dreams serve as inspiration and guidance to the rest of his family and to friends and neighbors.
In the early 1960s, with his career taking off and his family growing, Frank began buying new O gauge trains. His roster of diesels and sets grew slowly, as he made his purchases with care and consideration. Now he could finally afford the best.
Mind you, his wife points out, Frank never wished for his trains to remain in their boxes or gather dust on shelves. He insisted on showing them to those he loved and respected and making certain the trains were put to excellent use on displays he assembled for Christmas and other times of the year. Frank always had a plan.
Something great
Frank eventually retired and faced the predicament of how he would spend his many leisure hours. A situation that might strike terror into the heart of some only gave him gratitude. The O gauge layout of his dreams was about to become true.
Elvira Cerauli remembers very well how her devoted husband set his sights on a long-anticipated project that he assured her would take a year to complete. “What began as a dream,” she explained, “quickly became a reality in our home. Frank transformed our finished basement into a bustling miniature world that now runs five trains simultaneously, with an impressive overhead trestle track to boot.”
Needless to say, Frank didn’t act hastily when completing the very comfortable basement or designing the intricate layout. He made sure the railroad had a sturdy foundation — precision and accessibility were paramount. There were large access doors on either side of the layout so he could easily get underneath it and move on a mechanic’s creeper to wire the buildings and keep everything running.
“It wasn’t just about the trains,” Elvira interjects. “Frank wanted to create a fully functioning, immersive scene. There were going to be meticulous details everywhere that, with complex wiring, would bring the entire setup to life.”
Quick tour
One end of the layout is a nostalgic homage to what Frank calls, “Small Town USA.” That entertaining area has a movie theater, a radio station, a roller-skating rink, a diner, a bank, and an auto repair shop. Visitors enjoy spending time there, vying with each other to discover more of the animated sights and great detail.
The other end of the railroad captures the charm of a bustling town square, with an ice-cream truck, a hotdog stand, and an amusement park. Sharp-eyed folks — or should we say “sharp-eared” — pick up the sounds of carolers serenading passersby as they hurry home with holiday shopping in tow. Every element was curated to evoke a sense of magic, particularly during the Christmas season.
Each year, Elvira reminds us, neighborhood kids gather around to watch the trains and interact with the layout. For many of them, the memory of these holiday moments is still fresh. “Now as young adults, they often reminisce about how they eagerly awaited the arrival of the trains each year, looking forward to the magic that Frank’s craftsmanship created. He introduced them to his hobby!”
Frank made sure the experience was truly interactive by installing lots of toggle switches along the sides of the table so children could activate various attractions: a Ferris wheel, a merry-go-round, a hot-air balloon ride, and even the carolers. Family members recall how “the sounds of joy and excitement filled the room as kids took control of the scene, bringing their own flair to the holiday tradition.”
Living dreams
Frank’s son and namesake astutely observes that for his wonderful father, “The joy of model railroading wasn’t in keeping the trains he acquired neatly tucked away in their boxes. It was about the pleasure of running the trains on the layout, sharing the magic with others, and watching the delighted faces of those who truly appreciated his hobby. The layout was a genuine testament to my dad’s dedication and love for a craft that continues to spark wonder — one toy train at a time.
The last sentence naturally sparks a question as to which train mattered most to Frank. Fair enough to ask, except that our elderly host is a bit offended. “This is like asking a proud dad to choose his favorite kid. It should never be done.”
All the same, when Frank was pressed a little harder, he would confess that he absolutely loved the Lionel New York Central 4-6-4 Hudson steam engine and tender he proudly showed off in its own identifiable glass covered display case.
Frank looks upon this lifelong love of trains as the realization of the American dream for him — the journey from macaroni boxes to the Hudson and beyond.
