Texas Gulf Division
MODEL RAILROAD CLUBS

See their web site for maps to the club, club meeting nights and times, photos of the layout and their operation system.

For more information contact:

The organization was founded in 1961 as the Gulf Coast Railroad Club, and became the Gulf Coast Chapter - National Railway Historical Society, Inc. in 1967. This group plays with the real thing in 1:1 scale. New members are always welcome, including people new to railroading.

The club operates a museum at 7390 Mesa Road. To reach the museum take Loop 610 East to McCarty Rd. (U.S. 90 East). Take US 90 East 1.1 miles past yellow flashing light to first traffic light, Mesa Rd. Turn left (North) on Mesa Rd. and go 1.2 miles. Look for the Railroad Museum on the right just past the large concrete Railwood sign.

The club focuses its preservation and education programs on its rail car collection, which includes: KCS round end observation car "Good Cheer"; ATSF streamlined sleeping car "Verde Valley"; ATSF baggage-express No. 1890; ATSF streamlined baggage-RPO No. 3401; MKT caboose No. 6; MKT streamlined coach "New Braunfels"; SP&S baggage car No. 50; Cities Service tank car No. 2198; Tex-Mex DS44-750 diesel locomotive No. 510, and T&P baggage car No. 650.

Gulf Coast Chapter members participate in a variety of interesting and enjoyable projects throughout the year. Volunteers undertake maintenance and restoration projects on the Chapter's equipment and displays, give tours, present lectures and multi-media shows, and host parties and meetings. Monthly meetings feature railroad theme films, video and slide shows, and guest speakers. A holiday season party and a photography contest are among the annual events organized for members. Excursions over area railroads are arranged periodically, occasionally using Chapter equipment.

The club has sponsored numerous steam and diesel excursions in recent years utilizing the Union Pacific excursion fleet, including the world's largest operating steam locomotive No. 3985, and the famous E-9 diesels. These trips have handled thousands of passengers, and are always big hits with the public. If you would like to be added to our mailing list for notification of future excursions, or need additional information about the chapter, please e-mail Mr. Don Kendall at: dkendall@neosoft.com. Please include your name, address, city, state, zip code, telephone and e-mail contact.

If you would like more information on membership, please write: Mr. Bill Willits, Membership
Director, Gulf Coast Chapter - NRHS, P.O. Box 457, Houston, TX 77001-0457.

For recorded information, please call: 713-631-6612.

Submitted by Bill Waldrop, Past-President, Gulf Coast Chapter - National Railway Historical Society, Inc. Houston, Texas. Last updated on December22, 1998. E-mail: chopper@neosoft.com

Houston Area "G" Gaugers

More on the Houston Area "G" Gaugers

Every Saturday afternoon the Houston Area 'G' Gaugers gather at their club room on the third floor of Town and Country Mall and operate their trains. Their layout is modular comprising more than 40 modules. The club participates in all area train shows and attracts the largest crowds to their setup. Especially popular are their circus trains and displays, which are typically set up on the floor. The kids sit their entranced and fascinated for hours at a time it seems.

The official club meeting time is the second Sunday afternoon of each month from 2-5 PM. These meetings are held on a round robin basis at member's homes and provide the opportunity to see and operate on members layouts. Club meetings primarily offer layout tours and open houses, operating sessions, and work sessions.

Visitors are welcome on Saturday afternoons at the clubroom in Town and Country Mall. Modelers with G gauge trains are invited to bring them to the club and run them. People new to model railroading are welcome. Dues are a modest $12 per year.

Last October, the club sponsored G gauge home layout tours on two weekends. Hopefully, these tours will be an annual affair and the weatherman will cooperate better in the future.

An excellent newsletter, The Houston Area 'G' Gauger, is published bimonthly for members and is often distributed free at club shows. The publication carries various articles and lots of photos in addition to meeting notices for the next two meetings. (Update from Dennis Grigassy, April, 1997.)

For information on the club contact, Otto Halek, 713-468- 8882.

Houston Area Live Steamers, Inc. (HALS)

More on the Houston Area Live Steamers

HALS members have a level of enthusiasm and depth of experience with "live steam" railroading they want to share with others. To join, a person does not need any live steam equipment or a shop full of tools. The only requirement is a curiosity for things mechanical, a desire to learn and a willingness to participate. One whiff of steam exhaust can easily expand into a lifelong love of live steam! People new to model railroading are welcome.

The club operates the Cypress Creek & Southern Railway, 1500 feet of 7-1/2" gauge, 1-1/2" scale live steam track in Zube Park (Northwest Houston). They have plans to expand this to 9,000 feet. And Phase II is well in progress, which adds 2300 feet of track and should be open in time for the SWLS meet on October 7 - 10, 1999. That's not scale feet, folks! They may smile when they say it, but it's still not 5,000 "smiles" either. That's almost 1 full mile of track.

