PHILLIPS — The Town of Phillips will host its first ever Narrow Gauge Rail Fair on Saturday, Oct. 16. Phillips is home to the Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad, known as the SR&RLRR among railroad buffs, but the fair will emphasize the miniature.

Train modelers and model train dealers from all over New England will display narrow gauge train set-ups, model rolling stock, engines, track and other small-scale train artifacts and wares.

The fair will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Depot Street in the building once used as the SR&RLRR’s machine shop, now the town’s Community Center. Admission is free and food will be available for sale in the town’s old train depot.

In conjunction with the fair, the Phillips Historical Society, which has hundreds of old railroad photos and memorabilia, will be open all day. The SR&RLRR will offer train rides on one of Maine’s few remaining narrow gauge tracks. Ticketed passengers should be forewarned, however, that train robbers are rumored to be in the area and a train holdup could occur.

The annual Scarecrow Reunion will also be running that weekend. The rail fair’s sponsor, the Downtown Phillips Revitalization Project hopes the fair will become an annual event.