Everything on model trains, model railroads, model railways, locomotives, model train layouts, scenery, wiring, DCC and more. Enjoy the world's best hobby... model railroading!

model scale railroad houses to construct ho scale n scale oo gauge

About The Northern Lights Model Railroad Association and Railroad Museum

Club member David sent in this information about the Northern Lights Model Railroad Association and Railroad Museum.

The purpose of the club is to share the joys of model railroading. The experience is not limited to controlling trains as they go around on the track but include a number of other disciplines including artistic construction of models, programming controllers, wiring electrical circuits, woodworking, and the thrill of seeing a plan put through from an idea to something that works and you can see in action.

Members also meet new people with similar interests and share other aspects of life related to the hobby.

The layout is a HO scale model railroad. It is located in it’s own room and the layout is 32 feet by 17 feet. A public viewing hall on one side borders the room and is glass enclosed from the public. The layout is a double dog bone. It was designed with two factors in mind, It was designed with no duck under, and that it would be DCC controlled.

The layout is powered by its own dedicated 30-amp power supply with lighting and power surge protection. It is wired for DCC with two separate buss wires of #4 bare copper ground wires.
Digitrax manufactures the DCC system and the layout uses a DB 100 and a DB 150 as a booster . There are 14 UP 3’s space around the layout plus the the layout is also fully radio and infrared compatible using 300R hand throttles and Digitrax UR 91’s radio receivers. All wiring is heavy duty commercial and relays, which were used, are Potter Brumfield bottle relays with 12-volt control voltage.

The layout will have a full size double ended yard, full engine facilities with a working 130 foot turntable, round house and backshop, store house and power house. There is about 1500 feet of code 100 nickel silver track.

In the future the club has plans to be able to dispatch trains from the Telegraphers office through the use of the club computer.

In addition to model railroading, the Association is also dedicated to preserving the history of railroading in the region. The Association’s museum has a number of pieces that represent railroading’s past including the caboose, switch gear, signaling equipment and several motorized railroad vehicles.

Current projects include restoration of a Great Northern Caboose, Expansion of Casy Holt Juction (Club House/Railroad History Museum Building) Restoration of serval motorized railroad vehicles and Track Relay Project.

The project will include:

  • A #9 90 pound left-hand switch
  • 500 feet of 90 pound track
  • A road crossing and road bed
  • Working crossing signals

Northern Lights Model Railroad Association and Railroad Museum 219 20th Street NE, East Grand Forks, Minnesota, USA.

One Response to About The Northern Lights Model Railroad Association and Railroad Museum

  • ray brendlinger says:

    I was in the Northern Lights model R.R. club in 1985. It was in the basement of the VFW on Fireweed Lane. We had about 15 active members at that time. Wish I could have stayed, but was in the A.F at the time, left A. in May 86′ Had a great time

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Add a photo or image related to your comment (JPEG only)

Reader Poll

Which scale of model trains do you operate or prefer?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION

Download Your Free Catalog

Use Tiny Railroad Micro Controllers

N Scale Track Plans

Watch Video

Model Train DCC HELP

Model Train Help Ebook

NEW TO MODEL TRAINS?

FREE Tour Inside Club

Take a FREE tour inside the club.

Scenery Techniques Explained

Scenery & Layout Ideas

Model Railroading Blog Archive