Kalamazoo Model Railroad Historical Society
Webpage Table of Contents
Introduction to our Society
Model Railroading and Our Organization -- Permanent Layout -- Modular Layout -- Full-Size Caboose
Meeting Schedule -- Library -- Public Exhibitions
Special Events -- Other Activities -- Annual Train Show and Sale -- Open House
How to Find Us -- Contact Information -- Non-profit Status
Railroad Links

Announcements and Special Events!

Our 30th. Annual Gigantic Train Show and Sale is October 25, 2009.
Click Here for Details

------- KMRHS Club Cars for sale -------

The "Woodruff Coal Company" 70-ton offset triple hopper is available for immediate shipment. Click Here for Picture and Details

The "Kalamazoo Stove Company" 40-foot boxcar, labeled "From Kalamazoo Direct To You!!!" is available for immediate shipment. Click Here for Picture and Details

Also check out our railroad themed coffee mugs, our "cab view" layout video and a Today In History railroad events computer program Click Here for Details

KMRHS has acquired a large book donation. Many books are not needed for
our library and are being sold for our building fund.
Click Here for Book list and prices.

The arrow indicates a link with pictures !!!

Introduction to our Society

Are you thinking about joining a model railroad organization? Or, are you interested in model trains and just starting out? Then you should be thinking about visiting the Kalamazoo Model Railroad Historical Society!

Why?

• The KMRHS is a very stable organization, having been in existence for over 50 years.
• We hold monthly sessions where we operate our large HO permanent layout in a prototypical manner.
• We are an active historical society collecting and preserving railroad memorabilia.
• Members have interests in all scales of model railroading and in full size railroading.
• Need to do research? We have an extensive library containing material on both model and full size railroading.
• Like to show the hobby to the public? Help us take our modular HO scale layout on the road for public showings.
• HO trains too small for you? Then help out with the restoration of our full size caboose!
• Join us every week and socialize with people who share in the world's greatest hobby!

Model Railroading and Our Organization

Model railroading is an international hobby that has over a half-million participants in the United States and additional hobbyists across the globe. Among the more famous hobbyists are talk show host Sally Jessy Raphael, actors Mandy Patinkin and Harrison Ford, Al and Bobby Unser and investment counselor Warren Buffet.

While there have been models of trains as long as there have been trains, the present hobby began in earnest during the Great Depression. The model railroader attempts to recreate a miniature replica of a railroad and its surroundings, either from the present day or from years gone by. Some modelers create this miniature world from pre-built models, others from commercial kits, and still others from basic wood and metal shapes. Control of the trains ranges from the simple "transformer" familiar to toy train owners to sophisticated computer, infrared or radio control. Many model railroaders remember fondly the Lionel or American Flyer toy trains they began with years ago, and those items too will be well represented at the show.

Model railroads come in a variety of sizes, from 1/220th actual size, or "Z" scale to 1/22.5, known as "G" scale. Model railroads designed to be used outdoors can be even larger. By far the most popular scale in the United States is "HO" at 1/87, followed by "N" at 1/160.

The Kalamazoo Model Railroad Historical Society has been in existence for over fifty years. It has been at its present location at 9336 North Riverview Drive in Cooper Township since the early 1970's. Membership is open to anyone interested in model railroading, and its library and collection of railroad and model railroad items are open to the general public by appointment. Meetings are Monday evenings from 7:00 until 10:00 and Saturdays from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm. Visitors are welcome at any of the meetings.

Permanent Layout

The Society's permanent layout, the Cooper Park & Eastern, is a mythical railroad named after Cooper Township, the location of the Clubhouse. The time modeled is 1960 to allow the prototypical inclusion of steam locomotives as well as diesel. The layout is modeled in HO scale and there is just over 212 actual feet of track on the main line. There are also narrow-gauge and trolley portions on the layout. The layout is wired for Digital Command Control and more than 6 trains can be running on the layout at one time. The CP&E is imagined to have strong ties to both the New York Central and Pennsylvania Railroads, so you will see a lot of equipment lettered for them as well as for the CP&E.

Modular Layout

The Society has also built a modular layout consisting of 12 - 6 foot by 2 foot sections that fit into our trailer and can be hauled to public exhibitions. The modular layout has 2 main lines and a local. The layout is wired for Digital Command Control and more than 4 trains have been running on the layout at one time. The layout has been in use since 2001 and while a model railroad can never be said to be finished, the modular layout is complete mechanically and electrically and most modules are completely scenicked.

