Riderwood Model Railroaders is a community group that is constructing, operating and improving an HO scale model railroad layout, not only for its own pleasure, but for demonstrating to fellow residents and visitors at open houses and other special events. Members carry out projects of planning, design, and construction to promote the art of model railroading. New members are always welcome to share in the enjoyment of this fascinating hobby. No experience necessary. If your interests run in the direction of carpentry, painting, wiring electronics, model building, scenery construction, operating or just like to watch the trains move and blow the whistles, come and join the model railroaders.
Contact: Bob Rushing at railroaders@riderwoodlife.com.
Meeting Time: Tuesday mornings from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Location: Room T20, Terrace Level of Garden View (See map for directions)
Model Railroading
Miniature railroads, model railroads or toy trains, regardless of what you call them, have been a hobby with the young and old, mostly boys and men, but not exclusively so, for over 100 years. We would guess that most male residents of Riderwood had a Lionel or American Flyer train set around the Christmas tree or otherwise in their home, sometime when they were young.
A history of the Riderwood Model Railroad, and plans for the near future are available by clicking on this link.
The Riderwood Model Railroad is a multiple track HO layout that circles villages on three peninsulas.
The group also built a companion 4×8 foot table with examples of different scales of model trains that cover the major scales that most modelers use. See the different scales in this video.
In 2013 we converted the main HO layout from analog DC power to a DCC (Digital Command Control) system. This greatly expands the flexibility of running multiple trains at one time on the same track. DCC runs on a technology similar to that of the Internet. Each engine is controlled by a computer chip, and commands to each engine flows as packets of information through the rails.
In mid-2022 we are working on plans to rebuild the oldest peninsula with more of a city theme.