Model Railroad Clubs | Model Railroad Trains

Train Sets – Tennessee, Texas and Utah Model Railroad Clubs

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:30:00 +0000

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Thanks for continuing to follow us as we list clubs in all of the states for model railroad enthusiasts; today's states are Tennessee, Texas and Utah. The goal of this and all of the previous posts on clubs for those who love to collect Lionel trains as well as all of the numerous other types of train sets that can be found in the market. Here is the latest list of clubs:

Tennessee

Chattanooga Area Model Railroad Club - CAMRC, the Chattanooga Area Model Railroad Club, was formed on March 30, 1969 by a group interested in model railroading, promoting the hobby and educating those interested in the ways of model building and about real railroads. They maintain an HO scale module in their collection.

Redstone Model Railroad Club - The club's new HO scale Alabama Tennessee & Northern Railroad will cover an area 48' by 20'. Through the years the club has enjoyed accomplishment and dealt with devastation. It has hosted four Southeastern Region (NMRA) conventions and was instrumental in starting Division activity within that region.

Crossville Model Railroad Club - Have many various model railroad scales on display; including the Z scale, N scale, HO scale and more.

Nashville Ntrak - The Nashville Ntrak members come from a variety of backgrounds, interests, careers and places. But one common interest to all of them is N Scale trains.

Texas

Houston Area "G" Gaugers Model Railroad Club - The local club for large scale model railroaders in the Houston area is the Houston Area "G" Gaugers Model Railroad Club. The Club has been in existence for several years. Members include those running LGB, Aristocraft, and live steam. Common to all members is the use of "G" gauge track.

Houston N'Crowd - The Houston N'Crowd, formed in 1978 to promote a then-new modular model railroading concept, was the first NTrak group to organize in southeast Texas.

North Texas Garden Railroad Club - The North Texas Garden Railroad Club is a collection of enthusiastic individuals and their families who meet monthly for fellowship, garden railroad talk and a chance to play with (operate) their trains.

South Side Railroad Modelers Club - The South Side and Rio Mesa is a freelance HO scale model railroad with a Texas look and feel that captures a time when steam was king and the nation moved by rail.

East Texas Model Railroad Club - ETMRC has an HO layout permanent construction at 1512 Pecan Street, Commerce, Texas at the "Junction". The HO layout is in rooms at the back of former Middle School Gym and includes a full class I main railroad. Operations are conducted using DCC with CVP Products EasyDCC system.

Texas Western Model Railroad Club - They are an HO scale model railroad using the Digitrax DCC (Digital Command Control) electronics for locomotive control. They use "ProTrak" as the railroad operations program for train and car movements.

Utah

Hostlers Model Railroad Club - A club for anyone interested in the wonderful world of model trains. The Hostler Model Railroad Club was founded in February 1988 in Ogden as an all scale group. While all scales are represented, HO is the primary scale of most members.

The O Scale Guys - Group that has a large collection of beautiful layouts and designs. The website provides some fantastic pictures of the work.

Utah Free-Mo - Utah Free-Mo is a group of friends striving to increase our modeling skills, and promote the hobby of prototypical model railroading in a modular format using the HO Free-mo standards. Free-mo was developed to take the boredom out of the monotony of running trains around in circles on a modular layout with a double or even a triple track mainline.

The next post will cover the model railroad clubs in Vermont, Virginia and Washington.

Model Train Sets Clubs - Alabama to Arkansas

Model Train Sets Clubs - The California List

Model Train Sets Clubs - Colorado to D.C.

Model Train Sets Clubs – Florida to Hawaii

Model Train Sets – Clubs in Idaho, Illinois & Indiana

Model Train Sets – Iowa, Kansas & Kentucky

Model Train Sets – Clubs in Louisiana, Maine & Maryland

Train Sets – Clubs in Massachusetts, Michigan & Minnesota

Train Sets - Clubs in Nebraska, Nevada & New Hampshire

Model Train Sets Clubs – New Jersey, New Mexico & New York

Model Train Sets Clubs – North Carolina, North Dakota & Ohio

Model Train Sets Clubs – Oklahoma, Oregon & Pennsylvania

Lionel Trains & More – Clubs in Rhode Island, South Carolina & South Dakota Model Railroad Clubs

Lionel Trains & More – Clubs in Rhode Island, South Carolina & South Dakota Model Railroad Clubs

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:58:00 +0000

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Thanks for continuing to follow us as we list clubs in all of the states for model railroad enthusiasts. The goal of this and all of the previous posts on clubs for those who love to collect lionel trains as well as all of the numerous other types of train sets that can be found in the market. Here is the latest list of clubs:

Rhode Island

Providence Northern Model Railroad Club - The Providence Northern Model Railroad Club was formed in February of 1994 by a group of hobbyists. The Providence Northern's mission is to promote, establish, operate and maintain a world-class quality operational layout in HO (1:87) scale. The layout is the cornerstone of the organization's educational outreach.

South Carolina

Iron Horse Modelers - The Iron Horse Modelers Club was founded in February 1993. The club's purpose is to promote the hobby of model railroading, to provide a forum for exchange of ideas and to build and operate larger club owned layouts.

South Dakota

James Valley Model Rail Road Association - The James Valley Model Railroad Association models in Lionel, HO. Four working layouts are available for viewing (HO, N & O gauges, with G coming soon). The James Valley Model RR Assn. has existed since 1988.

Sioux Valley Engineers Society - The Sioux Valley Engineer's Society was originally formed in 1948. The first layout was constructed in the basement of the old Hobby Shoppe on 10th Street.

That is it for today's post. Yes it was a little short in terms of the number of clubs. If you have any you think should be added just leave a comment.

The next post will cover the model railroad clubs in Tennessee, Texas and Utah.

Model Train Sets Clubs - Alabama to Arkansas

Model Train Sets Clubs - The California List

Model Train Sets Clubs - Colorado to D.C.

Model Train Sets Clubs – Florida to Hawaii

Model Train Sets – Clubs in Idaho, Illinois & Indiana

Model Train Sets – Iowa, Kansas & Kentucky

Model Train Sets – Clubs in Louisiana, Maine & Maryland

Train Sets – Clubs in Massachusetts, Michigan & Minnesota

Train Sets - Clubs in Nebraska, Nevada & New Hampshire

Model Train Sets Clubs – New Jersey, New Mexico & New York

Model Train Sets Clubs – North Carolina, North Dakota & Ohio

Model Train Sets Clubs – Oklahoma, Oregon & Pennsylvania

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:00:00 +0000

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Today's post will be about the model railroad clubs that operate in the states of Oklahoma, Oregon and Pennsylvania. The goal of this and all of the previous posts on clubs for those who love to collect Lionel trains as well as all of the numerous other types of train sets that can be found in the market. Here is the latest list of clubs:

Oklahoma

Central Oklahoma Model Railroad - COMRail has one of Oklahoma's largest permanent HO layouts. The club is located near downtown Oklahoma City just off I-235. A continuous run of approximately 13 scale miles is possible on the 4000 square foot layout.

Claremore & Southern Model Railroad - Today, the C&S is maturing into a club with a well-developed layout and seasoned operating crew. Operating sessions are held monthly. Members of the club regularly participate in regional and national operating events such as Prairie Rail (Kansas City), TOOTERS (Houston/Dallas/Tulsa round robin), Rust Belt (Chicago) and Pro Rail (various cities).

Southwest Oklahoma Railroad Association - The Southwest Oklahoma Railroad Association allows visitors and members from anywhere in the southwest region of Oklahoma and from across the Red River. The members model everything from Z to G scales.

Oregon

Columbia Gorge Model Railroad Club - Organized in October 1947, the club's first layout was located in the basement of a store building (now the site of an assisted care facility) within sight of our present location. That layout was short-lived, as the club lost its lease and was forced to find new quarters. A vacant lot on North Montana Avenue was purchased and the members constructed a 30 foot by 80 foot building with their own sweat and skill.

Corvallis Society of Model Engineers - The Corvallis Society of Model Engineers is a model railroad club located in Adair Village, Oregon about five miles north of Corvallis. CSME was founded in 1959. They have the second largest HO scale layout in Oregon.

Aloha Western Oregon Lines HO Model Railroad Club - AWOL was founded by members of another Beaverton area model railroad club who were dissatisfied and felt they could do better elsewhere. Within three months of formation, the AWOL club had built a new layout, and was showing it publicly. At GATS 2000 the layout (although not all that pretty) was fully operational.

Rose City Garden Railway Society - The Rose City Garden Railway Society of Portland, Oregon promotes and practices the hobby of garden railroading. Whether you are a long-time hobbyist or a recent enthusiast, they welcome you to join them in planning gardens, building stock and scenery, running trains, and sharing lore and expertise.

