A THOUSAND WORDS
The Southern Alberta Model Railway Club opened their doors to the public and other train or model train enthusiasts this weekend to take a look at the work and additions they have added to their layout over the last while.
Twice a year, the club opens to let people into the model train environment to talk about and explore the features of their display. SAMRC is a non-profit organization for model railway enthusiasts from a diverse range of background, professions and a wide range of ages.
“This is an open house that we have twice a year and it is an open house for the public to come and see what we do and what we have done over the last while,” says Tony Lee, Superintendent of SAMRC. “We build the various layout parts, as far as the in-scale and the HO scale, some of the buildings are kits, some of them are self-built just off of a picture of a building, and of course it is an ongoing procedure because some of this work that just started here is going to take years and years to complete.”
The concept behind the HO Scale permanent layout is based on a railroad in southern Alberta and the mountain area of British Columbia. It is set between the years of 1950 and 1960, featuring steam and first generational diesel locomotives.
The club has been together for 48 years creating and building their massive layout of HO Scale and N Scale tracks. Every Tuesday the group meets at the club to provide members with how-to modelling clinics, model railroad operations, host community groups, interact with other model railroad organizations, and to meet likeminded people within the community of southern Alberta.
“We meet every Tuesday night and interested people can just come down to Gyro Park and they are welcome to come and see what we are doing and see what goes on here,” says Lee.
“There is no pre-qualifications for being a member, anybody that has an interest in model trains are welcome to join, we have people from out of town such as Fernie, Coaldale, Raymond, so it is not just Lethbridge people."
The Southern Alberta Model Railway Club always invites new members who have an interest in modelling, electronics, carpentry, mechanical projects, photography, or artistic endeavors, as those skills are always needed in the club. For more information on how you can get involved with the club, visit
albertasouthernrailway.ca, or find them on Facebook at SAMR Club.
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