SAMRA Celebrates 50th Jamboree with Multi-Layout Exhibits and Al Boos

The San Antonio Model Railroad Association staged its 50th Annual Model Railroad Jamboree Feb. 21–22 at Garden Ridge Community Center, 9500, filling the hall with multi-layout club exhibits, vendor tables and museum displays meant to trace decades of local model railroad history. Center stage in the human-interest coverage was longtime member and former president Al Boos; organizers described him in profile as “At 91 years young, Al Boos may be the oldest kid in the San Antonio area who still plays with model trains. Not toy trains, mind you. These are exacting replicas of the real thing.”

Exhibitors leaned heavily on HO work: the jamboree featured impressive HO scale displays alongside a variety of other gauge trains, with sprawling scenery and operational signaling intended to evoke Texas rail history. The show floor combined permanent and temporary club layouts, and vendor tables offered parts and models for restorations and new builds; admission to the weekend event was listed as free, with “a small donation appreciated,” allowing families and hobbyists to move between exhibits without an entry fee.

SAMRA framed the weekend as both a milestone and a continuation of a longer story: the association was described as having championed “this kind of large-scale passion for small-scale trains since 1946,” and the jamboree itself marked the organization’s 50th iteration of the annual event. Volunteers from the association staffed operating layouts, provided guided tours for newcomers and explained layout wiring and dispatcher work, keeping the jamboree educational for young visitors and technically interesting for experienced modelers.

Multimedia profiles accompanied the jamboree coverage: a short video excerpt and social posts repeated the portrait of Al Boos as a bright-eyed, buzz-cut Air Force veteran who has dedicated decades to the hobby. Public reaction in social comments ranged from admiration to identity confusion; one commenter, celestial_kitchen, wrote “91! He looks like he is in late 60's! All the fun must be keeping him young,” while clarissamarieprz added “He does NOT look 91!!! He looks more like 71!!! Wow good for him!!!👏👏👏💖💖💖,” and a user named texas_connection posted “That’s John Lawrence not Al Booz,” reflecting a dispute over the person pictured.

Facility and visitor notes emphasized continuity: the association’s displays operate with open running days and ongoing expansions that attract repeat visits, and staffers were described as friendly and knowledgeable, eager to answer questions about operations and historical modeling techniques. The 50th jamboree folded those operational traditions into a single weekend of layouts, vendors and museum partners, underlining SAMRA’s role as a local community where passion and craftsmanship converge around small-scale trains.