As the title states, I want to start a train club in my town of Lititz, PA, and am doing that for a school project. Does anyone have any pointers of ideas about how to do that quickly and easily, meaning in a month or less? Also, rent is not out of the option, but would have to be very cheap. My father suggested finding a place with an unused basement, or something like that. He suggested contacting the Chamber of Commerce, and I have, but have got nothing back. Any ideas or suggestions are welcome!
Thanks, Trainman05/MatthewB.
Since it is a school project, I would first go to the principal and or the head custodian, perhapse there is a place in the basement that would be available.
Then I would post to the school, maybe even with an announcement over the PA.
I would suggest a modular club (LION has NEVER done modular), that way people can take their modules with them after the school year or when they graduate.
Our schools had basements that were paved directly under the hallways, but had a sandy floor under the rest of the class rooms.
Maybe something could be fixed up in there. Perhaps something like the N-Trak modules would work. Everybody brings in their modules and sets them up in the gymnaisium for the science fair or what ever.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Just like that! hey?
Do you have all of the members on board, and a commitment to help with the rent? And all that goes along with starting a club?
Renting a place, which is going to be expensive, you'll need insurance, and all kinds of stuff to go with it. unless you can find a sympathetic business owner that has the space.
If this is just a school project, how long do you think it will last? In a year or so, or sooner, is interest going to fade, and members move on? What about the school? Do they have any space for your "project"?
Maybe start out at a home of one of the members, or your house. Have it in your basement, as you are the one starting the club.
Mike.
My You Tube
Thanks both very much. I would like the club to be more public than a school basement (especially because I am one of 2 or 3 train buffs in the school, and the only one who has models) but it is certainly a possibility. technically the project is due in one week (I had emailed many clubs in my area, and only got one response. Honestly, I don't know why I didn't come here first . My presentation for the project will probably just show the "planning" of the project, and maybe be an advertisement for the club, but I would certainly want to at least have a potential or definate space for the club, as to seem more "serious thing that is going somewhere" rather than "finite temporary school project".
Thanks a lot, MatthewB.
Also, my house is crowded enough already, and we don't have a basement.
Thanks, MatthewB.
Trainman2005 My presentation for the project will probably just show the "planning" of the project, and maybe be an advertisement for the club, but I would certainly want to at least have a potential or definate space for the club, as to seem more "serious thing that is going somewhere" rather than "finite temporary school project".
I think that's the best way to get the club going, is explaining the club, the goals, and using your presentation as the "launching point" to see what interest you can gather up.
It takes a lot of commitment to organize, and maintain a club. I'm sure some of the members in here that are involved in clubs will chime in.
But over all, as a beginning, let your presentation be the start. Don't worry about renting space, and all of the logistics that go along with it, right away. You need to get lots of involvement, and commitments to go on to the next step.
You don't want to find a place to rent, and it sits empty untill you get everyone on board. Finding the location would be more like phase II, as there is a lot to do get phase I off the ground and rolling.
I don't know if this would work for your school project, but the easiest way to form a club would be to create a "round robin" club, one where club members take turns hosting the club at their home layout. That way, you don't have to try to find a place to rent, a system for collectiong dues, or paperwork to file to incorporate as a non-profit so you can take donations etc. In the future, if you get a lot of members, you could look at doing something more 'official' like renting or buying a space and building a club layout. In the meantime, you could do as suggested and do some sort of Free-Mo modules that you could take to a local train show to operate and perhaps attract new members.
A true train or model train club where interested members have equal voice (versus the kind of club where one guy has the layout and others are invited to join in building it and operating it) is a long term commitment and not easy to fit in with the limited time frame of a school project. By that I mean there is a long period of thought and discussion before there is even a thought of benchwork much less track plan. Effective clubs benefit from genuine leadership, which is good, but it also leads to model railroad politics, which is not always good but might be necessary. Some lucky clubs all get along so well that leadership is not an issue. But money and "who owns what" are always an issue that is best established and agreed to early on.
I have no idea whether today's schools have the kinds of clubs (stamp collecting club, coin collecting club, etc. At my school there was even a "fly-tying club" for kids that liked fishing) that schools did in my day but seeing if there would be interest in an on-going school "train club" that would still be there after you leave, setting it up and recruiting for it, might itself be a worthy project.
Now that I think of it most of the clubs that existed in my school were the result of a teacher or administrator who really liked a particular subject, coins or stamps or fishing. Is there a teacher or administrator who likes trains? Seek them out.
