HO Layouts in the Twin Cities

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hello everybody,

First post here, looks like a great forum and I have tons of reading to do! I’m slowly getting back into the hobby as the money situation gets better. I’m curious to know if there are any good HO layouts in or near the Twin Cities area in Minnesota that are open to the public. Just trying to get ideas and pictures in my head as to what I want to do down the road.

Also are there any more good model railroading forums like this on the net?

Thanks!

2

Here is an O scale one.

http://www.tcmrm.org/

Atlas (atlasrr.com) has a good forum.

3

Get in touch with the TCD(Twin Cities Div) of the TLR/NMRA. They have layout tours and great once/month meetings. Here is the URL:

http://www.twincitiesdivision.org/

Jim Bernier

4

Also, the Thousand Lakes Region of the NMRA 2006 convention is taking place in the Twin Cities this May, and will feature some layout tours.

http://www.thousandlakesregion.org/06/pages/schedule.html

5

Hennepin Overland has a layout that is open to the public various days. Check the schedule of events on the MR home page to get dates and directions.

Guy

6

I have lived here most of my life, and there aren’t many HO clubs that have regular visiting hours. In addition to the Hennepin Overland, there is the Newport club and U of M club.

The layouts that Jim mentioned as being part of the Twin Cities Division tours consist of 2 or 3 private layouts, a couple times per year, not all HO.

You will have a much easier time getting ideas from books, magazines, and the forum members, than you will from visiting layouts.

I don’t know what it is about the Twin Cities and model railroading. Given the size of the area, we have very few hobby stores, and very few train clubs. It is almost like everyone likes to do their own thing in private.

You are welcome to visit my layout, but it isn’t HO. I would be happy to help you plan a layout, something that I doubt too many others would be willing to do.

7

You did not ask about hobby shops, but I would highly recommend Beckers on
Silver Lake Road in New Brighton. It is about 1-2 miles North of I-694. He is very
knowledgeable but not all that friendly. Bill sells at a good discout and he only sells
Model RR stuff. Scale Model Supply is on the St. Paul side just North of I-94 on
Lexington Parkway.

Del

8

I am a big fan of Becker’s, but he has only a small layout demonstrating Woodland Scenics construction. The best way to see home layouts is to join TCD(Twin Cities Div) of the TLR/NMRA. I joined last year and have had a good time. The tours at the spring meet will be arranged through this group I believe.

9

There Newport Club in Newport, MN is usually open to public Mondays and Fridays 7-10pm. More details at:
http://newportclub.us

The Hennepin Overland Club is at:
http://www.hennepinoverland.org

The U of M club is at:
http://www.tc.umn.edu/~rrclubum/index.html

Also, there are impressive home layouts as well, but you probably need to know somebody to go see them. The Sierra railroad and another which models main line from WIllmar-Twin Cities-Iron range are several that come to mind.

Joe

10

The TCMRM was absolutely fantastic, as was the club at the UMN.

I also vouch for Beckers in New Brighton. Great shop, great person.

11

There is a train show in Lacrosse, WI next weekend March 18th and 19 th. Not a bda show lots of layouts.