Model railroad club shares enthusiasm at open house

By Cindy Thomas, Staff Writer

Over 60 model railroad enthusiasts visited the Roark Valley Model Railroad Club for an open house on June 10 and 11. Other visitors to the World’s Largest Toy Museum dropped by the club room, located on the Museum’s lower level, to check out the fun as well.

The open house featured six layouts with at least 12 trains running. Layouts included an N-scale circus train; a 4-module HO-scale Santa’s Circus and Carnival with old-fashioned carnival, Wild West town, 3-ring circus with over 1,000 individually cast spectators in the bleachers, and a circus parade; a Lionel O-scale layout; and an N-scale layout built by a Hollister resident 22 years ago. The largest layout on display, 12’ by 37’, is a club project with 12 modules, including the Branson Scenic Railroad and Branson Depot.

Walker Grim gettin an up close look at the circus train and the circus parade layout

Photo by Richard Grim

The final display layout as visitors proceeded through the clubroom at the open house was a Z-scale with circus, particularly special to club president Richard Grim as it was built by his grandson, Ralphie Grim, when Ralphie was only five years old. Ralphie and his younger brother, Walker, enjoy helping at the train club room and are a great example of model railroading helping connect generations and teaching history in a fun, hands-on way.

The Roark Valley Model Railroad Club enjoys regular meetings as well as attending shows with the club’s traveling layout and sharing hosting duties at the club room at the Toy Museum. Learn more about membership and activities at roarkvalleymrr.weebly.com or email grimprinter@aol.com.

Left to right: Doug, Johnathan, Landry, Steven and Brandon Hutchison (three generations of train enthusiasts). Ed Mitchem, club member is on the right. The Roark Valley Model Railroad Club meets on the lower level of the World's Largest Toy Museum.

Photo by Richard Grim