I think "Lion's" idea of modular model railroading has much merit. Each participant would build their own module (or modules), or the group could work on each one as a learning experience, but each would be "owned" by a member rather than the club as a group, to common standards and all you'd need is a spare room now and then to set it up, and public libraries or shopping malls might host a little "train show" now and then. Ntrak is perhaps the most well known example but there are others. That way finding space for a permanent layout, which could be time consuming and lead nowhere, is not even an issue.
Dave Nelson
The only actual open club I know of in your immediate area is in Ephrata. There are others slightly further away.
I will say, you have pretty much a 0% chance of actually forming and starting a club is less than a week. Better your idea to make the presentation about how to go about such a thing - which may generate enough interest to actually get the whole thing off the ground.
Modular is definitely a good way to go - you don't really need permanent quarters, but you do need someone capable of negotiating with various venues for temporary displays. here are numerous standards you can follow, depending on scale, which would then allow participation in larger shows, national and even international in scope.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
starting a train club relatively quickly and easily
The above ideas all in one sentence? They seem to be somewhat mutually exclusive.
Time for a Father Ted meme:
But it's good to have goals!
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
rrinker I will say, you have pretty much a 0% chance of actually forming and starting a club is less than a week.
I will say, you have pretty much a 0% chance of actually forming and starting a club is less than a week.
Rich
Alton Junction
I would recommend going modular or going round robin. You just won‘t be able to find a space or members in one week to have a real club. If you have a layout and you have friends with layouts start a round robin. This really doesn’t require much formal, really just people with layouts, and they don’t have to be big layouts. The modular option would be better if there are few model railroaders in the area. Three people can easily look like a modular club if everyone is in it. If you go modular, I recommend T-Trak to start. You could make a start with a circle of T-Trak in a week, provided you’ve got other people to help build, so it’s a club.
Good luck with your project. It’s going to be hard, a club requires you to know others in the hobby, and they don’t form in a week. You may only get a plan done by your deadline, hope that will work okay...
Regards, Isaac
I model my railroad and you model yours! I model my way and you model yours!
richhotrain I finally dissolved the club.
What else can you do being forced into such a situation? You were backed into a corner !
Or, you could've learned to cook your own dinner, but, they (wives) seem to have way more trump cards, and it would only get uglier!
Smart move Rich.
mbinsewiyou could've learned to cook your own dinner, but, they (wives) seem to have way more trump cards, and it would only get uglier!
The dinner or the wife?
Hello All,
What level of "club" are you considering?
Are you looking at a gathering of like minded enthusiasts that meet on a regular basis or a formally recognized organization with tax exempt status?
Do you want this entity to be associated with the NMRA?
As I recall from high school there were many extra curricular clubs. Each of these had a teacher as an advisor.
Have you talked to your school counselor about the feasibility?
Another option would be to contact the nearest club to you, no matter the distance.
Communicate with the president and see how feasible this is given you time line.
Creating a formal organization can take more time than you have.
But again...(see my signature)
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
richhotrainI started my train club in one day - - - with me and the wife as members. When she failed to attend any sessions, I started issuing fines.
Do you have a deathwish? Or as the Germans say, lebens mude.
mbinsewiWhat else can you do being forced into such a situation?
Maybe temporary insantity.
Rich is a brave man!
Commit hara kiri? (ritual suicide)
Trainman2005technically the project is due in one week
how many more years will you be attending the school?
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
This actual school, one more year, but the district still has 4 and a half on me, plus, I would like to involve more than just kids, if possible. Besides, I only have 2 other train nerds in school and neither have serious model trains, just the classic HO-Around-The-Christmas-Tree thing.
Thanks, tm05/MatthewB.
Trainman2005 I only have 2 other train nerds in school
There you go! Three people building a couple of T-Trak modules each and you have a layout on a table! You don't have to actually build it all in a week. Just make a presentation describing the T-Trak process, it's low cost, easy set-up, and what you can do with it to form a club. It will get the other two people more interested in something beyond a loop around the Christmas tree, and might also interest others you don't even know yet. Good luck!
Hornblower
I think this is an exciting project. I think Lion's suggestion of trying to find some space at school makes a lot of sense. When I was in school, I was part of the 4H club and we met during lunch hour... Have good memories of that. Maybe the school can find you a small room, with a locked door, and you can start something small, like a 4X6 layout. Start with a table and track to get you started. There are great plans out there you can follow.
Keep us posted!