Pacific Northwest Division of the Toy Train Operating Society - The club is a diverse organization of toy train collectors and operators in Oregon and Washington who meet regularly to share our knowledge, foster friendships, and-of course-run our trains. Though most members concentrate on "O" gauge trains, many members collect several different gauges.

Pennsylvania

Lehigh & Keystone Valley Model Railroad Club - The layout takes in the Lehigh Valley, Reading, and the CNJ Railroads. We are located 705 Linden St, Bethlehem, Pa. The Lehigh & Keystone Valley Model Railroad Club started construction in their new building in 1996.

Laurel Highlands Model Railroad Club - LHMRC is a non-profit organization created for the purpose of raising money for charities and providing individual members recreation and pleasure through activities associated with model railroading.

Beaver County Model Railroad Club - The primary focus of the Society is two fold. First, it is their mission to gather and preserve railroad memorabilia. In addition the collecting of such memorabilia, they are also in the process of building the Union Atlantic HO scale model railroad that will highlight much of Pennsylvania's and Beaver County's rich railroading history.

HObo Model Railroad Club - The club was established in 1953 and is currently located in the Connellsville Community Center in Connellsville, Pennsylvania. The club's HO Scale layout depicts the West Virginia Northern Railroad, a freelance coal hauling line running from Connellsville to Clarksburg, West Virginia.

Royersford Modular Model Railroaders - RMMR was formed early in 2002, and presented it first show in August 2002 in Norristown. Most of the founding members were members of the Oaks Model Railroad Club.

Strasburg Model Railroad Club - The Strasburg Model Railroad Club builds many different layouts and styles.

Western Pennsylvania Model Railroad Museum - The WPMRM is a nonprofit organization located in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, at the intersection of Rt. 910 and Hardt Rd. Our purpose is to promote and preserve the history of railroads in western Pennsylvania through the hobby of model railroading.

Up next will be the clubs in Rhode Island, South Carolina and South Dakota.

Model Train Sets Clubs - Alabama to Arkansas

Model Train Sets Clubs - The California List

Model Train Sets Clubs - Colorado to D.C.

Model Train Sets Clubs – Florida to Hawaii

Model Train Sets – Clubs in Idaho, Illinois & Indiana

Model Train Sets – Iowa, Kansas & Kentucky

Model Train Sets – Clubs in Louisiana, Maine & Maryland

Train Sets – Clubs in Massachusetts, Michigan & Minnesota

Train Sets - Clubs in Nebraska, Nevada & New Hampshire

Model Train Sets Clubs – New Jersey, New Mexico & New York

Model Train Sets Clubs – North Carolina, North Dakota & Ohio

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:37:00 +0000

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Thanks for continuing to follow us as we list clubs in all of the states for model railroad train enthusiasts. The goal of this and all of the previous posts on clubs for those who love to collect lionel trains as well as all of the numerous other types of train sets that can be found in the market. Here is the latest list of clubs:

North Carolina

North Raleigh Model Railroad Club - The North Raleigh Model Railroad Club (NRMRC) is the N Scale NTRAK model railroad club in North Carolina's Research Triangle Park area, one of the best areas in the USA to live and work.

Neuse River Model Railroad Club - The Neuse River Model Railroad Club focuses on several different train scales, N scale, HO scale, O scale and G scale. The club has an extensive research and lending library for members' use, including a large magazine collection including Model Railroader, Railroad Model Craftsman,Trains and many more.

Carolina Coastal Railroaders - Carolina Coastal Railroaders (CCR) was founded in early 1992 when a group of men came together at the Country Kitchen Restaurant in New Bern to discuss the future of model railroading in the New Bern area. This group of people decided that it would be a great idea to form a railroad club for anybody interested in model railroading and railfanning. CCR welcomes all those interested in HO scale railroading.

Piedmont & Western Model Railroad Club - The Piedmont and Western Railroad is a fictitious line serving Western North Carolina whose mainline extends from Marion, NC to Leadvale, TN. The HO Scale Club was formed in July 1988 in the city of Valdese, North Carolina. The layout is almost 1400 square feet (130 sq. meters) in area, with workshop, storage and railroad museum in adjacent rooms.

North Dakota

Try as I might, I was unable to find any active model railroad clubs in the state of North Dakota. If you happen to know of any, by all means please leave a comment with the name of the club and/or a website.

Ohio

Greater Cincinnati Garden Railway Society - Established to provide a means for its members to exchange ideas, learn and enjoy the hobby of large scale indoor/outdoor model railroading.

Greater Cincinnati Modular Railroad Association - GCMRA is a non-profit group of HO Scale Model Train Enthusiasts who gather several times per year to assemble their individual modules into one large layout at train shows and other public events. This is done not only for the fun of model railroading for its members, but also for the benefit and enjoyment of all its viewers.

Lake Erie N Scale Society - "L.E.N.S." is a group of people with a common interest in modeling N scale railroads following the "Ntrak" modular standard. The group attempts to promote the hobby by setting up public displays whenever they have an opportunity.

Central Ohio S Gaugers - The Central Ohio S Gaugers Promote the hobby of "S" Gauge model trains.

Up next will be the clubs in Oklahoma, Oregon and Pennsylvania.

Model Train Sets Clubs - Alabama to Arkansas

Model Train Sets Clubs - The California List

Model Train Sets Clubs - Colorado to D.C.

Model Train Sets Clubs – Florida to Hawaii

Model Train Sets – Clubs in Idaho, Illinois & Indiana

Model Train Sets – Iowa, Kansas & Kentucky

Model Train Sets – Clubs in Louisiana, Maine & Maryland

Train Sets – Clubs in Massachusetts, Michigan & Minnesota

Train Sets - Clubs in Nebraska, Nevada & New Hampshire

Model Train Sets Clubs – New Jersey, New Mexico & New York

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:30:00 +0000

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This post is going to focus on the model railroad clubs in the states of New Jersey, New Mexico and New York. The goal of this and all of the previous posts on clubs for those who love to collect lionel trains as well as all of the numerous other types of train sets that can be found in the market. Here is the latest list of clubs:

New Jersey

Garden State Model Railway Club - The Garden State Model Railway Club is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, expansion, and education of both model railroading and railroading. Their membership is given the opportunity to pursue, advance, and enjoy these hobbies

Independent Hi-Railers Eastern Division - The Independent Hi-Railers Eastern Division is an O-gauge railroad club that travels to different rail events in New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania to display their modular layout.

The Model Railroad Club - The Model Railroad Club is a not-for-profit organization devoted to building and maintaining a model railroad center for the benefit of its members and the general public. Through a unique arrangement with the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation, the Club designed, financed and built a large building on a piece of land in Lenape Park, located in Union Township, NJ.

Model Engineers Railroad Club of North Jersey - The Model Engineers Railroad Club of North Jersey was founded in 1934 in Paterson, NJ. In 1954 we moved to our current location in North Haledon, NJ. The layout is permanent, and approximately 50 by 42 feet. The layout is three levels point to point, with approximately 3000 feet of hand laid track. It loosely represents the area around northern New Jersey.

Garden State Central Model Railroad Club - The Garden State Central Model Railroad was formed in 1963 by a group of men who were deeply interested in railroading. The first layout the club built was located in Long Branch, New Jersey. The club has been located here at its present location, Asbury Park, New Jersey, since 1973.

Patcong Valley Society of Model Railroaders - The Patcong Valley Society of Model Railroaders boast that they have the "Atlantic county's largest H.O. Scale Model Railroad. The name of our R.R. came from our original location in the 1950's that was located inside a chicken coup on Patcong Ave. in Linwood.

New Mexico

New Mexico Rail RunNers - They are a non-profit model railroad club incorporated in New Mexico. The New Mexico Rail RunNers started in February of 1990 with a group of ten Albuquerque modelers working in N scale. Membership now numbers close to 30, several of whom live outside the Albuquerque Metro area.

New York

Long Island Model Railroad Engineers - The Long Island Model Railroad Engineers scale train club was established in 1976 to promote the hobby of Model Railroading on Long Island. The Club is currently constructing 2 New prototype Model Railroad layouts in Suffolk County, New York. The club's HO and N scale layouts occupy space of over 2000 square feet.

Hopewell Junction Model Railroad Club - The Hopewell Junction Model Railroad Club was founded in 1993 by a group of modelers who wanted to reconstruct in HO scale the busy rail junction at Hopewell NY as it was in the 1920s. Originally a three way junction of the Newburgh, Dutchess, and Connecticut Railroad (ND&C), the New York and New England Railroad (NY&NE), and the Dutchess County Railroad, Hopewell Junction soon became consolidated as part of the Central New England Railroad.

