VALDOSTA —
William Pignataro has been collecting model trains since he received his first American Flyer model train for Christmas at the age of 5. When he was diagnosed with full-blown melanoma, a type of skin cancer, on the dome of his head in 2002, he decided to take his hobby seriously and build a re-creation of the New England coast he calls “Valley Stream Railroad.”
Pignataro describes the railroad as “eastern coast between 1890 and 1910. The season is early fall with the first snow; some snow in the mountains and sporadic snow littered upon the town area.”
Each building is meticulously crafted to match the early 20th century aesthetic.
“I take a box from the train kits and see if a building can be made out of it,” Pignataro said. Each building is hand-painted and requires Pignataro to use a magnifying glass and tweezers to apply decals to signs and windows. Buildings are named after a friend or a relative of Pignataro’s, with names like St. Joe Cotton, CG’s Seafood, Dollie’s Bakery and Larry Mansell Bookstore.
“The seafood shop was named after me, mainly because of how much I enjoy seafood,” said Camille Green, his girlfriend.
“I have so much respect for him; when he was diagnosed with cancer he would drive himself down to Shands Hospital. He’s got so much creativity because he creates all of the railroad model by hand,” Green said.
“She loves it. She’s done quite a few things such as make a plaque and T-shirts; she’s a big supporter,” said Pignataro.
To make snow, he uses pieces of Styrofoam and dirty smudges to create the look of muddy snow. Trees are made out of real twigs and sticks he has gathered outside. For the cliff running along the river water area, pebbles are glued together and placed with precise detail. Even though he does all of the design and construction of his railroad set, a friend came to help him with the wiring.
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