Simon
rrinker The only actual open club I know of in your immediate area is in Ephrata. There are others slightly further away.
A little closer to him is the Manheim Historical Society. They have a little layout that was pretty much abandoned when the group running it disbanded/died out/whatever. Sounds like a coupel of people finally stepped in to get it running again last year. Perhaps they'd be interested in some help?
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
That's a more doable idea, and maybe they can make a temporary extension. I would like to, if possible, make my club about Lititz PA, as it was fairly important as an intermediate town along the line. Maybe the Manheim club can make a track that branches off of their main and the club builds modules to make the town.
Now that looks like an excellent possibility. A page from their web site:
https://www.manheimhistoricalsociety.org/railroad-station
Another choice would be to talk to the pastor of your Church and maybe the Church could use the club as a youth project.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Sorry for this thread being silent for a while, but BRAKIE, I am probably going with your idea. No offense to all of the other brilliant ideas out there, but I think my church has an unused room somewhere that I could use. Also, my pastor is really into getting more younger people into the church, and the club could be a branch to that. Also, the church is a direct connection to at least a few (older, there are a lot of older people in my church) people with some train expertise, and thus a quick club starter. To everyone who suggested T-trak, i would use that, except I don't have N scale, or the money or true desire to buy N scale. thanks, though!
Once the club starts, I'll make a discussion thread for anyone in the club and anyone who wants to suggest something or join the club.
Thanks a lot, all of you!
Trainman05/MatthewB.
Good choice Matthew, good luck with your club!
Trainman2005 Sorry for this thread being silent for a while, but BRAKIE, I am probably going with your idea. No offense to all of the other brilliant ideas out there, but I think my church has an unused room somewhere that I could use. Also, my pastor is really into getting more younger people into the church, and the club could be a branch to that. Also, the church is a direct connection to at least a few (older, there are a lot of older people in my church) people with some train expertise, and thus a quick club starter. To everyone who suggested T-trak, i would use that, except I don't have N scale, or the money or true desire to buy N scale. thanks, though! Once the club starts, I'll make a discussion thread for anyone in the club and anyone who wants to suggest something or join the club. Thanks a lot, all of you! Trainman05/MatthewB.
I felt the same way about T-Trak, good idea but no N scale stuff. I tried starting a modular group with just 2 friends and I, but that didn't get very far(we are most likely the only school-age modelers in the county). They are nice dioramas though, and we sometimes display them at the (adult)club events. It is build on 1/2 inch plywood and is 12" x 18".
If you want more info about the idea, just let me know(I did not see this thread when it was origanally posted). Also, ask around and see if anyone else is interested, maybe not just in trains, but maybe building structures or scenery, or electrical.(I know how ya feel about having few friends with the same interest.)
Good Luck,
Harrison
Homeschooler living In upstate NY a.k.a Northern NY.
Modeling the D&H in 1978.
Route of the famous "Montreal Limited"
My YouTube
Hello, Matthew,
Bingo! I think your idea to approach your pastor about "sponsoring" your club is an EXCELLENT way to go. As you point out, it could be a vehicle to attract more young people into the fold. And you'd be surprised at how many older folks have some model railroading experience in their backgrounds, and if there were "trains in the basement," they'd all drift down to check things out, sooner or later.
If your pastor is supportive, consider starting out with something managable, like a small switching layout, which could be be expanded over time. Something like Robert Pethoud's "Fall Creek Branch," a 15" X 12' modular switching layout featured in the March 2016 Model Railroader, might be ideal. The track plan is simple enough to put together in a couple of weekends, with "open" ends that are suitable for future expansion. It would also offer plenty of opportunity for scenicking, an aspect that is never actually "finished."
Some advice: Don't let "perfect" be the enemy of "better" or even "good enough for now." It's more important to get something going, track down, with a power system and then trains rolling, than it is to make things be perfect from the get-go. Once the trains are rolling, you will attract more interest and more support. And as you start operating, you will find things that you want to do over and do better, but we all go through that. Even in the prototype railroads.
Speaking of support, you and your buddies may need to team up to do yard work or similar odd jobs to fund your club activities; model railroading not being an inexpensive hobby. Again, a plug from your pastor or a mention in the church bulletin may well yield some leads from parishioners -- "put our young men to work!"
Good luck getting your club up and running!
// Michael
As a pastor who has started a small railroad club (and bible study), I think it's a great idea. Trainman, I sent you a private message if you want/need some info for your pastor.