Model Railroad Club of Buffalo - The club has an extensive HO Layout that is single track with passing sidings and is equipped with DCC. The railroad is designed for realistic operation with dispatcher issued block occupancy permission via two way radios.

Niagara Orleans Model Railroad Engineers - When NOMRE (also known as NOME) was founded over 30 years ago by a small group of model railroad fans, the founding members wanted to promote all aspects of the hobby of model railroading. In order to allow members to participate, it was decided that modular layouts were most appropriate, as it would allow configuration changes for different show locations. To accomplish this goal, N-Scale members generally adopted NTRAK standards, while HO-Scale members, having no "recognized national standard" in their own scale, developed their own standards.

Upcoming posts will be the clubs in North Carolina, North Dakota and Ohio.

Model Train Sets Clubs - Alabama to Arkansas

Model Train Sets Clubs - The California List

Model Train Sets Clubs - Colorado to D.C.

Model Train Sets Clubs – Florida to Hawaii

Model Train Sets – Clubs in Idaho, Illinois & Indiana

Model Train Sets – Iowa, Kansas & Kentucky

Model Train Sets – Clubs in Louisiana, Maine & Maryland

Train Sets – Clubs in Massachusetts, Michigan & Minnesota

Train Sets - Clubs in Nebraska, Nevada & New Hampshire

Train Sets – Clubs in Nebraska, Nevada & New Hampshire

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 20:41:00 +0000

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Today's post is going to be listing the model railroad clubs that are in Nebraska, Nevada and New Hampshire. The goal of this and all of the previous posts on clubs for those who love to collect lionel trains as well as all of the numerous other types of train sets that can be found in the market. Here is the latest list of clubs:

Nebraska

Beatrice Area Railroad Enthusiasts - The name Beatrice Area Railroad Enthusiasts became a reality in August Of 2001. Jim Nutsch came up with the idea and it was approved by the members at that time. Jim thought that this name was appropriate because not all the members had model trains. The club consists of collectors, photographers, artists and people who just loved trains.

Omaha Model Railroad - News about and information for model railroaders in the Omaha / Lincoln NE - Council Bluffs IA metro area. You will find out about a lot of operating sessions, work times and special events. Many of the members of the group are either active or retired railroaders.

Nebraska-Iowa Railroaders - The Nebraska-Iowa Railroaders group was founded in April 1971 and is a not-for-profit corporation to further model railroading. It's an independent and diverse group, not associated with any national organizations. Many of our individual members do belong to various other train clubs and/or national groups.

Nevada

San Leandro Historical Railway Society - The San Leandro Historical Railway Society (SLHRS) is housed in the San Leandro depot which was built in 1898 by the Southern Pacific Railroad to replace the original depot built by the Central Pacific Railroad in 1865. The depot was officially opened in June of 1898. Construction of the HO scale model railroad display began in 1991.

New Hampshire

Connecticut Valley Model Railroad Club - The Connecticut Valley Model Railroad Club is a non-profit organization established in 1986 with the purpose of promoting the hobby of model railroading and to perform and encourage educational, social, civic, and charitable activities as they may relate to model railroading.

Bedford Boomers - The Bedford Boomers are an informal modular railroad group with roots in southern New Hampshire. They actually have members in all six New England states as well as New York, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Their modular layout consists of individually constructed and owned modules that range from scale reproductions of prototype areas to dragons and Viking long boats.

Concord Model Railroad Club - As a club, they have been working to build an operational, sectional HO scale layout depicting the B&M's "Northern" main line from Concord, NH to White River Junction VT.

Up next will be the clubs in New Jersey, New Mexico and New York.

Model Train Sets Clubs - Alabama to Arkansas

Model Train Sets Clubs - The California List

Model Train Sets Clubs - Colorado to D.C.

Model Train Sets Clubs – Florida to Hawaii

Model Train Sets – Clubs in Idaho, Illinois & Indiana

Model Train Sets – Iowa, Kansas & Kentucky

Model Train Sets – Clubs in Louisiana, Maine & Maryland

Train Sets – Clubs in Massachusetts, Michigan & Minnesota

Train Sets – Mississippi, Missouri & Montana Model Railroad Clubs

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:22:00 +0000

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For this post on the model railroad clubs, we will venture to the deep south, up to the middle of the US and end with a stop in the northwest. You will be able to find clubs for those who love to collect lionel trains as well as all of the numerous other types of train sets that can be found in the market. Here is the latest list of clubs:

Mississippi

Mississippi Valley N Scalers - The Mississippi Valley N Scalers model railroad club was founded in 1990. It is the oldest exclusive N scale club in the St. Louis Metro area. The club owns both fixed and modular (NTRAK) layouts. They share a common love of model railroading and a sincere interest in sharing their knowledge and expertise with fellow members.

Red Caboose Crew - The Red Caboose Crew, formerly part of the Jackson Society of Model Engineers, is a volunteer group responsible for Jackson Station, the O gauge layout at the Ag Museum. For years, the goal of the group has been to educate and entertain through the construction of model railroad displays that are enjoyed by kids of all ages.

Missouri

Kearney-Holt Model Railroaders Club - The Kearney-Holt Model Railroaders Club is a non-profit organization that runs HO Scale and N Scale trains.

Gateway NMRA - The Gateway Division is the greater Saint Louis area chapter of the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA), the world's largest organization devoted to the development, promotion, and enjoyment of the hobby of model railroading.

Big Bend Railroad Club - The Springfield and Ozark Railroad was a short line in the southwest part of Missouri. It's name tells it all. Sometime late in the 19th century the railroad became part of the SLSF (Frisco) Railroad which is now part of the BNSF Railroad. It is this little railroad in the hills of the Ozarks that their "O" scale layout is modeled after. There are two large yards connected with lots of track. They have a number of long grades winding in and out of tunnels and over long, high trestles.

Ozarks Model Railroad Association - OMRA is a Not-For Profit Corporation dedicated to the development, promotion, and enjoyment of the art and craft of model railroading.

Montana

Great Falls Model Railroad Club - The club has a long storied history of model railroad building. Since the early sixties the focus has been on the HO scale.

Headwaters HOtrak Module Group - A group of model railroaders from southwestern Montana started this group with an interest in starting up a club in their area. The member's interest is in predominantly two main areas, Lionel O gauge and HO gauge. The group's current focus is on developing an HO gauge National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) compatible modular layout in the south baggage room of the Dillon Depot.

Up next will be the clubs in Nebraska, Nevada and New Hampshire.

Model Train Sets Clubs - Alabama to Arkansas

Model Train Sets Clubs - The California List

Model Train Sets Clubs - Colorado to D.C.

Model Train Sets Clubs – Florida to Hawaii

Model Train Sets – Clubs in Idaho, Illinois & Indiana

Model Train Sets – Iowa, Kansas & Kentucky

Model Train Sets – Clubs in Louisiana, Maine & Maryland

Train Sets – Clubs in Massachusetts, Michigan & Minnesota

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:05:00 +0000

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Massachusetts

Deerfield River Valley Railroad - This HO layout started in 1958 on a sheet of 4x8 plywood and has grown a lot over the last 50 years. Although it's now being downsized a great deal do to space restraints it still captures the former Boston & Maine Railroad In many ways in my home state of Massachusetts in the Western Mass Berkshire hills and valleys mainly in the 1970's time period dealing with the areas of East Deerfield Yard up to the famous Hoosac Tunnel.

Tech Model Railroad Club of MIT - The Tech Model Railroad club is an MIT student activity founded during the 1946-1947 school year, making this our 60th year, and making TMRC one of the oldest clubs at MIT. The Tech Model Railroad Club (TMRC) caters to model railroaders, rail fans, and hackers alike. Our activities involve all aspects of model railroading, including the application of computer technology and timetable passenger and card-order freight operation.

North Shore Model Railroad Club - The NSMRC is an HO and HOn3 model RR club located in Wakefield, Massachusetts, USA. They have been together since about 1977, and at their current location since 1979, after over 25 ears, the layout has grown to fill almost all of our 95 X 40 space. They have committed a lot of time and effort to the layout, and enjoy sharing the layout as much as they do building it.

Pepperell Siding Model Railroad Club - The Pepperell Siding Model Railroad Club, Inc., is an HO scale model railroad club located in Pepperell, Massachusetts. The clubhouse in the Lomar Industrial Park features a 1000-square-foot permanent layout upstairs and a meeting and work room on the first floor.

