CLUB HISTORY
For more than three quarters of a century, the Olde Newburgh Model Railroad Club has been a fixture in the Orange-Dutchess County area. Founded in 1942 by a group of avid model railroaders, the club originally met in members’ homes. The group continued to meet until the late 70's when membership had dwindled. Early in 1979, one of the last remaining members helped form a successor to the original club. This organization, known as Town of Newburgh Model Railroad Club, was associated with the Newburgh Recreation Dept. For several years the club met at the Recreation Center building on Route 32. Club members experimented with a new form of model railroading known as modulization. This concept allowed members to build portable sections that could be joined to form a complete layout. In time complete HO and N scale layouts were completed. One of these sections actually traveled across the country where it was included in a model railroad convention in western Canada.
Since its rebirth in 1979, club open houses and displays at train shows, festivals and county fairs have exposed more people to the modular railroad concept. Over 1 million people have viewed club layouts at various area shows and functions. The club has also held private shows for the YMCA, IBM and Scouting organizations. Because they are from a common plan, club modules have also joined with other area club modules to create massive railroad displays: Through this modular concept, club exhibits are ever changing) as new modules are built to replace the older ones.
For more than three quarters of a century, the Olde Newburgh Model Railroad Club has been a fixture in the Orange-Dutchess County area. Founded in 1942 by a group of avid model railroaders, the club originally met in members’ homes. The group continued to meet until the late 70's when membership had dwindled. Early in 1979, one of the last remaining members helped form a successor to the original club. This organization, known as Town of Newburgh Model Railroad Club, was associated with the Newburgh Recreation Dept. For several years the club met at the Recreation Center building on Route 32. Club members experimented with a new form of model railroading known as modulization. This concept allowed members to build portable sections that could be joined to form a complete layout. In time complete HO and N scale layouts were completed. One of these sections actually traveled across the country where it was included in a model railroad convention in western Canada.
Since its rebirth in 1979, club open houses and displays at train shows, festivals and county fairs have exposed more people to the modular railroad concept. Over 1 million people have viewed club layouts at various area shows and functions. The club has also held private shows for the YMCA, IBM and Scouting organizations. Because they are from a common plan, club modules have also joined with other area club modules to create massive railroad displays: Through this modular concept, club exhibits are ever changing) as new modules are built to replace the older ones.
OUR CURRENT ACTIVITY
The club nearly became extinct in early 1987 when it lost its home. But because of the modular design, the layout was dismantled in the hope of finding a new location. Shortly after, the club moved to the Masonic Temple in Newburgh. This was home for nearly 10 years and almost saw the completion of the HO layout. But in December 1998, with the building being sold, another move became necessary.
We are currently located in the VFW building in Walden, NY. Members are currently working on two permanent club layouts, a 23' x 26' HO scale layout and an 8' x 16' N scale layout. With the layouts being dismantled for the move, we took the opportunity to reconfigure the HO layout into a "U" shaped design to make the mainline run almost twice as long. We now have the room for a future 2' x 18' branch-line addition to the N scale layout. In addition to this, the club can exhibit at area shows an HO layout up to 14' X 24', 2 small N scale layouts, a Z scale layout, Lionel layout and a loop of G scale trains. Current club membership is at about 30 members. Initiation fees and monthly dues are very modest and we are always looking for new members. We also enjoy entertaining visitors on meeting nights. The membership spans a wide range of interests, from armchair modelers to master craftsmen. Club members are encouraged to build or re-build modules for the traveling HO layout. And other construction projects are always underway at the club. But getting involved in construction is not a requirement, many members use the club layout to run equipment they bring from home or they come to just talk about trains and modeling with other members.
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION
The club currently has a permanent HO gauge layout as well as an N gauge layout that is under construction. For more information stop by one of our meetings. Visitors are always welcome. We meet most Wednesday evening's from 6:00 to 8:00pm at the VFW, 4-8 Oak Street, 3rd Floor, Walden, NY (ring bell near door to be buzzed in, head up to 3rd floor).
The club nearly became extinct in early 1987 when it lost its home. But because of the modular design, the layout was dismantled in the hope of finding a new location. Shortly after, the club moved to the Masonic Temple in Newburgh. This was home for nearly 10 years and almost saw the completion of the HO layout. But in December 1998, with the building being sold, another move became necessary.
We are currently located in the VFW building in Walden, NY. Members are currently working on two permanent club layouts, a 23' x 26' HO scale layout and an 8' x 16' N scale layout. With the layouts being dismantled for the move, we took the opportunity to reconfigure the HO layout into a "U" shaped design to make the mainline run almost twice as long. We now have the room for a future 2' x 18' branch-line addition to the N scale layout. In addition to this, the club can exhibit at area shows an HO layout up to 14' X 24', 2 small N scale layouts, a Z scale layout, Lionel layout and a loop of G scale trains. Current club membership is at about 30 members. Initiation fees and monthly dues are very modest and we are always looking for new members. We also enjoy entertaining visitors on meeting nights. The membership spans a wide range of interests, from armchair modelers to master craftsmen. Club members are encouraged to build or re-build modules for the traveling HO layout. And other construction projects are always underway at the club. But getting involved in construction is not a requirement, many members use the club layout to run equipment they bring from home or they come to just talk about trains and modeling with other members.
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION
The club currently has a permanent HO gauge layout as well as an N gauge layout that is under construction. For more information stop by one of our meetings. Visitors are always welcome. We meet most Wednesday evening's from 6:00 to 8:00pm at the VFW, 4-8 Oak Street, 3rd Floor, Walden, NY (ring bell near door to be buzzed in, head up to 3rd floor).