Model Train Sets Clubs – Oklahoma, Oregon & Pennsylvania

Image by The Library of Congress via Flickr

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.

Related Posts

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 – New Jersey, New Mexico & New York

Image via Wikipedia

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.

Related Posts

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 – Mississippi, Missouri & Montana Model Railroad Clubs

Image via Wikipedia

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

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).

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.

Related Posts

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

Building Train Displays for Model Train Sets

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 Railroad Clubs – Alabama to Arkansas

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!