Nancy and Rene Harms are framed by a miniature industrial yard and steel mill in their model 1950s-era train layout in Cranberry Township on Jan. 16. The mid-century-styled layout features cutting-edge technology and is automated with a computer. Cary Shaffer/Butler Eagle

Nestled in a basement of a home in Cranberry Township is a miniature world — one where people can time travel back to the 1950s and see a vintage version of Pittsburgh.

This world is an elaborate HO-scale model train display with more than 100 feet of track built by Rene Harms and his wife, Nancy.

The world was a long time coming. Rene picked up the model train bug decades ago when he wanted something to do with his sons. His sons, though, weren’t really enthusiastic about the hobby.

“They weren’t interested in model trains or modeling,” Rene said. “They were more interested in video games.”

It led Rene to put the trains away for about a decade. He eventually pulled them out of storage and created his own little world.