Bay State Model Railroad Museum - The Bay State Model Railroad Museum was originally established in 1968 in Roslindale, MA as an O and HO Scale oriented model railroad club including both trolley and narrow gauge on the HO, and railroad and trolley on the O scale.

Michigan

Riverbend Model Railroad Club - Founded in 1992, the Riverbend Model Railroad Club is the proud builder of two HO scale model railroads. The first layout is the 32' x 22' double level HO scale Superior Northern Railroad.

Ann Arbor Model Railroad Club - The Ann Arbor Model Railroad Club (AAMRC) is located in the former Michigan Central depot in the Village of Dexter, Michigan. The depot is owned by the Huron Valley Railroad Historical Society (HVRRHS), a non-profit organization established in 1980 to purchase, restore and maintain the building. The AAMRC and the HVRRHS share the building and use it to preserve railroad history and promote the hobby of model railroading.

West Michigan Chapter of the Train Collectors Association - The Train Collectors Association is one of the largest and most prestigious collecting societies in the world. The TCA was founded in Yardley, Pennsylvania in 1954. The first meeting was held in the barn of noted rail historian Ed Alexander. In the same year, collectors on the West Coast met and organized the Western Division. The result of these two meetings was the formation of the Train Collectors Association with Burton Logan being the first President.

Northern Michigan Railroad Club - The Northern Michigan Railroad Club is dedicated to the enjoyment of collecting, modeling and operating model trains. The club operates out of the Traverse City, MI area with members from many of the surrounding communities. The Club welcomes members with interests in all gauges of model trains as well those simply interested in trains.

Lansing Model Railroad Club - It is an established HO scale model railroad club and a non-profit educational organization. The club is located in the former Grand Trunk Western Millett depot, with a long history in Lansing, Michigan.

Minnesota

Twin City Model Railroad Museum - They have model of the former Great Northern Railway Minneapolis Depot; which was hand crafted by one of the many talented members.

Northern Lights Railroad Museum - The museum as it is known today was conceived in 1977 by Mr. John Cummings. John started out by collecting Lionel and HO scale model trains and he looked to meet with others to trade, swap and run trains. The original location was on the second level of the Grand Forks City Center Mall. After the flood of 1997 the club was forced to find a new home. Over time and after much discussion by members it was decided that the museum pursue its' own facilities.

St. James Model Railroad Club - Here you will find model railroads in HO, O (Lionel) and G Scale. The Roundhouse has been in existence since 1989 and was formed by a group of train enthusiasts in the St. James area to promote their hobby and their enthusiasm for the railroads of America.

Crow River Junction Model Railroad Club - As one of the oldest model railroad clubs in the Midwest established in 1962, the Crow River Junction is registered with the IRS as a non-profit, teaching club. The Crow River Junction Model Railroad Club is building and modeling a multilevel HO layout and will be building a smaller Lionel Toy Train Exhibit layout.

Railroad Club at the University - The only group in Minnesota for college student rail fans! The club welcomes all current and former students, U staff/faculty, as well as community members to join this exciting club.

Up next will be the clubs in Mississippi, Missouri and Montana.

Model Train Sets Clubs - Alabama to Arkansas

Model Train Sets Clubs - The California List

Model Train Sets Clubs - Colorado to D.C.

Model Train Sets Clubs – Florida to Hawaii

Model Train Sets – Clubs in Idaho, Illinois & Indiana

Model Train Sets – Iowa, Kansas & Kentucky

Model Train Sets – Clubs in Louisiana, Maine & Maryland

Train Sets – Clubs in Louisiana, Maine & Maryland

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:04:00 +0000

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Louisiana

Midsouth Railroad Club - They are an HO scale club with approximately 8 members. They meet every Tuesday and operate at least once a quarter. They are 98% complete on their existing 1000 sq ft layout and have completed our expansion of 850 sq ft.

Crescent City Model Railroad Club - The Crescent City Model Railroad Club, (C.C.M.R.C.) dates back to the mid 1950s when a small group of teenagers began meeting in each other's homes to operate model trains in a realistic manner. The group expanded over the years and built several layouts based on prototypical operations.

Cresent City S-Gaugers - They are New Orleans, Louisiana based club focused on all aspects of S-Gauge modeling including S-Scale, Hi-Rail and American Flyer.

Greater Baton Rouge Model Railroaders - The world of model railroading is a fascinating and fun place. Millions of people of all ages, races and economic backgrounds feel camaraderie in watching and running these remembrances of earlier times. The non-profit greater Baton Rouge Model Railroaders have been in existence for over two decades. Their mission is sharing the joy of trains with the community.

Maine

Great Falls Model Railroad Club - Their purpose is to help promote both the club's efforts and model railroading in general. The club's main focus is to help educate, not only from the members' knowledge of model railroading but also for the public's safety at railroad crossings and on railroad right-of-way areas through their involvement in Operation Lifesaver.

Eastern Maine Model Railroad Club - The EMMRC is a Non-Profit organization with 30+ members. Located in East Orland Maine in a building which they own. Visitors and new members are always welcome. Their layout is in the early scenery stage, and has elected to use DCC as our operating system. For further information about the club, and their unique collection of custom decorated freight cars, check out their website.

Maryland

Four County Society of Model Engineers - The Four County Society of Model Engineers is a not-for-profit HO scale modular railroad club dedicated to advancing our skills and enjoyment of the hobby.

Mason Dixon Large Scale Railroad Society - They are a group of G Scale model railroaders located in and around Harford County, Maryland. They usually meet every month at a library or a member's home.

Sykesville and Patapsco Railway - The Sykesville and Patapsco Railway, inc. is a non-profit organization made up of members who operate in various scales. The organization maintains models in G, O, HO and N-Scales.

Baltimore Society of Model Engineers - The Baltimore Society of Model Engineers is a model railroad club, that was formed by a group of local modelers in March 1932. The BSME is the oldest exclusively model railroad club in the United States, it is the second oldest modeling club after the New York Society of Model Engineers.

Rockville Model Railroad Society - The Rockville Model Railroad Society (RMRS) was founded in 2004 in Rockville, MD by the merging of the Gaithersburg Model Railroad Society and the Maryland Central Model Railroad club. They are currently occupying space in the King Farm area of Rockville, in the old King Farm Homestead.

Up next will be the clubs in Massachusetts, Michigan and Minnesota.

Model Train Sets Clubs - Alabama to Arkansas

Model Train Sets Clubs - The California List

Model Train Sets Clubs - Colorado to D.C.

Model Train Sets Clubs – Florida to Hawaii

Model Train Sets – Clubs in Idaho, Illinois & Indiana

Model Train Sets – Iowa, Kansas & Kentucky

Clubs for Train Sets Enthusiasts – Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:02:00 +0000

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Iowa, Kansas and Kentucky are the next states this series of posts will cover. The goal of this and all of the previous posts on clubs for those who love to collect lionel trains as well as all of the numerous other types of train sets that can be found in the market. Here is the latest list of clubs:

Iowa

Hawkeye Model Railroad Club - Club membership is open to persons interested in model railroading. Some current members are just getting started in the hobby and some have been modeling for over 50 years.

Iowa State Railroad Club - The Iowa State Railroad Club allows students, faculty, alumni, and Iowa State University community members to meet and share their love for trains and at the same time promotes the hobby of railroading and the railroad industry.

Central Iowa Railroad Club - The Central Iowa Railway is a model railroad built and maintained by the Central Iowa Railway club of Des Moines, Iowa. They maintain a layout on the State Fair grounds on Des Moines.

Kansas

Northwest Arkansas Garden Railway Society - Garden railroading is one of the fastest growing hobbies in the U.S. One of the main reasons is that it is a hobby that can be enjoyed by the whole family, providing the family with the satisfaction of working outdoors in their garden and participating in the building, operation and maintenance of a model railroad.

Topeka Model Railroaders - They are a non-profit club that promotes model railroading in HO scale. The club goes to several train shows in Kansas and Missouri.

Cherry Valley Model Railroad Club - The Ozark and Oklahoma subdivisions of the Neosho Valley Lines are represented in their HO scale re-creation. Construction on this particular layout began in 1991 after extensive renovations to the freight room of the depot were completed. In the following years, work has progressed to the point you see. The layout features point-to-point operations from two stub-ended staging yards representing points located north and south of the modeled part of the NVL.

North East Kansas Railroaders, Inc. - The North East Kansas Railroaders, Inc. is a widely diverse group of individuals who have one common interest - "RAILROADS". Our goal is to keep alive the history and glory of America's great railroads. If you share this love of trains and railroading, the North East Kansas Railroaders, Inc., extends a welcome to you. We have many activities that will be of interest to you. The North East Kansas Model Railroad Club was established in 1986.

