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Finding a Garden Railroading Club. This photo shows members of the Northern Ohio Garden Railway society helping with a demonstration at Holden Arboretum in 2007. Click for bigger photo. Garden Railroading Primer Articles: All about getting a Garden Railroad up and running well Garden Train Store: Index to train, track, and other products for Garden Railroading
Large Scale Starter Sets: Begin with a train you'll be proud to runBest Choices for Beginning Garden Railroaders: a short list of things you're most likely to need when starting out
Large Scale Track order FormSturdy buildings for your garden railroad.
Large Scale Christmas Trains: Trains with a holiday theme for garden or professional display railroads.Free Large Scale Signs and Graphics: Bring your railroad to life with street signs, business signs, and railroad signs
Garden Railroading Books, Magazines, and Videos: Where to go to learn even more
Collectible Trains and Villages: On30 Trains and accessories designed by Thomas Kinkade and others
Written by Paul Race for Family Garden Trains









































































































































Finding a Garden Railroading Club

For years I have advised beginning garden railroaders to try to find a local or regional club. Club member share tips, plant starts, and fellowship. Often a good club is the difference between getting your own railroad off to a good start or engineering one disaster after another. Most clubs do a great job of welcoming, educating, and otherwise helping newcomers to the hobby.

But sometimes a good club is hard to find, literally. Many model railroading and garden railroading resources try to keep an updated list, but those lists only work as long as club members remember to call them with changes. And, sadly, many clubs have problems remembering to update those lists, or even to keep information updated on their own web sites.

Click to see some ways you can help us grow the hobby.So, while this may look like a list of active clubs, it is really just a list of clubs that were active the last time I had anything to do with them. I have checked the web sites to make certain that the links worked, and I have begun e-mailing the contact people for the clubs without listed web sites to be certain I still have the right contact names. But even if I have this list 100% up to date tonight, it will be out of date by the end of the month.

So think of this as a starting point on your quest to find likeminded hobbyists close to you. If you are associated with any of these clubs, please let me know, and also tell me if any information needs to change. If your club is not listed here, please contact us with your information.

Also, if a link breaks, or you have reason to believe that a club listed here is no longer functioning as a club, let me know that as well.

Happy hunting!

Australia

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
LGB & G-Scale Model Railway Club of AustraliaBased in Sydney, has members from all over Oz and NZwww.trainweb.org/lgbofozclubSee web site.

Canada

Alberta

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
Rocky Mountain Garden RailroadersCalgary www.rmgr.orgSee web site.
Northern Alberta Garden Railroaders  www.nagrs.ca/See web site.

British Columbia

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
Greater Vancouver Garden Railway ClubGreater Vancouver www.gvgrc.ca 
Inland Northwest Garden Railroad Society, Inc. Southeast British Columbiawww.ingrs.com
Steve Featherkile (sfeatherkile@wildblue.net )
Has members in Washington, Idaho, and British Columbia

Nova Scotia

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
Cape Breton Garden Railway SocietySydneyDonna Walker - 902-564-1677 - donna012@ns.sympatico.ca 

Ontario

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
Ottawa Valley Garden Railway SocietyOttawa/Nepean www.ovgrs.orgIncludes fans of battery power and very deep goldfish ponds, frequent running sessions when weather permits
Backyard RailroadersNewmarketwww.backyardrailroaders.comSee web site.
Central Ontario Garden Railroad AssociationMississaugahttp://cogra.org/home.html See web site.

Germany

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
Club der LGB Freunde Rhein/ Sieg e.v.In the Rhein/Sieg area in the Cologne regionwww.lgb-rheinsieg.de/deSee web site.

Great Britain

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
The G Scale SocietyIncludes members and smaller groups from many regionswww.g-scale-society.co.uk/Web site has many interesting features - worth a visit even if you're an ocean away. Includes links to local groups.
East Midlands G Scale SocietyEast Midlands and beyond http://gscaleeastmids.co.uk/ Club is active, but web site is still under development. Check out the Archive Section to see past newsletters.
G Scale Society - Northwest Area GroupManchester & environshttp://g-scale-northwest.co.ukIncludes member gallery.

