Railboys & Other Local Train Clubs

Arnold,

We also formed a group of local guys to share our hobby with - be it pre-war, post-war, modern, Lionel, American Flyer, HO, Standard gauge, wind-ups, even some live steam.

We have grown to 16 strong and call ourselves LITCA (Long Island Train Collecting Aficionados)

The first Wednesday of every month most of us enjoy lunch together - usually 12-13 of us at every lunch.

Most of us stay at the same hotel at York (10 rooms) and travel together there, to the Allentown meet and local shows. Breakfast after local shows.

Visits to each others layouts are fun (See the "Friend's Layouts" series of Blog entries here: www.Warrenvillerailroad.com ).

BBQ's in the summer! Once a year we attend a LI Ducks ball game

Today a couple of us will be leaving in a few minutes to visit  COL's layout open house, NLOE's open house and 3 hobby shops. Of course lunch in between.

Arnold,
It was a great time seeing everyone yesterday! Attached are a few pics/videos from the Railboys Christmas bacchanalia

Bryce

@Oscale_Trains_Lover_ posted:

Arnold,
It was a great time seeing everyone yesterday! Attached are a few pics/videos from the Railboys Christmas bacchanalia

Bryce

Thanks for sharing this, Bryce.

@Lionelski posted:

Arnold,

We also formed a group of local guys to share our hobby with - be it pre-war, post-war, modern, Lionel, American Flyer, HO, Standard gauge, wind-ups, even some live steam.

We have grown to 16 strong and call ourselves LITCA (Long Island Train Collecting Aficionados)

The first Wednesday of every month most of us enjoy lunch together - usually 12-13 of us at every lunch.

Most of us stay at the same hotel at York (10 rooms) and travel together there, to the Allentown meet and local shows. Breakfast after local shows.

Visits to each others layouts are fun (See the "Friend's Layouts" series of Blog entries here: www.Warrenvillerailroad.com ).

BBQ's in the summer! Once a year we attend a LI Ducks ball game

Today a couple of us will be leaving in a few minutes to visit  COL's layout open house, NLOE's open house and 3 hobby shops. Of course lunch in between.

Love your above post, John, which mentions some things that are great ideas for the Railboys to consider doing. Arnold

I've been a lone wolf modeler since I was about 12.  Last year, a couple of fellows in nearby Zelienople, Pennsylvania made a successful venture into starting a model railroad club, the 'Model Train Club of Zelienople'.  Today was teardown after showing the layout 3 days.  The 2nd annual Christmas layout will be moved from the home location in Zelienople to New Castle, Pennsylvania for an event there.  From about 8 folks last year to about 20 this year, the club has set up seasonally inspired layouts 4 times a year, and plans to continue that schedule.  I haven't participated in the last 2 displays, but visited yesterday.  I neglected to take photographs, but will post some once I get them from the Grand Poohbah.  I do have a link to the club Facebook page in my signature line for anyone who has a Facebook account.

They have proven to be a great group of guys and a couple ladies ranging in age from about 12 to about 75.  I have to travel about 45 minutes each way, but most members are a lot closer.  It has been good to share face to face with folks who love our hobby, and not just share online.

@Mark Boyce posted:

I've been a lone wolf modeler since I was about 12.  Last year, a couple of fellows in nearby Zelienople, Pennsylvania made a successful venture into starting a model railroad club, the 'Model Train Club of Zelienople'.  Today was teardown after showing the layout 3 days.  The 2nd annual Christmas layout will be moved from the home location in Zelienople to New Castle, Pennsylvania for an event there.  From about 8 folks last year to about 20 this year, the club has set up seasonally inspired layouts 4 times a year, and plans to continue that schedule.  I haven't participated in the last 2 displays, but visited yesterday.  I neglected to take photographs, but will post some once I get them from the Grand Poohbah.  I do have a link to the club Facebook page in my signature line for anyone who has a Facebook account.

They have proven to be a great group of guys and a couple ladies ranging in age from about 12 to about 75.  I have to travel about 45 minutes each way, but most members are a lot closer.  It has been good to share face to face with folks who love our hobby, and not just share online.

Mark, thanks for sharing, and delighted to hear that you have a connection to a local model train club.

Like you, I used to be a lone wolf model railroader. Maybe, after having that experience, we are more inclined to relish the connection and comraderie that comes from being active on this Forum and in a local club. Arnold

I have a Forum friend who lives in Ohio.

Does anyone know if there is a local model railroad club in Ohio?

Arnold

I think some of you folks have been rather modest in refraining from trumpeting about well established model railroad clubs, of which you may be a member, that are nothing short of awesome.

I would love to know when and how some of these model railroad clubs got started. For instance, the New Jersey Hirailers, the club in the Richmond, Virginia area that Peter Condro is a member of, and the club in the Albany, NY area. If anyone knows approximately when and how any of these clubs, or similar well-established clubs, got started, please don't be bashful to share such information, which could be very inspiring to some of us.

I doubt if the club I helped get started, centered in the Northern Westchester County, NY area, will grow to be such a giant model railroad club, but, as I said before, one never knows what the future will bring. Also, when you have as many as 15 active, enthusiastic members, like we do, I can't help but think that the sky is the limit.

