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The Short Line Model Railroad Club, located at 11 S. State St., Ephrata, Pa., is celebrating its 35th Anniversary and will hold its annual Holiday Train Shows every Saturday and Sunday from Nov. 30, 2024, through Jan. 12, 2025, from 1 – 4 p.m. The entrance to the exhibit is located in the rear of the building. This wonderful family event is free and open to the public; Please consider donating to the club.
Guests to the train shows will enjoy seeing model trains rolling through a representation of northeastern Pennsylvania on more than 900 feet of double-tracked mainline and a 75-foot, single-tracked branch line. Our newly completed Logging Line will highlight the shows giving guests a chance to see the interchange between the main line and a narrow-gauge railroad that makes its way up the hillside to the newly cut forest lands. This new addition has been part of our ongoing expansion for the last couple of years and will bring a new look to the railroad.
Many locomotives operating feature realistic steam and diesel sounds and are controlled by wireless digital controllers. Trains consisting of both passenger and freight service may run up to 75 cars long, showcasing a variety of railroads and company-owned cars. Visitors will be taken back to the days when coal was king and the railroads were starting to switch to more modern diesel power while still running steam locomotives.
Club Members will be available during showtimes to discuss the train exhibit and answer questions. The Short Line Model Railroad Club is always open to new members. If you are interested in joining, just ask any member for more information. The club is a great way for model railroad enthusiasts who don’t have their own trains or room for a layout in their home to participate in an enjoyable hobby with others.
Founded in 1989, the Short Line Model Railroad Club has strived to replicate authentic railroad operations in the 1950s with an emphasis on the railroads of Northeastern Pennsylvania. The club currently has 47 members who meet weekly for operating sessions, maintenance, and expanding and upgrading the layout.