Mid Kansas Model Railroaders - MKMR is primarily an HO modular club that offers a variety of activities for all railfans in the area. We have a modular HO layout set up in the McPherson Museums old Cedars facility along with an N-scale layout from our friends at KCMR.

Kentucky

Radcliff Model Railroad Association - The Association is a group of dedicated model railroaders that have an HO scale and an N scale layout. Construction is ongoing at 677 Knox Boulevard Suite D Radcliff, KY. Take US 31 W North coming from E-Town or South coming from Louisville to Knox Boulevard.

K&I Model Railroad Club - The K&I (Kentucky and Indiana) Model Railroad Club is an award winning H.O. scale model railroad club based out of Louisville, Kentucky and Southern Indiana. We were started in 1993 with the goal of bringing new members and ideas to our hobby.

Next post will cover Louisiana through Maine.

Model Train Sets Clubs - Alabama to Arkansas

Model Train Sets Clubs - The California List

Model Train Sets Clubs - Colorado to D.C.

Model Train Sets Clubs – Florida to Hawaii

Model Train Sets – Clubs in Idaho, Illinois & Indiana

Model Train Sets - Clubs in Idaho, Illinois & Indiana

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:00:00 +0000

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As of this post, our series on the lists of clubs for the train sets enthusiasts has reached a mid-point. As always, my intent for all of these posts is to identify the clubs for those who love to collect lionel trains as well as all of the numerous other types of train sets that can be found in their specific market. So with that let’s dive right back into the list of clubs:

Idaho

Eagle Rock Railroad Historical Society - They are dedicated to preserving the history of railroading in Southeast Idaho and the surrounding areas through the use of model railroading and historical displays.

Pocatello Model Railroad & Historical Society - Pocatello is a true railroad town, created by the Union Pacific (UPRR) on land acquired from the Bannock-Shoshone Indians a hundred and some odd years ago. The major East-West UP line between Omaha and Portland crosses the North-South route between Salt Lake City and southern Montana where connections are made to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Montana Rail Link.

Illinois

Illinois Tech Model Railroad - Founded in 1948, the club is located in the original Armour Institute Building, just east of the former Rock Island Railroad. To the north of this building are the buildings formerly occupied by the Association of American Railroads Chicago Research Center. Within view of the club to the east and west are rapid transit lines of both modern and traditional design.

Little "Q" Model Railroad Club - Little "Q" was founded in 1958. It is located in Aurora, Illinois, and has been sponsored by the Fox Valley Park District since 1963. Our current layout is the second one at this location. Construction was begun in 1974, although the design has been heavily modified over the years.

ChicagoLand Lionel Railroad Club - Come watch the trains run on our reconfigured modular layout. Interact with over 30 Lionel operating accessories using pushbutton operation.

Lake County Model Railroad Club - The Lake County Model Railroad Club exists for the benefit of and promotion of model railroading. The club was founded as an HO scale club and became operational in 1971. It has occupied its current site since then. The basic layout design for the approximately 360’ mainline has been in place since 1971.

Salt Creek Model Railroad Club - The Salt Creek Model Railroad Club is located at 2N 166 Prince Crossing Road, West Chicago IL. Website provides a map and contact info to find out more about the club.

Midwest 'N' Pioneer Model Railroad Club - Midwest N Pioneer has had a long history in the suburbs of Chicago, IL. From its inception in 1989 to the start at its new location in 2006, Midwest N Pioneer has strived to produce wonderful layouts for its members to use and for the public to view.

Indiana

Saint Joe Valley Model Railroad Club - The St Joe Valley Model Railroad Club's primary mission is to build and operate a steam-to-diesel transition era HO scale model railroad layout. At the same time, the club seeks to develop modeling skills, increase applicable knowledge within the membership, develop camaraderie among other members of the model railroading community, and promote the goodwill of the hobby within our community.

Columbus Area Railroad Club - The Columbus Area Railroad Club room is located on the grounds of the Johnson County Park and features operating model train layouts in N, HO, and G gauges.

Elkhart Model Railroad Club - Since 1950, the Elkhart Model Railroad Club has been a place for model railroad enthusiasts to gather and work on the layout and run their trains. Each member helps in maintaining and expanding the line.

K&I Model Railroad Club - The K&I (Kentucky and Indiana) Model Railroad Club is an award winning H.O. scale model railroad club based out of Louisville, Kentucky and Southern Indiana.

That's It For Today’s Model Train Clubs

The next post in this series of clubs for train sets enthusiasts will be talking about the clubs found in the states of Iowa, Kansas and Kentucky

Model Train Sets Clubs - Alabama to Arkansas

Model Train Sets Clubs - The California List

Model Train Sets Clubs - Colorado to D.C.

Model Train Sets Clubs – Florida to Hawaii

Florida Model Railroad Clubs – Also Georgia & Hawaii

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:30:00 +0000

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Today's post listing model railroad clubs is going to focus on the states of Florida, Georgia and Hawaii. The goal of this and all of the previous posts on clubs for those who love to collect lionel trains as well as all of the numerous other types of train sets that can be found in the market. So with that let's dive right back into the list of clubs:

Florida

Scale Rails of Southwest Florida - This club is a group of people in the greater Fort Myers, Florida area who are interested in Model Railroading. They have among their membership people with a wide range of experience in modeling, from beginners to Master Modelers.

Suncoast Model Railroad Club - Whether novices or old-timers they tend to take the hobby seriously as HO and N Scale model railroaders. Maybe it's because--at the end of the day--we have once again connected with the delight and enjoyment of a hobby for men and women that often started in childhood, but can last a lifetime.

Big Bend Model Railroad Association - The BBMRA serves train and modeling enthusiasts in Tallahassee, Florida and the surrounding community. It is a great place to fellowship with fellow hobbyist. They conduct modeling clinics, photography and modeling contests, and exhibit our trains. We model in N, HO, and Large Scale.

Consolidated Model Railroaders - Consolidated Model Railroaders is an organization for model railroaders who enjoy all scales of the hobby. CMRX now enjoys a club house and they are working on a permanent layout. The layout has double track mainline, industrial sidings, passenger sidings and a 18' yard.

Sarasota Model Railroad Club - The Sarasota Model Railroad Club is now the Railroad Education and Learning Center of Florida. The vision is to be the educational and historical hub for teaching and illustrating the impact of railroading. We will achieve this through a center that provides an entertaining, interactive learning experience to the community through exhibits and models.

Georgia

Middle Georgia Model Railroad Club - The club is currently working on modules for our HO-scale layout which we are displaying at the Georgia State Fair. A portable N-Scale layout has been expanded by several members and is also on display at the Fair. There are members modeling HO scale, N-scale and O-scale.

North Georgia Modurail - An HO scale Modular Railroad Club, North Georgia Modurail serves the Atlanta metropolitan area.

Middle Georgia Model Railroad Club - The Middle Georgia Model Railroad Club was formed in the 1970s, and the active membership is near 20. Although the club has had permanent layouts in the Elberta Depot and the Warner Robins Depot, they currently meet at My Father's Place restaurant on Moody Rd. in Warner Robins, on the third Tuesday of every month.

Coastal Rail Buffs - Coastal Rail Buffs, Inc. is a nonprofit organization and membership is open to the general public. The club has weekly meetings along with other activities. Their membership now has grown to over fifty.

Flint River Model Railroad Club - The scales represented by the club are "Z, N, HO, S, O, G" While HO is the most common ALL scales have at least one member who is an advocate of that scale.

Hawaii

Hawaii's list of clubs for train sets enthusiasts is rather short on my list. I could only come up with the one in my research

Oahu Model Railroad Society - The Oahu Model Railroad Society (OMRS) was formed in the 1960s, first as a wandering modular club. Since the mid-1990s it has had a permanent home at the Hawaiian Railway Society's Ewa yard off Renton Road. Members restored a former Navy ammunition boxcar over a two year period to house the HO layout.

That's It For Today's Model Train Clubs

The next post will provide a directory of the model train sets organizations in the states of Idaho, Illinois and Indiana.

Model Train Sets Clubs - Alabama to Arkansas

Model Train Sets Clubs - The California List

Model Train Sets Clubs - Colorado to D.C.

Model Railroad Clubs – Colorado to D.C.

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:20:00 +0000

Now that the list of California Model Railroad clubs has been done we now move onto those in Colorado, Connecticut and Washington D.C.

Colorado

Colorado Free-mo
- Colorado Free-mo is an independent group of modelers located in the Denver Metro area of Colorado. Colorado Free-mo has its beginnings at the GATS show in February of 2003 in Denver. Several modelers came together at the show to discuss the Free-mo concept and where they wanted to go with the concept. Out of those discussions Colorado Free-mo was born.