USA

Arkansas

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
Central Arkansas Garden Railway SocietyLittle RockBernie Alsbrook - baalsbrook@sbcglobal.net (Last verified June, 2009) 
Greater Hot Springs Garden Railway SocietyHot Springs VillageTed Elzerman - 501-922-9271 - liztede@suddenlink.net
(Last verified, April, 2008)
 
Mid-Arkansas Garden Railroad Club (Mid-Ark GRC)JacksonvilleMichael Tollett - 501-982-2567 - mtollett@centurytel.net
(Last verified, April, 2008)
 
Northwest Arkansas Garden Railway SocietyFayettevillehttp://nwagrs.org 

Arizona

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
Arizona Garden Railway Society azmodelrr.comSee web site.

California

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
Bay Area Garden Railway SocietyGreater San Francisco areawww.bagrs.orgA very large and active club, many helpful people
Eastern Sierra Railroad SocietyRidgecrest, North Mohave DesertMichael Cossey - 760-446-4845 
Gold Coast Garden Railway SocietyVenturahttp://gcgrs.com/See web site.
Greater Humboldt Bay Garden Railway SocietyEurekawww.ghbgrs.orgSee web site.
Orange County Railway SocietyOrange CountyOrlyn Glover - 714-554-8035 - ogees@dslextreme.com
(Last verified April, 2008)
 
San Diego Garden Railway SocietyGreater San Diegowww.sdgrs.comA large and active club, I know one of the officers - great, helpful people
Sacramento Valley Garden Railway SocietySacramento and 50-150 miles in each directionwww.svgrs.org/I know some great people in this club.
Santa Clarita Valley Garden Railroad ClubLos Angeles Countywww.scvgardenrr.comSee web site.
Shasta Garden Railroad SocietyReddingwww.shastagrs.comSee web site.
Upland Garden Railway SocietyUplandwww.uplandgrs.orgSee web site.

Colorado

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
Del Oro Pacific Modular Rr Rocky Mtn Div www.deloropacific.org See web site.
Denver Garden Railway SocietyGreater Denverwww.denvergrs.orgSee web site.
Northern Colorado Garden RailroadersFort Collinsclubs.mylargescale.com/ncgrSee web site.

Florida

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
Florida Garden Railway Society Has Central, Tampa Bay and Southwest Florida divisionswww.fgrs.orgMany members, many outreach activities
Emerald Coast Garden Railway Club Pensacolawww.ecgrc.comSee web site.
Florida Fellowship of Model EngineersDel RayWilliam B. (Bill) Lumley - 561-496-4434 

Georgia

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
Georgia Garden Railway Society  ggrs.info/See web site.
Vines Garden Railroad Club, Inc. Loganvillewww.vinesgardenrailroad.comSee web site.

Hawaii

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
East Hawaii Train Group Big IslandWerner Leupold - 808-966-8042 - weleupold@msn.com
(Unverified as of April, 2008)
 

Idaho

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
Southern Idaho G Scalers  lyonshome.org/
brad/gscalers.htm
See web site.
Inland Northwest Garden Railroad Society, Inc. Northern Idahowww.ingrs.com
Chuck Inlow (cncrr@frontier.com)
Has members in Washington, Idaho, and British Columbia

Illinois

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
Gateway Garden Railroad ClubGreater St. Louis (including members from Illinois and Missouri)http://ggrrc.org
also: Ric Golding - 618-594-3902 - westaccess@charter.net
(Last verified, April, 2008)
Strong on outreach; some very helpful members
LGB Model Railroad Club of ChicagoGreater Chicago lgbmrrcc.com/See web site.
Chicago Area Garden Railway SocietyGreater Chicagowww.cagrs.com See web site.
Midwest RAILSGreater Chicagowww.midwestrails.org/index.htmlMostly focuses on modular railroads. See web site.
Illiana Train Society 775 Meridian Rd, Valparaiso, IN 46385GTrainDavid@Yahoo.com
https://www.facebook.com/Illiana-Garden-Railway-Society-157258485074161/