To get to Zube Park: Take U.S. Hwy. 290 west approximately 14.2 miles past the intersection of 290 and FM 1960 to Roberts Road (If you leave Harris County - you went to far). Turn right on Roberts Road and proceed exactly one mile to a gate on the right. This gate is north of the main entrance to Zube Park and just past a creek bridge.

Besides the 1-1/2" scale railroad, some members work in 2.5" scale narrow gauge to run on 7.5 inch gauge track, 1" scale, and stationary steam.

See HALS web page for dues..

Monthly meetings are held - see the HALS web page for places.

For information on the club contact Lee Balkum, club president, 281-391-1967 or club treasurer Stu Marion at 281-890-4766.

More on the Houston Area Live Steamers

Houston Junction Railroad "A Model Club" formerly the Southwest Houston Model Railroad Club, Inc.

Disbanded for the last time!

Houston N'Crowd

The Houston N'Crowd was founded in 1978. The club meets on the 3rd Wednesday of the month on the second floor of Papa Ben's Train Place, 2506 South Boulevard on Houston's near southwest side.  The N'Crowd is currently building a permanent layout in it's club room at Papa Ben's. A few of the club's NTRAK modules are set up for operation and display in the meeting room at Papa Ben's. The N'Crowd has participated in many local, regional, and national programs, including hosting the National N-Scale Convention three times (1983, 1993, 2003). The club actively pursures new members interested in N-scale model railroading. Previous model railroad experience is not necessary and members readily provide help to novice and unskilled modelers. Interpersonal networking among members is excellent. 

The club provides many opportunities for members with varying levels of interest and skill.  A monthly newsletter is published. Meetings provide a full range of activities, including clinics, operating sessions, work sessions, videos, railfan activities and layout tours and open houses.  For more information on the club, see their website at www.houstonncrowd.org or contact:

Marty Giesecke, President
e-mail: ncrowd@mindspring.com

or

Papa Ben's Train Place
2506 South Boulevard
Houston, TX 77098

713-523-5600

e-mail: bpearlman@pearlman.com

Houston "O" Gauge Society (HOGS)

The HOGS are an informal group who primarily model in 2-rail O scale. There are 5 layouts available to their group. They welcome other modelers in 1/4" scale (They also have former O-scalers and "wanna be's") in their group. New modelers are welcome. Meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month in members' homes.

There are no dues, but members supply stamps to receive the HOGS Newsletter.

For information on the club contact:
David L. Ray
713-781-0132.

Houston "S" Gaugers

Houston "S" Gaugers is a cooperative workshop for members in 3/16" scale, narrow gauge, and American Flyer. They have built a "S" scale modular railroad; and they meet each Thursday at 7:30 PM at members' home railroads. Visitors are always welcome, including those new to model railroading.

The club does not have any dues and does not publish a newsletter.

The club layout is a 34' X 15' modular railroad, built to the National Association of S-Gaugers "S-Mod" standards, with Gulf Coast location as a theme.

For information on the club contact:
Bob Werre
281-495-8020.

HSME, one of the oldest model railroad clubs still in existence in Houston, has completely rebuilt its layout. Located at 4816 Croix Parkway, Manvel, TX., the new layout features a peninsula style linear track plan with DCC.

For information on the club contact:
John Jackson 281-238-9363
Ted Ferkenhoff 281-835-6010.

Houston Tinplate North Model Railroad Club

Houston Tinplate Operators Home Page
Do you remember when young boys growing up did not recognize "Lionel" as being a person's name? Lionel meant "electric trains." On the second floor of Town and Country Village, next to Neiman Marcus is the place to operate O gauge trains. Members of the Houston Tinplate Operators Society are first of all operators. That's their name and that is what this club is about. There are also some collectors. At the club you can see anything from early postwar to the latest limited production O gauge tinplate equipment.

However, that is not all to be seen at the club. You don't have to drive all the way out to Zube Park to see live steam. One member scratchbuilds O gauge live steam engines and occasionally will operate live steam on the layout. So when you visit and your nose starts to tingle, you aren't imagining things.

Meetings are on Tuesday nights at 7:30 and consist of operating sessions and work sessions. Annual dues are $50. The club is open to new members and people new to model railroading are welcome. A club newsletter is in the planning stage.

For information on the club contact, Tom Lytle at 523-9866 or Mike Schneider at 526-3461 (work number. The best time to call is 8:30-10 AM).

Katy Model Railroad Club

The Katy Club is named for the town which is named for the railroad. You do not have to model the Katy Railroad to be a member of the Katy Model Railroad Club. Some members do have an unusual affection for the Katy, but others disavow any affinity for this fallen flag.

The Katy Model Railroad Club began as a modular club and has acquired a permanent clubroom. They are constructing a layout consisting of a twisted dogbone with reverse loops and hidden storage yards providing both point to point and continuous operation. The clubroom is provided courtesy of live steamer, Dr. Bing, a club member and avid Katy Railroad fan.