Boulder Model Railroad Club - The Boulder Model Railroad Club (BMRC) is the Premier Model Railroad Club for Boulder, Broomfield, Adams, Jefferson Counties and beyond in Colorado. The BMRC is about having fun with model railroading. The club has no club layout, which means it can - and must! - Appeal to a variety of skills and interests.

Denver Garden Railway Society - The Denver Garden Railway Society, founded in 1979, is a non-profit organization dedicated to education, promotion and enjoyment of all aspects of garden railroading.

Pikes Peak "N" Gineers Model Railroad Club - The Pikes Peak "N" Gineers Model Railroad Club (PPNG) was founded to provide a meeting place for interested model railroaders, to help fellow members with model railroad problems, to foster interest in the hobby of model railroading through fellowship in the club and to give members the opportunity to construct and operate an N scale layout for club and public display.

Denver N Scale Model Railroad Club - The Denver Area N-Scale Model Railroad Club is a nonprofit organization meeting together for the purpose of promoting the personal enjoyment of the N-scale model railroad hobby. Our club has reestablished itself in the Forney Museum of Transportation.

Denver HO Model Railroad
Club - Located in the basement of the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, Colorado, the Denver HO Model Railroad Club is an organization whose members share an interest in model railroading.

Connecticut

Central Connecticut 'G' Gauger's - The Central Connecticut 'G' Gauger's was formed in 1998 by cofounders David Snow, and Bob "The Gatorman" Gentile. They are a small informal group that was organized to promote the Large-scale hobby, with a modular layout, that can be transported to local train shows.

Valley N-Trak - Valley N-Trak is a non-profit organization of model railroad enthusiasts promoting the N scale module concept as a viable operational system. The club was established in 1976 with five members meeting in the basement of a local hobby store.

Torrington Area Model Railroaders - The Torrington Area Model Rairoaders began in 1996 with 8 members. Membership has grown over time to 39 today. The club has continued to add shows each year and currently does about 6 shows a year.

Valley HO Trak Model RR Club - A non-profit organization of HO scale model railroaders promoting the modular layout concept as a viable operating system.

Housatonic Model Railway Club - Founded in 1972, the Housatonic Model Railway Club is a not-for-profit corporation to further the enjoyment of the model railroad hobby, primarily through the building and operation of an H0 scale model railroad.

Delaware

D.A.R.N.: the Delco Area Railroaders in "N"
- An N-TRAK Modular Railroading Club.

Lehigh Valley Large Scalers - Large scale train action in the Lehigh Valley.

Nordel Model Railroad Club – Located in Yorklyn, Delaware and they offer multiple membership options to their club.

D.C.

Crescent Model Railroaders
- The Crescent Model Railroaders is an O-Gauge hi-rail
modular model railroad group located in the Washington DC area. We publicly display our layout at a variety of venues including community events, fairs, schools, and train shows.

The next post on the Model Railroad Scales & Train Sets blog will cover the model railroad clubs that are in Florida thru Hawaii.

Model Railroad Clubs – Alabama to Arkansas

Model Railroad Clubs - The California List

Model Railroad Clubs – The California List

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 05:36:00 +0000

We have recently covered all of the clubs that deal with model train sets up to California. That is where this post will focus on since it has one of the largest groupings of clubs in the country…After all California has the largest population in the United States, it makes sense to have the biggest number of model railroad clubs.

California

Eel River Valley Railroad – The stated purpose of this club is to preserve the rich history of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad along with the history of the North Coast of California. This is done through a series of modules depicting several areas of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad between Schell vile and Eureka California.

California Southern Model Railroad Club – Located in Norwalk, California, it was formed in 1984 with the merger of the North Orange County Modular Railroaders and the Cerritos Valley Model Railroad Club. The purpose was to build and operate a large permanent HO scale railroad for the enjoyment of its members. Construction on the club's first layout began shortly after acquiring suitable quarters in the city of Norwalk.

Orange County Module Railroaders, Inc. - The original group was started by local Southern California model railroad manufacturers in the early 1970s, as a way to display their products at hobby shows. Organized as the Southern California Module Builders, the club met at the Campbell Scale Models factory. They displayed their first operating modular layout in 1973. Clearly they have a long successful history as a modelers club.

Southern California N-Scale Model Railroading
– They were created in 1999 by members from five local Ntrak and N Scale clubs who became actively involved in designing and developing the 2000 National Ntrak Convention in San Jose, CA and needed a vehicle to plan and execute the event.

Gold Coast Modular Railroad Club
- Founded in 1987 and is a non-profit "mutual benefit" corporation - 501(c)7 IRS status. The club was based out of a garage until late 1993, when we were able to set up in a large vacant store, rent free, in a Camarillo, California strip mall. They are now located in a new location, check the website out for their new one.

Monterey & Salinas Valley Railroad
– The mission of this club is to construct a HO scale model railroad depicting the narrow gauge MSVRR (if it had survived) and the standard gauge Southern Pacific Railroad as it is, in and around the greater Salinas Valley; Watsonville Jct. to Cuesta Grade.

Angels Gate Hi-Railers Model Railroad Club
- The club was founded by John Pignatelli, Don Lewis, Howard Packer and Matt Jackson in December, 1995. Formation grew out of a search by some members of the Valley Toy Train Club's "Tinplate Trackers" O-Gauge modular group for a site for a permanent layout and/or a site where modules could be set up on a long-term basis.

The Alameda County Central Railroad Society
– They are a model railroad club. We maintain two layouts (HO and O scale) at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, California.

The Belmont Shore Model Railroad Club – Started out as a small group of modelers gathered together in the Belmont Shore City Library with the intent to form the country's first N-scale model railroad club. The club first took shape in the basement of a hobby shop in Long Beach. Soon there after, it found a home in Signal Hill. This was the clubs first real start featuring a full size layout. Boasts a premier club, the envy you might say of all other railroad clubs in the country.

Coachella Valley Model RailRoaders – This club models in HO scale with 30 inch minimum radius, using DCC control and they are located on the Riverside County Fair National Date Festival Fairgrounds in Indio, California.

Sacramento Central Railroaders
- The Sacramento Modular Railroaders is a non-profit, educational-historical corporation registered in the State of California. The Sacramento Central Railroad (SCRR) is our modular HO scale model railroad, which depicts operations between Gerber, CA in the north and Stockton, CA in the south with a major yard facility in Roseville, CA.

Antelope Valley Model Railroad Club - Was founded in early 1983 as the Alta Vista Model Railroad Club to promote the hobby of model railroading in the Antelope Valley. This was to be accomplished through the construction of a premier HO scale display layout having prototypical train operations and scenic details familiar to California.

Glendale Model Railroad Club
- On April 4, 1949, 16 men gathered together at a local hobby shop and formed the Glendale Model Railroad Club. Meetings rotated between the hobby shop and various members' homes while bylaws were drafted and monthly dues were established.

Golden Gate Model Railroad Club
– They have a layout that is the result of nearly forty years' effort to create a railroad in miniature with the communities it serves and combined with engineering and geographical features found on railroads in California.

Los Angeles Model Railroad Society - is a non-profit California corporation made up of a diverse group of model railroad enthusiasts of many ages, professions and backgrounds. The LAMRS has been promoting the hobby of model railroading for more than twenty five years and is the proud operator of the HO Scale Great Lakes & Western (GL&W) Railroad.

San Diego Society of N Scale – Located in the San Diego Model Railroad Museum, this club provides its members with a variety of how to guidance online, as well as visitors.

Pasadena Model Railroad Club - operates the Sierra Pacific Lines; which is one of the largest HO Scale operating Model Railroads in the world covering almost 5000 square feet. The railroad has over 30,000 feet of hand laid steel rail. The 1700 foot single to quad track mainline with ten cabs allows for operating of up to ten 30 foot trains (up to 60 cars long).

The Santa Susana Railroad Historical Society – is dedicated to the preservation of the historical Santa Susana depot and to uniquely educate the public about California's rich railroad history and the enjoyment of model railroading. They have one of the more unique websites that you can navigate around and learn a lot of the model railroading culture in California.

Silicon Valley Lines Model Railroad Club - Founded in 1979, Silicon Valley Lines (SVL) is an HO Scale Model Railroad Club located in San Jose, California. In 1999, we moved to our current location on 148 E. Virginia Street in San Jose, where our new 23' x 72' layout is now in operation.

The Coastal Valley Lines
- is an informal association of novice to expert model railroaders from around the Sonoma County area. The group operates its HO modular railroad at public and private events, and also gathers for clinics, work sessions and regular monthly meetings.

