Need to locate a (HO) club near Pasadena, Texas...

[Anonymous]

Have just returned to the hobby after about 40 years... (I have recently retired, and need to show my 5-yeara-old grandson an alternative to "toy" trains...).

I need to locate a (HO scale) club in the (nearby!) vicinity of the Pasadena/LaPorte/Clear Lake, Texas area.

Nearby because of the REALLY high cost of gasoline!

Thanks!

-- Dave

[cwclark]

The nearest one to you in this area is the San Jacinto Model Railroad Club..They meet on Tuesday evenings at ????...call Papa Ben's Train Store at [phone] for the details..They meet on the southwest side of Houston but it's the closest one to you..I live in Crosby not far from you, but have'nt been in the club since the early 80's..got to get up mighty early in the morning for work and the hour drive and back to and from the meeting is a bit much for me to participate on a regular basis...there is a guy on Tatar st. just before you get to Strawberry that has a real nice B&O layout...you can't miss his house..he has a semaphore in the front yard and railroad signs everywhere..you might make an appointment with him to see the layout...I know his name but don't want to give it out here..e-mail me and i'll tell you who he is...Chuck

[mcouvillion]

Dave,

You might try the Bay Area Rail Fellowship (BARF). They used to have a layout set up somewhere inside San Jacinto mall. A quick phone call to the mall would let you know if they are still there and when and where they meet.

Papa Ben's or one of the other hobby shops should be able to get you information on clubs in your area. You might even find an old copy of the San Jac's November Layout Tour with all the names and addresses of the modelers in your area. Some home layouts are essentially clubs with a limited membership, less individual cost, more personal attention, and hands-on appeal. I'm in a club in Kingwood, which is a little far for you.

Good Luck.

Mark C.