Just wondering if there any around me here in lil ol Columbus Ks.I live about 30 mins south of Pittsburg Ks and about 25 miles east of Joplin Mo if that helps anybody.
halfpint, Go to: http://www/mobil1.net/users/sd/pmrc You will find the web site for a club in Pittsburg, Kansas that runs a modular layout. Dean The Train Doctor
From the Mid-Continent Region, NMRA website, this bit of info: Cherry Valley Model Railroad Club. . . . . . . . .Scale: HO and N Depot Street Cherryvale, KS 67335 Our model railroad club has been in existence for over ten years. We have been in our new home in Cherryvale for over 5 years now. We are located in an ex-Santa Fe depot where the Santa Fe's Tulsan and Oil Flyer once roamed. The club has a double decker layout in HO and a single level layout in N scale. The time periods modeled are anywhere from steam to the modern equipment era. We also get to see at least one train a night during the meeting thanks to the South Kansas & Oklahoma RR, a shortline in the area. We also have another club in the passenger side of the depot that is a historical society, called the Heart of the Heartlands. Meetings: Every Friday at 7pm in Cherryvale. Open house information: We have one open house every year in the month of May, usually during the 2nd or 3rd Saturday in May. Other open houses are held according to local events around Cherryvale. We have even had various schools visit the depot. Come down and see what we have to offer. Info: John R. Dhooghe, 25057 Queens Rd., Parsons, KS 67357, (316) 421-3178 E-mail:JRDhooghe@aol.com Hope this helps.........
ISTR there was a model RR club in the Joplin area- the Southwestern Missouri. There's also a swap meet at the exhibit hall in Shifferdecker Park on the west side of Joplin (just off of old US 66) around the Thanksgiving weekend- it's worth a look-see. I wish I knew if the Joplin club was still around, but I've lost my contact number- sorry. Hope you've had a chance to check out the hobby shop in Pittsburg. Reason I know about some of this is that I have family in Miami and Galena, and used to live in Afton- the folks used to live there until Dad passed away & Mom sold the house & moved to Miami. With BNSF action in Miami, Columbus & down along Neosho, and the KCS in Pittsburg (not to mention the SE&K/SK&O), you should have plenty of RR action. Good luck in your search.
Thnaks for the replies guys.I'll have to give the Cherryvale club a shout.It's about an hour drive from my house.Not to bad of a drive. Friscobob,i used to live at Great Trains in Pittsburg for about 2 yrs.When I got bored I'ld go up there and just hang out.Haven't been back up there for a few years tho.I went to the show in Joplin you spoke of 2 yrs ago and Steve(the owner of Great Trains)was having to downsize his inventory.To much overhead and not enough business.Guess I should give him a shout about the model clubs. Thanks again guys.
Halfpint: If you haven't heard (I'm sure you know), the annual model RR swap meet in Joplin is taking place the Saturday after Thanksgiving at the exhibits building in Schifferdecker Park, West 7th St (old US 66) and Schifferdecker Rd. Should open up about 9:00 AM, nominal admission fee. Considering the closeness of Columbus to Joplin, you may want to check it out.
Last year was the first I had missed it in a few years years.The last time I was there tho,it kinda stunk.Not much as far as nice stuff to buy.Although Steve,owner of Great Trains in Pittsburg,was there and I did get to talk to him.I had already planned on going again this year.Thanks for the heads up tho. Gary
I was in Afton, OK for Thanksgiving weekend back in 1996, and went to that swap meet. It wasn't bad- the Frisco RR Museum had a display, and I was able to talk to Alan Schmitt again. Picked up a few odds & ends, & got back to Afton just in time to see BNSF's Santa Claus Express sitting in Kahoga siding, east of Afton, waiting for the right time to enter town. Took Mom & the family trackside to see this train. Kids got a kick out of it (so did I). Again, back then there was a RR club in Joplin, but I don't know if it's still around. Hopefully you'll have more stuff to choose from this year.