Black Diamond Lines Model Railroad Club
- began back in July 1981 as a group of model railroaders who gathered in the back of a local Antioch, California hobby shop. Later that year, we decided to make things official and we were incorporated as a non-profit organization.

Pomona Valley Model Railroad Club
- are a group of model train enthusiasts who for the last 49 years have honed their skills and talents into forming what is now a club for all ages to enjoy. From old-time steam, to modern era SD90MACs, this club has something for everyone.

Wrap Up

Keep in mind that this was simply a small sample of the many, many model railroad clubs found in the state of California. If you have a favorite that was overlooked above, please share it in the comments section.

Model Railroad Clubs – Alabama to Arkansas

Building Train Displays for Model Train Sets

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Mon, 04 May 2009 15:15:00 +0000

If you've never built a model train display before to setup for your train sets, it's natural to worry a little bit about messing things up and making some sort of catastrophic mistake. However, if you follow the instructions, it's really almost impossible to go wrong with your model train layout.

There are different approaches you can take to this task. If you're building a model train display for a younger child to work with, then you'll most likely want to keep things simple but allow the child some room to change the tracks around to meet their own design ideas.

Model Train Sets Display Creation

Children tend to be less concerned about realistic scale and landscapes for their model trains. Try out some things which you already have around the house to build your model train displays. Your child may not be all that interested in the fine details and they can always add on to the display later on; so it's OK to start small using what you already have.

Adults, on the other hand usually do care a great deal about realism and the scale of their landscape elements. Adults will usually not want to live with a house which is 10 times the height of their HO-scale trains. You can buy or build items to add to your model train display, but most hobbyists do a little of each. If you'd like to build your own landscapes, there are some supplies which you'll want to have on hand.

If you're reading this article, it's a safe assumption that you have at least one model train and some tracks; or are close to purchasing one. You'll want to build your model train layout in an area where you have access to electricity, a relatively constant temperature and which is more or less clean. Dust and dirt can lead to a shorter useful life for your model trains, so take good care of them.

You'll probably want a dedicated model railway tool kit. You'll want some mat knives, needle nose pliers, wire cutters, a small hammer and a pair of scissors in your kit; these tools will be good for the routine maintenance and building tasks involved in model railroading.

If you'll be adding more complex elements, especially ones which require electricity, you may need a few small screwdrivers (Phillips and flat head), a soldering iron, a glue gun and a drill. Of course, you'll also need glue sticks, solder and track pins.
Start your first layout with a piece of heavy paper (railroad board or a soft fiber board is good) backed with a piece of plywood ? this will hold your track pins in place.

Next you need to set up your track. As you add features to your layout, make sure to leave yourself room to reconfigure your track later on to keep things interesting.

Building a model train layout lets you be the architect of your own miniature world and this creative aspect of the hobby is what keeps model train hobbyists happily engaged in model railroading for a lifetime with their train sets. As you acquire skill with making your layouts, you'll be able to change and see the evolution of your model train display as you go.

Of course, if you are going to do a good job of setting up a display for your model train sets, you need some good quality model trains. However, model trains are not cheap, and you need to know where to shop to find the best discount model trains. Here is a good place to shop when you are looking for Discount Model Trains of all different brands plus all the railroad tracks and railroad layout accessories you need.

Model Kits-Choosing Model Railroad Scale Thats Right

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Are you on of those people that love to sit and watch the big locomotives push those little rail cars around? Perhaps you just really like riding as a passenger on a train for fun or even use your camera to catch stunning train pictures and train videos. Have you considered building a model train in your home with model kits? It is probably something you would really enjoy. Watching your very own model train can bring a smile to your face everyday, just like the smile you get from watching or riding on the real thing. What’s stopping you? It’s a wonderful hobby and a great idea.

Know your Options in the Various Model Kits

When selecting model trains you will want to learn what your options are. To begin with you might want to try the Z scale. The Z scale is the smallest scale model train ever produced with a ratio of 1:220. If you live in an apartment or very little space the Z scales is the perfect choice.

The N Scale Model Train Sets

The N scale model train is the second best selling model train across the world and would also be an excellent choice. The N scale has a ratio of 1:160. This train is favored by the younger and internet savvy railroad modelers. If you happen to be an internet savvy enthusiast, then the N scale model train may work well for you.

HO Scale Train Sets

The best selling model train in the world is the HO scale, with a ratio of 1:87.1 The products and resources available for this model train set are vast. One very popular brand for the HO scale is the Kato Unit rack WGH plan set. You would be able to start with this and build it the way you would like it. This product is sold with the track only. It does not include a power source or the train. The layout includes four turnouts, two to the left and two to the right. It features configurable power routing that allows power to be routed via the turnout for DC operations, or the power could be sent to both legs of the turnout. The Kato Unit rack WGH set is definitely a starter set. If you are looking for something that will allow you to start slow, this is the set for you.

O Scale Train Sets

Another scale model that you could choose is the O scale with a ratio of 1:48. This particular scale is the oldest and has been around for more than 100 years. This scale was originally manufactured by Merklin in Germany at the turn of the 20th century. The O scale is now manufactured by companies such as MTH, Lionel Trains and Merklin. The scale of 1:48 was selected since it was in proportion with the doll houses of the time. This model train was manufactured as a wind up toy and was not run with electricity.

The next model train to look at is the S scale model with a 1:64 ratio. This model was manufactured in response to the loud requests for trains that were more realistic. This model adopted higher fidelity in its form and construction. For this reason the S scale model train is a bit of a rarity in today’s marketplace.

The last model train to consider is the T scale which was introduced in 2006. This model is presently considered to be the smallest model train that is sold commercially. All the T scale models are powered with a 4.5V DC battery. The train cars are built with magnetic wheels that connect to the steel rails on the track to provide increased power pick up.

There are so many varieties of model train scales available to choose from that the decision may take some time. The trick is to learn as much as you can about the various model train option and decide which model suits you best. If you are just beginning, there are many starter model kits that would work well for you. If you place a high value on detail and realism, you can choose one of the more complex models. Whether you are a collector or a hobbyist, there is a model train with your name on it.

Buying Model Train Sets like Lionel Trains Online?

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:00:00 +0000

No matter how old you are or when you last played with them, model train sets hold a special place in the hearts of children and adults alike. Whether you are watching Christmas movies, or you are looking to create a set up that is entirely your own, you'll find that there is a good reason that model trains like the Lionel trains are perfect gifts and hobbies

Decide on the Train Sets you Prefer

What are you looking for when it comes to setting up your own model train tracks? Do you want to relive a special moment in your childhood or are you looking to do something very special for the child in your life? When you go online, you'll find that there are lots of great places for you to purchase the model trains that you have been looking for. A quick look on Google shows you more variety than the best toy store you have every been in, and whether you look with special retailers or with online auctions, there is a lot out there.

Find Train Sets Online with Small Hassle

Remember that purchasing things online can be both stimulating and a pain in the rear. To minimize the annoyance, make sure that know exactly what you are looking for. What does the train that you are after look like, and can you recognize it? Buying online can offer up some incredible deals and you'll find that if you just keep a few things in mind that you are going to be able to get the most out of this experience.

First, consider what your options are going to be when it comes to the train that is most appealing to you. Look through the manufacturer's websites, ask someone you trust, or do your research through a toy or hobby store. There are a lot of great resources out there, so make sure that you jot down a few names regarding the engines that you want and when they were popular, as well as what sets them apart.

How extensive is your set going to be and what kind of space do you have to devote to it? This can tell you what kind of scale you are capable of putting together. Common scales will usually rank things from largest to smallest.

Buy Train Sets only from Reputable Sellers

Always make sure that you deal with good sellers. A good seller is one that will not only give you a terrific product, but will also give you things like more information and additional services. Remember that a good dealer is one who will give you as much information as they can. They will also make themselves available for more complete questioning and in many cases, the manufacturers themselves might recommend them. Find out who is considered a good seller and who gets poor reviews.

Remember that getting a customized train set is quite important, especially when you want a display that is more than just a run of the mill item. Look for pictures of the customized part versus a standardized part, and look into descriptions of the work that went into making it. Was time spent on it, or was it just machined over night.

Finally, look at the major train websites out there, both sites like Walthers and Golden Spike as well as more general ones like eBay. There are going to be a lot of Lionel trains out there, whether you are looking at antiques or something more modern. Put your search engine to work for you.

When you want to have a great hobby that can give you hours and hours of enjoyment or whether you want a hobby to share with you kids, look into model train sets. Get online, do your searches and see what you can turn up!

