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Kalamazoo Model Railroad Historical Society
Webpage Table of Contents Announcements and Special Events
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The camera
Introduction to our Society Are you thinking about joining a model railroad organization? Are you interested in model trains and just starting out? Or, are you interested in the "real" trains. Then you should be thinking about visiting the Kalamazoo Model Railroad Historical Society! Why?
Model railroading is an international hobby that has over a half-million
participants in the United States and additional hobbyists across the
globe. Among the more famous hobbyists are talk show host Sally Jessy
Raphael, actors Mandy Patinkin and Harrison Ford, Al and Bobby Unser and
investment counselor Warren Buffet.
The KMRHS is open to the public every Monday night from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM and Saturdays 11:00 to 1:00 (Holidays excepted). Operating Sessions (where members run trains on dispatched schedules) are held on the third Monday of every month except October. Business meetings are held on the 2nd Monday and work sessions are held on Mondays not otherwise designated. Visitors are welcome to attend any of our meetings or sessions, and trains will be run for guests except in cases where construction on the layout prevents it.
The KMRHS library is devoted to materials on model railroading and the history of railroads in general, concentrating on the railroads that served Kalamazoo County. There are both primary (Timetables, Official Guides, Maintenance manuals etc.) and secondary (books, magazines, videos) materials in the collection. We have a full run of Trains magazine and nearly full runs of Model Railroader and Railroad Model Craftsman. We are attempting to acquire back issues of other model titles to improve our collections of these and other magazines. KMRHS members may check out materials from the collection. The general public is welcome to use the collection while at the clubhouse. A movie production company, the National Park Service and local historians and authors all have used our library as a resource. The collection may be viewed during our regular meetings or by using the contact information at the bottom to make an appointment with the librarian.
The Society's original permanent layout was removed to build a larger two-level shelf layout (See below). The mythical Cooper Park & Eastern, was named after nearby Cooper Township. The era was 1960 to allow the inclusion of steam and diesel. It was imagined to have strong ties to both the New York Central and Pennsylvania Railroads and included a lot of equipment besides the CP&E. The HO scale layout had just over 212 actual feet of main line track. There were also narrow-gauge and trolley lines. The layout was wired Digital Command Control. 
Pictures of our Previous Permanent Layout
The Society's new layout is a 2-level shelf layout comprising about double the track footage. It is modeled in the era beginning in the 1980's. Many of the buildings from the original layout have been refreshed and used in the scenery. The layout is wired for Digital Command Control. There will be a separate Dispatch office and the Dispatcher will communicate with the operating engineers, and will control all mainline turnouts through JMRI computer control. A substantial portion has been completed and scenicked. Limited operating sessions have been performed. Construction continues.
Pictures of our Building Expansion and the in-progress New Permanent Layout.
The Society has also built a modular layout consisting of 12 - 6 foot by 2 foot sections that fit into our trailer and can be hauled to public exhibitions.The modular layout has 2 main lines and a local. The layout is wired for Digital Command Control and more than 4 trains have been running on the layout at one time. The layout has been in use since 2001 and while a model railroad can never be said to be finished, the modular layout is complete mechanically and electrically and most modules are completely scenicked.
The Society has built a 4 by 8 foot layout that we take to many of our functions for the children to run. It consists of 4 - 2 by 4 foot sections. The children's layout has 2 main lines. The layout is wired for Digital Command Control and 2 children may each run a train independently using the controllers we supply. The layout is completely scenicked, the engines are wired for sound and there are stations to stop at to give the children a feel of actual railroading. Our members are always there to assist the children and answer any questions.
In 1999 former Boyne City Gaylord & Alpena caboose #802 was donated to our society. It was installed next to our clubhouse on track laid by club members. Much work has been done to restore it to its former condition. With the completion of replacement platforms, new windows and doors, replacement of most of the siding, a new paint job and a stairway and deck, work has progressed to the point that we are proud to open the caboose to visitors during our regular hours (check when we are open) and during special events. Exhibits inside illustrate the history of railroading. In 2009 the caboose was painted with the original White Road paint scheme and number.
1912 BCG&A Caboose - 1999 - Moved to Present Site
1912 BCG&A Caboose - 2009 - New Paint Job
(Back to Table of Contents)
The KMRHS is available for lectures, presentations, and public exhibitions. We can arrange private showings of our facilities. Speakers with knowledge on both model and prototypical railroading are available for presentations. We also have a modular layout that can be set up at your location/function, or we can set up a temporary layout such as a Holiday themed layout.
Every Fall on the last Sunday in October we hold our annual Train Show & Sale at the Kalamazoo County Fairgrounds. The Train Show & Sale features over 150 vendor tables, along with door prizes, free how-to clinics and a food concession stand. Operating layouts in G, HO, and N scales are present. An announcement with full details will appear at the top of this webpage several months before the event.
Pictures from previous Train Show & Sale
Open House
Once or twice a year we hold an Open House to share our facility with the public.
An announcement will be placed at the top of this webpage when plans are finalized
for the next one.
Previous Open House Pictures
Swap Meet
In the Spring we hold a Swap Meet at the Kalamazoo County Fairgrounds.
We rent tables to individuals who wish to sell their excess model railroad
equipment and to model railroad vendors. An announcement will be placed at
the top of this webpage when plans are finalized for the next one.
Other Activities Occasionally the KMRHS holds or organizes other events. Check out the photo galleries below:
Take US-131 to exit 44 (D Avenue). Take D Avenue east 5 miles to Riverview Drive. Turn left and travel north 1.3 miles. The entrance will be on the right side of the road.
From the east of Kalamazoo, Michigan:
A large black on white reflective sign displays our logo and "Kalamazoo
Model Railroad Historical Society" at the entrance road to our clubhouse.
Contact Information
The Kalamazoo Model Railroad Historical Society Non-Profit Status
The Kalamazoo Model Railroad Historical Society is registered as a non-profit 501(c)(3)
organization. As such, donations to further the goals of the KMRHS in encouraging Model
Railroading and preserving the historic significance that Railroads played in the development of
our country may be tax deductible.
Non-Cash Donations:
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