In search of HO Scale layouts in Montana

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Hey Everyone, My name is Logan Thurman and I’m very much interested in looking to find HO Scale Layouts that I would be able to go to in western Montana to go to for operating sessions and/or tours. I don’t currently have a layout of my own as I do not have the space for a layout, but I do run Brass Northern Pacific steam with DCC and Sound. I mostly like to model the 1930s (or in NP history, The Dirty Thirties). I’m also only 24 years old and currently live in the Bitterroot Valley.

Thanks,

Logan Thurman

2

The NMRA has lists that will be useful. Both clubs and smaller layout groups.

shane

3

My grasp of Montana geography is rusty (and was never shiney) but if you Google “model railroad Montana” you quickly find clubs and what appears to be a hobby shop or two. There is also a reference to a huge layout shown at the Montana state fair. Perhaps that hobby shop has a bulletin board where you could post your contact info? Whether any are Western Montana I cannot say - I see references to Flathead Valley Bozeman, Livingston, Billings and Polson. Evidently there is an Ntrak group but they might know HO-ers, plus some HO guys have an Ntrak module for the social aspect of it.

Dave Nelson

Dave Nelson

4

Hello All,

I checked two resources from the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA).

One is open to the public and the other is for members only.

The first is the 100% NMRA Club Directory, which is available to non-members.

Unfortunately, the nearest clubs to you are in Lewiston, Idaho, or Sheridan, Wyoming.

I also accessed the members-only NMRA Model Railroad Directory. This is a voluntary listing of members’ layouts that are available to visit.

Again, nothing in the great state of Montana.

There are three HO layouts listed in the Meridian, Idaho, area- -west of Boise.

If you are interested let me know and I will reach out to them to see if they would be willing to give tours to a fellow modeler.

ROAD TRIP!!!

Another option would be to become an NMRA member and reach out to them yourself.

They may have unlisted contacts closer to your location.

An advantage of NMRA membership is they have a pretty good members-only magazine along with the benefits I have listed above and member discounts at over 50 model train suppliers including; Badger Air Brushes, Trainz.com, Titchy Train Group, Scale Coat Paint. Rusty Stumps, MRC, Micro-Mark, Digikeijs, CMR Products, and many more.

(This is not meant to s

5

Logan, I am in Billings, obviously quite a ways from you and not that familiar with your side of the state. However, there is a hobby shop in Missoula that has quite a bit of train stuff, I can’t think of their name, but I think it has “Treasurers” in it. I would start there.

Steve

6

Yes I know The treasure chest of hobbies very well, I’m also a member of the Helena Railroad Club under the Western Montana Railway Historical Assosiation. There is so far two private layouts in Missoula and stevensville, but I’m looking for more of anyone who has a private layout who’s interested in some help from me, but I thought this would be a great place to try connecting to others that may be in Montana.

7

Hi Logan,

This may be of interest to you. Google ‘The Treasure State Railway’, built by the late Pete Ellis. I think the model is now in a museum, in the USA.

This is on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFyOJRDsuWM&ab_channel=ChetZaiko

I only researched it when I bought a used HO Boxcar (in a job-lot, £5.00 each) which was custom painted and decalled “Treasure State Railway” ‘TSRY’. There is also a date from 2008, hand-painted on the underside.

The paint-job and decals have been well executed.

I am intrigued as to how this Boxcar ended-up in the UK, if it has in fact ever graced the TSRY in the States (I must admit, I had to Google ‘The Treasure State’ itself - let alone it’s model railway)

But the video is worth a watch. Regards, Paul