Collecting Model Train Sets As A Hobby

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 03:13:00 +0000

Collecting model train sets is a hobby enjoyed by people of all ages and from all walks of life. This is a hobby which leaves a lot of room for creativity, with landscapes of all sorts available and many different sizes of trains to choose from. Model train hobbyists can create a nearly limitless number of different environments for their trains to travel through.

Different hobbyists go for different sizes of trains. Some like the very small N-scale model trains, others go for the large G-scale trains and others favor everything in between. With so many different choices, it's no wonder that the hobby attracts so many people. We'll cover five of the things which draw people to this hobby below.

Model Train Sets - A look into History

Model train sets offer an entertaining way to learn about history. Almost every model train set collection includes a few model steam engines. The hobby is tremendously popular; there's just something intrinsically appealing about trains. There have been model trains almost as long as trains themselves have been around. As early as 1940, there were an estimated 100,000 model train collectors. There are groups dedicated to historical model railroads in nearly every country in the world, most of which also have websites which are great sources for information about both real and scale model trains.

History is always more interesting when it comes from our own relatives; model railroading is a hobby which helps to connect the generations of your family. Children enjoy taking part in the hobby along with their parents and grandparents and model trains make for a great teaching opportunity.

Model Train Layouts

Of course, model train layouts are themselves often exceptional pieces of art. A large part of what makes this hobby so fascinating is being able to constantly change the landscape for your trains. An artistically designed model train layout is like its own tiny world and is a fertile ground for the imagination.

Individual artistic expression is something which model trains offer plenty of to enthusiasts. There are model train hobbyists who like rural settings for their trains and those who prefer cityscapes with streets, skyscrapers and other elements of city life. One particularly popular model train layout feature is mountain tunnels.

Choices and Variety of Model Train Sets

One of the best thing about collecting model trains as a hobby is this: you can decide what you like best, so there's no one to tell you what the right and wrong ways are of doing anything. Model railroad collectors enjoy seeing the variety of designs created by other hobbyists. Some buy pieces to incorporate into their layouts, while others like to build everything themselves; of course, you can buy some pieces and make others yourself; it's your choice!

Whether you like the large G-scale train layouts or the very small N-scale trains, you'll have plenty of company; every variety of model train has a large following of collectors. People of every age from the very young to the very old enjoy collecting model train sets and regardless of where you want your trains to go, you can create the landscapes of your choice using the model trains you prefer to make your creative ideas a reality.

About Me

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 19:14:00 +0000

Model railroads are a tremendously relaxing hobby that can involve anyone in your family; from the young child to the young at heart grandparents. There is much to the hobby and this includes the types of trains, the scales, the models and even the train displays. My wish is for this blog to help you to understand the hobby and also find kindred spirits by referencing the list of clubs that are your city or state. Find out what train sets you prefer and begin your lifetime hobby!

Model Railroad Clubs – Alabama to Arkansas

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 03:14:00 +0000

Ok, we have begun our posting series on a number of model railroad clubs that are in the US. This is by no means an exclusive list and I'm sure I've missed some really great model train clubs; however this blog was setup to allow the beginner get started and find a support group. This first post in the series will be focusing on the clubs in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, and Arkansas. When I've been able to find a working website for the model railroad club I will include it.

So here goes nothing!!

Alabama

Redstone Model Railroad Club – This model railroad club has been a fixture in the model train club experience in Huntsville, Alabama for fifty or more years; hosting many South Eastern region conventions.

The Wrecking Crew – The wrecking crew model railroad club was established back in 1989 and has members who are knowledgeable in many of the model railroad scales, including HO, N, and G scale. They are also a club that adheres to the standards set forth by the NMRA (National Model Railroad Association) a governing association established back in 1935.

Alaska

Unfortunately, I am not familiar with any model railroad clubs that have been established in Alaska.

Arizona

Since Arizona has a larger population there is no shortage of clubs to join and learn about model railroading

Arizona Model Railroading Society – Is located at the Adobe Mountain Railroad Park in northwest Phoenix. The 3000 square foot AMRS clubhouse financed and built by its members opened in the fall of 2004.

Grand Canyon State Model Railroaders – This club prides itself on being a HO scale modular model railroad club based in Phoenix, Arizona. Our goal is to promote modular model railroading concepts: design, construction, operations, and standards.

Ponderosa North Model Railroad Club - The purpose of this site is to help promote the great hobby of model railroading as well as highlight the real railroad in a fun and informative forum.

Thunderbird Model Railroad Club - The Thunderbird Model Railroad Club is located in Phoenix, Arizona, on the Arizona State Fair Grounds. The club operates the Phoenix Turnbow and Apache HO Scale standard gauge railroad, as well as the Mogollon and Western HOn3 scale narrow gauge railroad.

Arkansas

Central Arkansas Model Railroad Club – They are train hobbyists dedicated to the advancement of the world's greatest hobby of model railroading through designing, constructing, and demonstrating train layouts at public sites and events, building local community awareness of the railroad history of this area, and sponsoring educational activities about railroading.

Northwest Arkansas Garden Railway Society - Garden railroading is one of the fastest growing hobbies

Stay tuned as we go through the list of states and provide some of the model railroad clubs that are in them. As I mentioned before this is by no means an exhaustive list so if you have or know of any clubs that may have been missed just list them in the comments!

Find Model Railroad Clubs – A to Z

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 23:57:00 +0000

Since the thrill of collecting model railroads and building them is so much more fun when you can have a group of similarly minded people I will be having a series of posts that list out some of the major model railroad clubs throughout the states. Since there are so many it would be a little lengthy to list every single state in one post. So to make things easier for you to find a local model train club the list will be broken down into smaller bite-size posts for you to peruse. If you live in state such as Alaska or Arizona you will find the clubs in your area first; if not be sure to check back in a few days for the others to be listed.

Model railroad hobby is an exciting hobby so see you in a few days!

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noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 01:40:00 +0000

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Model Railroad Scale H0 Models

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 04:52:00 +0000

In the realm that is model railroad, scale H0 is the most popular size by far. Of course this is assuming that you are not reading this from across the pond in the UK where larger scale trains are common.

Since this scale of model railroad is the most popular, I wanted to talk about it first on this blog. The H0 model railroad scales have been around since approximately 1950--quite awhile before I was born. One could almost say that this scale model came about rather out of necessity. In the 1950's, the model train hobby was in a pretty significant decline.

As the enthusiasts demanded more realism and more control over this hobby of model trains, the H0 Scale was introduced and immediately won back many of the previous train fans.

The reason for this was due to the fact that all of the model trains previously were regarded as too large or cumbersome. An off shoot problem to these larger trains was the fact that it really limited those that wanted to create realistic details to the surrounding "land" that the train tracks went through.

I guess this was something that the owners of the larger scale model railroads couldn't afford--and it makes sense, the larger your diorama needed to be the more would be spent in the supplies needed to create your small world. The H0 scale model trains have allowed for a much more compact pieces so that things can be built on a more detailed scale.

Being a true enthusiast, you can't just have the train operating on bare tracks with no landscape!!

I was 8 years old when I got my first H0 model railroad; it had a red engine, two cars and a mustard yellow caboose. I was so excited to play with it that I could barely get the snap tracks connected completely. I setup a big oval of tracks and just ran the train round and round and round.... for at least an hour.

Then I realized that I need to improve upon what I had, which was just the train and the tracks. Creating grand schemes of what I was going to build: mountains, valleys, rivers and bridges to cross them, small towns.

All of this design was going to take up some permanent space so the garage was out of the question. The key was to take part of the recreation room and convert it into model train space.

It took about two months to create the entire environment. When it was done there were valleys and peaks and a bridge --granted a pretty rickety looking one -- and a painted blue river that went under the bridge.

Obviously you this was a novice creation and as time has passed I've been able to make much more realistic landscape and this is thanks to the more efficiently sized model railroad scale H0.

Thank you for visiting my Model Railroad; scale H0 post. I hope you've enjoyed reading and let me know what types of trains you've collected in the past or currently have!

Model Railroad - Scale Sizes

noreply@blogger.com (Paul) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:47:00 +0000

Welcome to my latest hobby blog dealing with what many consider a "romantic" hobby; the model railroad scale models of all sizes are fair game.

Since the majority of these models are of the steam locomotive variety, fans consider it to be a nostalgic hobby that brings back to life an era when the west was still wild and the steam train was the fastest transportation out there.

I got my first model railroad set when I was 8 years old, and they have always been fun. I can't tell you how many people I've driven crazy by trying to build extravagant dioramas to drive the trains through.

When it comes to the model railroad, scale sizes of the trains come in quite a few varied versions. This blog will mainly focus on the more popular model railroad sizes such as the G scale, HO scale, etc.

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