Meeting Schedule

The KMRHS is open every Monday night from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM and Saturdays 11:00 to 1:00 (Holidays excepted). Operating Sessions (where members run trains on dispatched schedules) are held on the third and fifth Mondays of every month except October. Business meetings are held on the 2nd Monday and work sessions are held on Mondays not otherwise designated. Visitors are welcome to attend any of our meetings or sessions, and trains will be run for guests except in cases where construction on the layout prevents it.

Library

The KMRHS library is devoted to materials on model railroading and the history of railroads in general, concentrating on the railroads that served Kalamazoo County. There are both primary (Timetables, Official Guides, Maintenance manuals etc.) and secondary (books, magazines, videos) materials in the collection. We have a full run of Trains magazine and nearly full runs of Model Railroader and Railroad Model Craftsman. We are attempting to acquire back issues of other model titles to improve our collections of these and other magazines. KMRHS members may check out materials from the collection. The general public is welcome to use the collection while at the clubhouse. A movie production company, the National Park Service and local historians and authors all have used our library as a resource. The collection may be viewed during our regular meetings or by using the contact information at the bottom to make an appointment with the librarian.

Public Exhibitions

The KMRHS is available for lectures, presentations, and public exhibitions. We can arrange private showings of our facilities. Speakers with knowledge on both model and prototypical railroading are available for presentations. We also have a modular layout that can be set up at your location/function, or we can set up a temporary layout such as a Holiday themed layout.

1912 BCG&A Caboose

In 1999 former Boyne City Gaylord & Alpena caboose #802 was donated to our society. It was installed next to our clubhouse on track laid by club members. Much work has been done to restore it to its former condition, but much work needs to be done. With the completion of replacement platforms, new windows and doors and a stairway and deck, work has progressed to the point that we are proud to open the caboose to visitors (check when we are open) and during special events. Exhibits illustrate the history of railroading.

Train Show

Gigantic Train Show and Sale!
Our 30th. Annual Show!

Open House

Once or twice a year we hold an Open House to share our facility with the public. An announcement will be placed at the top of this webpage when plans are finalized for the next one.

Watch the Announcements and Special Events section at the top of this web page for other special events.

Previous Open House Pictures

Other Activities

Occasionally the KMRHS organizes a railfan trip. Below are links to pictures from past trips.

KMRHS recently went on a Rail Fan trip to The Little River Railroad.
Click Here for description and pictures.

How to Find Us

From the north, south, or west of Kalamazoo, Michigan:

Take US-131 to exit 44 (D Avenue). Take D Avenue east 5 miles to Riverview Drive. Turn left and travel north 1.3 miles. The entrance will be on the right side of the road.

From the east of Kalamazoo, Michigan:

Take I-94 west to exit 80 (Sprinkle Road). Travel north on Sprinkle/25th Street for a little over 8 miles until it curves to the west, where it will become D Avenue. Follow D Avenue West to the first stop sign (Riverview Drive). Turn right and travel north 1.3 miles. The entrance will be on the right side of the road.

When we are open, ( Meeting Schedule, Open House ), a large black on white reflective sign displays our logo and "Kalamazoo Model Railroad Historical Society" at the entrance road to our clubhouse.

Contact Information

The Kalamazoo Model Railroad Historical Society
9336 Riverview Drive
Kalamazoo, MI 49004
Phone: (269) 343-8269

Hours:
Mondays: 7 PM -10 PM and Saturdays: 11:00AM to 1:00PM
Other times by appointment

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 144
Parchment, MI 49004

Web address: http://www.kmrhs.org

Non-Profit Status

The Kalamazoo Model Railroad Historical Society is registered as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. As such, donations to further the goals of the KMRHS in encouraging Model Railroading and preserving the historic significance that Railroads played in the development of our country may be tax deductible.

Further, the organization is registered with the Kalamazoo Community Foundation. Your gift to our account in the foundation is tax deductible and may provide tax credits and other tax benefits. Please contact your financial advisor for more information.

If you wish to make a gift to the Kalamazoo Community Foundation in the name of the Kalamazoo Model Railroad Historical Society, please make your check payable to the Kalamazoo Community Foundation. On your check's memo line, please write "KMRHS". Gifts may be hand-delivered or mailed to the:

Kalamazoo Community Foundation
151 S. Rose St., Ste. 332
Kalamazoo, MI 49007-4775

Railroad Links!