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The Battle
Creek Model
Railroad Club was originally organized in 1949.
It was active in varying degrees until 1965 when it went
inactive. In the
winter of 1973-74, the group was
reactivated and has been involved in various railroad projects since
then. Club members
were involved with the creation
of the Z.O. & O. Railroad at Binder Park Zoo.
They have assisted with and sponsored model
railroad conventions including the National Model Railroad
Association’s North
Central Region Convention held in Battle Creek in 1985 and participated
in
various local exhibits.
Previously,
the primary
membership activity had been the construction and operation of two
modular
railroads, one in HO Scale and one in N Scale, both of which were at
the club’s
current location at 2 West Michigan Ave, in Downtown Battle Creek,
Michigan.
Before obtaining this
excellent location for our railroads, the HO Scale railroad was
exhibited at
various locations in Battle Creek, specifically at Kimball House Museum
the
Comerica Bank Building and the UAC Family Place during the Festival of
Lights,
and several exhibitions at McCamly Place.
In addition, we have had several exhibits of Lionel
equipment at various
locations, and activity involving the N Scale Railroad have ceased.
The
HO scale named the “Cereal
Belt Industrial Railroad—CBIR”, is the scene of active construction and
expansion. The
original layout was
constructed to strict NMRA modular standards.
The result was a layout that was easy to move for various
exhibits, and
easy to assemble in various configurations.
As time went on the prospect of disassembling, moving, and
reassembling
the layout became less appealing, the modules began to deviate from the
published standards, and the result is the present layout. The main loop consists of
two operating
mainlines, running in opposite directions, which allows for continuous
operation. Many of
the modules have been
modified by their owners to allow for a variety of switching operations. The first major addition
was a large switch
yard located at the northwest corner of the layout.
This area allows trains to be generated and
switched onto the main line. There
are
crossovers that allow trains to be moved between the two main lines.
A second addition was a series of oversized
modules, 30 inches wide rather than the 24 inch standard, adding the
peninsula
in the center of the main loop. The
peninsula was built 6 inches higher than the rest of the layout, and
connected
via a long grade to the west side of the layout.
The peninsula currently under construction is
intended to be an extensive industrial switching area.
It can be operated independently of the main
loop, and it will be possible to move trains between the two. Additionally a second
grade, back to the
mainline, has been constructed to
allow trains to return directly to the main line on the east side.
Recently
the layout has been
rewired allowing for “Command Control” that allows an operator to
control the
train from anywhere on the layout without the need for block control. This will allow more
prototypical
operations. In
addition the members
decided it was time for a “traveling layout”, for exhibition to the
public. Work is in
progress on a new modular
railroad for that purpose with a trailer outfitted to haul it to
various
locations. Concurrently,
a project to
install color television camera in the nose of a HO locomotive which
will give
spectator the impression of riding in the cab of the locomotive.
Club business
meetings are
held on the first Wednesday of the month, except during July and August. Work and operation session
are held on
Tuesday and Thursday evening, and occasionally, Saturday mornings. We are always looking for
new members, and
membership is open to anyone interested in model railroading. Affiliation with other
model railroad
organizations is encouraged but is not required for membership.
"Modeling
in the Cereal City"
The Battle
Creek Model Railroad Club, INC.
2
West Michigan Ave
Battle Creek, MI 49017
Call 269-763-9685 and arrange a visit today!
Ring the Bell - (1 Long & 2 Shorts)