Oldest Model Railroad Club In America

Presented by The Society of Model Engineers

Three Weekends Only:   Nov. 14-15,  Nov. 21-22 and 28-29

341 Hoboken Road,  Carlstadt,  NJ   (One Mile from MetLife Stadium)

SOCIETY TO DISPLAY MODEL TRAINS

"A world of miniature trains", that is how the Society of Model Engineers located in Carlstadt, NJ, has been described.  For the members of the nonprofit group dedicated to model trains it is even more. The excitement and "Romance of Railroads"; and the enjoyment of building and displaying model trains has kept the Society of Model Engineers going for over eighty-nine years. That is not a misprint , formed in 1926, this makes it the oldest model train group in the United States. The members of the Society have a devoted love of trains and have joined together to operate a train museum and two large "Railroad Empires".

The pride of the Society, these "Empires", the model train layouts and exhibition area cover almost 5,000 square feet.  The larger "O" Scale layout is 40 by 70 feet and has almost 20 scale miles of train track.  It features a detailed scenic diorama with realistic track work, roads, interesting structures, bridges and tunnels.  The "HO" Scale layout is approximately 30 by 45 feet. It also, is fully scenic with miles of scale track.  Over 50,000 miniature trees have been installed by the members to depict Northern New Jersey.

Model trains will be operating on both layouts.  Many of the models are one of a kind and were handmade by Society members. Trains of all types, passenger, freight, and circus trains, will be operating on schedules controlled by club members.  Members take pride in operating their miniature railroad just like real railroads operate.  The members claim that the only exception to real railroad operation is they operate "On time, all the time!".  Model trains will be running continuously for everyone's enjoyment.

Also on display will be the Society's collection of historic railroad memorabilia.  This collection includes the world's largest display of illuminated tail signs. These are signs that hung from the Observation Cars, that ran at the end, of many famous passenger trains. The signs now serve to remind us of that glorious means of travel by rail.  The Pennsylvania "Broadway Limited", the New York Central “20th. Century Limited" and the Lackawanna "Phoebe Snow" are only a few of the many tail signs in the Society's collection.  The Society historic collection also includes a large number of railroad lanterns, steam locomotive bells and whistles, railroad photos and other railroad items.

The Society is a nonprofit historical and educational organization founded in 1926.  It is the oldest model railroad club in the United States.  The membership, of over one hundred, have joined together in the common interest of preserving the historical significance of American Railroads through models and memorabilia.

The Society's Annual Holiday Exhibition will be the coming weekends of, November 14, 15,  November  21, 22 and November 28, 29, 2015 at their headquarters located at 341 Hoboken Road, Carlstadt, NJ, only one mile from the MetLife’s Jets & Giants Stadium. 

Hours of the exhibition are, Saturdays and Sundays -  1:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M..  Donation asked is $7.00 for adults and $1.00 for children 

Additional information and travel directions can be obtained by calling 201-939-9212 or going to the Society's web site www.ModelEngineers.org.

Note: This is not a sell and swap style train show.