It is nothing short of exhilarating to get a club started, and see it grow, not only in numbers, but in the passion that the members express for our wonderful hobby. Such interesting people with such a rich diversity of talents, knowledge and skills, contacts, and resources, when all the members are considered as a whole.

Indeed, it blows my mind what extraordinarily interesting people model railroaders tend to be. Of course, this is true of all of you, my fine Forum friends.

This Forum is, IMHO, also a model railroad club, of sorts.

Arnold

i would like to form a group or join a existing in Lorain County area Ohio. or western Cleveland. How did you guys start your groups

@Ohio Jeff let me know if you find or start one since that's my area too. In the mean time, depending on your inclination and skillset, I'm a member of Midwest Railway Preservation Society, and a few of our members are interested in O gauge and have been contemplating a interior refit for a boxcar.

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

I think some of you folks have been rather modest in refraining from trumpeting about well established model railroad clubs, of which you may be a member, that are nothing short of awesome.

I would love to know when and how some of these model railroad clubs got started. For instance, the New Jersey Hirailers, the club in the Richmond, Virginia area that Peter Condro is a member of, and the club in the Albany, NY area. If anyone knows approximately when and how any of these clubs, or similar well-established clubs, got started, please don't be bashful to share such information, which could be very inspiring to some of us.

I doubt if the club I helped get started, centered in the Northern Westchester County, NY area, will grow to be such a giant model railroad club, but, as I said before, one never knows what the future will bring. Also, when you have as many as 15 active, enthusiastic members, like we do, I can't help but think that the sky is the limit.

It is nothing short of exhilarating to get a club started, and see it grow, not only in numbers, but in the passion that the members express for our wonderful hobby. Such interesting people with such a rich diversity of talents, knowledge and skills, contacts, and resources, when all the members are considered as a whole.

Indeed, it blows my mind what extraordinarily interesting people model railroaders tend to be. Of course, this is true of all of you, my fine Forum friends.

This Forum is, IMHO, also a model railroad club, of sorts.

Arnold

Hello Arnold

The NJ HiRailers was originally a modular club that was head quartered in Rockaway New Jersey.  They were regular attendees at the Montvale train shows and the Don Brille train shows in the 1990's.  A young man named Mat Horning transformed all that in 2003   The full history can be found here https://www.njhirailers.com/history

@bluelinec4 posted:

Hello Arnold

The NJ HiRailers was originally a modular club that was head quartered in Rockaway New Jersey.  They were regular attendees at the Montvale train shows and the Don Brille train shows in the 1990's.  A young man named Mat Horning transformed all that in 2003   The full history can be found here https://www.njhirailers.com/history

Ben, I knew part of the history of the NJ HiRailers, but knew nothing about Mat or the layouts that were first brought in.  The story is a great tribute to all involved.  You have reason to be proud!!

Arnold,

Here is an update on the progression of our grassroots club, LITCA:

"Comraderie Through Trains" The Formation of a Local Club (warrenvillerailroad.com)

Arnold, The biggest club of train people in my estimation is the Forum. Let me give you several  examples. Two years ago CSam who is on this thread posted some pictures of a layout in his area. Since my wife and I were traveling through that area on our way to Florida, I contacted Sam and he arranged for us to see the layout. We kept in touch with him and last year on our way to South Carolina, we met Sam for dinner one evening. Sam is now talking about making a trip up here in the summer and staying with us. All this was made possible by the Forum.

From there we visited Pat Norcross and his wife Tammy (Harmon Shops) and dropped some engines off to be repaired. Again, all Forum driven.

Stu Gralnik of Model Building Services in Salem Mass suggested Rocky Rockewicz invite me to join the Albany train group. We had become associated because of some models Stu built for me. Again, I got Stu's information from the Forum.

Our Albany group has an loose affiliation with the downstate Railboys and that is how I met you Arnold and developed a friendship with you. So my vote for the best train club is the Forum where all of the above contacts and friendships started. These are but a few of the friends I have made here.  Bill

@Bill Park posted:

Arnold, The biggest club of train people in my estimation is the Forum. Let me give you several  examples. Two years ago CSam who is on this thread posted some pictures of a layout in his area. Since my wife and I were traveling through that area on our way to Florida, I contacted Sam and he arranged for us to see the layout. We kept in touch with him and last year on our way to South Carolina, we met Sam for dinner one evening. Sam is now talking about making a trip up here in the summer and staying with us. All this was made possible by the Forum.

From there we visited Pat Norcross and his wife Tammy (Harmon Shops) and dropped some engines off to be repaired. Again, all Forum driven.

Stu Gralnik of Model Building Services in Salem Mass suggested Rocky Rockewicz invite me to join the Albany train group. We had become associated because of some models Stu built for me. Again, I got Stu's information from the Forum.

Our Albany group has an loose affiliation with the downstate Railboys and that is how I met you Arnold and developed a friendship with you. So my vote for the best train club is the Forum where all of the above contacts and friendships started. These are but a few of the friends I have made here.  Bill

So well stated by you, Bill. Thanks for sharing this. Arnold