The club is open to new members, both experienced modelers as well people new to the hobby. Dues are $24 per year. The club publishes an occasional newsletter, The Tower. Meetings are held at the clubroom on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at 7:30 PM. Meetings consist of occasional clinics, swap meets, operating sessions, work sessions, videos, and layout tours and open houses. To find the clubroom drive out to Katy to Landry's between Mason Road and the Grand Parkway. Dr. Bing's office is in the same shopping center as Landry's. Drive behind the building and on meeting nights you will find a bunch of cars parked back there. The open door will take you into the clubroom, or if there is not an open door, use the door with the large Katy Model Railroad Club sign.

Members of the club have more than fifty modules that are exhibited at several shows each year. Most of the modules differ from standard HO modules. The Katy MRRC module standards calls for a 6 foot length to their modules. The modules still interchange with standard HO modules, but they provide a larger area for scenicking and other enhancements. Besides two mainlines, over half of the modules include a branchline that sometimes meanders around the countryside like a branchline should. The club is more relaxed and laidback about module standards than other module clubs. Modules that work and interchange with other modules is what matters.

For information on the club contact:
Lou Mehr
281-347-1221

NWX Northwest Crossing Model Railroad Club

Jump to the NWX Home Page

The Northwest Crossing Model Railroad Club (NWX) is the largest module club in the Houston area and also the oldest.  When the club started, way back when, some of the more staid modelers around reacted, "Modules!  What's that?"  "What are they going to do?  Meet in someone's garage and do what?"

What's your scale?  It doesn't matter!  You will be welcome at NWX.  NWX is the only multiple-scaled club in Houston.  The club has operating layouts in HO, N, and Z scales.  A little known fact about us is that we also have a "rollercoaster" division (if it rides on rails, we like it).  Our modules are known for their prize winning scenery.  The club is serious about their module standards, making for excellent operation.  Meetings are held on the second Friday of every month at 7:30 PM at Luby's in the shopping center located at Eleventh Street and Shepherd (just north of I-10).  Come out for an excellent Friday night dinner and the meeting, all rolled in one.  Meeting run the full gamut of activities including dinner, clinics, door prizes, operating sessions, work sessions, videos, railfan activities, layout tours, and open houses.  We are annually invited for an operating session on Gil Freitag's "Stony Creek and Western Railroad."

People new to model railroading are welcome, as are the "old timers."  The basic requirement is that you enjoy trains.  The club participates in several shows a year.  We have done setups at train shows in Temple and New Braunfels, as well as the Great American Train Show (twice a year) here closer to home.  Members of NWX receive the club's monthly newsletter, "The Crossing" and our dues are $40.00 per year.

For more information on the club contact:
Kelly Russell or see his NWX home page
PO Box 218043
Houston, TX 77218

SJMRRC San Jacinto Model Railroad Club, Inc.

The oldest model railroad club still operating in the Division. The club, in present name, dates from 1953. Members model in every scale imaginable (and probably some unimaginable). The club has a small HO scale switching layout set up at their annual jamboree and at other shows. However, the club does not have a club layout in the usual sense. The primary characteristic of the club is social with members sharing a common bond of interest in all aspects of rail transportation.

Call the contact Don Bozman (281-481-0352) for the meeting location. Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:30 PM. The November meeting is traditionally held at the clubroom of the Houston Society of Model Engineers and the December meeting is hosted by the Freitags.

Regular meetings include clinics, operating sessions, videos, and layout tours and open houses. Recent meeting programs include clinics on scratchbuilding, wet-weathering freight cars and structures, building trees, reworking Athearn diesels to run smoothly and quietly, card-order operations, and videos of South American steam railroads, trains running through the Columbia Gorge, and trains in British Columbia. Members made each of these videos.

San Jac is a 100% NMRA club requiring membership in the National Model Railroad Association and the Lone Star Region for full San Jacinto membership. Associate membership is also available. The annual cost of either membership is a minuscule $4.00. Included with each membership is the monthly newsletter, The Derail.

Five San Jac members are Master Model Railroaders and many are life members of the National Model Railroad Association. Rumor has it that a couple of the members have six Achievement Certificates and need only a little additional oomph to receive their Master Model Railroader designation. Members of the club have been generous in donating their time to advancing the hobby.

The club sponsors an annual jamboree each March providing some 50 60 vendor tables and attracting 300+ modelers. Another annual event sponsored by the club are home layout open house tours each November. Thirty to forty layouts are open at various times during the month. Many of these have been featured in national magazines and are some of the best railroads in the country.

People new to the hobby are welcome to join and will find help and assistance with their modeling.

Petticoat Junction Model Rail Road Fellowship
 

Petticoat Junction Model Rail Road Fellowship, and we meet once a month to eat and talk about trains (and other stuff).

Meetings: First Friday of each month, at 6:30.
Where: Valley Ranch BBQ Resturant, Hwy 249 and Spring Cypress Rd.

Membership: It is required that you like trains and good food, but not necessarily in that order.
We have no officers, no dues and no bylaws.

For more information: Click Here to join our yahoo group and click all the right buttons; or call Bill Wilson @ 281-376-0654 in the evenings.