Indiana

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
Indiana Large Scale RailroadersGreater Indianapolishttp://indylargescaler.org/ Active and growing club
Illiana Train Society 775 Meridian Rd, Valparaiso, IN 46385GTrainDavid@Yahoo.com
https://www.facebook.com/Illiana-Garden-Railway-Society-157258485074161/

Iowa

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
Central Iowa Garden Railway Society Osceola and environswww.trainweb.org/cigrs/See web site.
Cedar Valley Garden Railway Society Cedar Rapids and environswww.cedarvalleygrs.com/See web site.

Kansas

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
Kansas City Garden Railway Society, Inc.Kansas Citywww.kcgrs.comSee web site.
Wichita Area Garden Railroad SocietyGreater Wichitawww.wagrs.netSee web site.

Maine

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
Maine Garden Railway SocietyWhere is Weld, anyway? Has members from almost all over the state.http://mgrsmembers.blogspot.comSee web site.

Maryland

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
Mason-Dixon Large Scale Railroad Society, Inc.Bel Airmdlsrs.comSee web site.
Shoreline Garden Railroad ClubFederalsburgwww.trainweb.org/
shoreline
See web site.
Washington, Virginia, & Maryland Garden Railway SocietyGaithersburg MD www.wvmgrs.orgWeb site has "how-to" articles.

Michigan

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
Lakeshore Garden Railway Club Grosse Point WoodsRobert Greening, Jr - 313-886-6502  
Greater Grand Rapids G Gaugers Greater Grand RapidsCarl Bajema - 616-791-9010 - bajemacarl@comcast.net
(Unverified as of April, 2008)
 

Minnesota

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
Minnesota Garden Railway Society Cottage Grovewww.mgrs.orgLarge members' photo gallery (small photos, though)

Missouri

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
Gateway Garden Railroad ClubGreater St. Louis (including members from Illinois and Missouri)Ric Golding - 618-594-3902 - westaccess@charter.net
(Last verified as of April, 2008)
A fast-growing club that is strong on outreach
Ozark Garden Railway SocietySpringfield and environshttp://ogrs.orgSee web site.

New Hamshire

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
New Hampshire Garden Railway Society Milfordwww.nhgrs.comMember Railroad Gallery

New Jersey

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
Garden Railroaders of Northern New Jersey Jersey Northern NJ, SE PA, etc.www.grrnnj.comMember Railroad Gallery
South Jersey Garden Railroad SocietySouthern New Jerseywww.trainweb.org/sjgrs/Member Railroad Gallery

New Mexico

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
New Mexico Garden Railroaders Albuquerquewww.nmgrr.comMember Railroad Gallery

New York

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
Hudson Valley Large Scale Club Dover PlainsPat McCarty - 845-877-6830 - mcginty26@aol.com
(Last verified April, 2008)
 
Long Island Garden Railway Society, Inc.N. Massapequawww.ligrs.orgSmall photo gallery. I know some especially helpful people in this club.
Western New York Garden Railway SocietyBuffalo Contact: grtebo@gmail.com
Website: www.WNYGRS.com
See website.

North Carolina

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
North Carolina Garden Railroad SocietyRaleigh http://ncgrs.webs.com/
President Barbara Sossomon - sosfam@nc.rr.com
 

Ohio

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
Miami Valley Garden Railway SocietyGreater Daytonwww.mvgrs.comVery friendly and active, with some very talented members. Members' photo gallery, members-only newsletter archive.
Columbus (Ohio) Garden Railway SocietyCentral Ohiowww.cgrs.orgA large and active club with many helpful and experienced members. Several remarkable railroads that I've seen in person.
Greater Cincinnati Garden Railway SocietyGreater Cincinnati www.gcgrs.orgOne of the largest and most active clubs in the country, many railroades influenced by Paul Busse who is based here. Members' photo gallery, members-only newsletter archive.
Northern Ohio Garden Railway SocietyNE Ohiowww.nogrs.orgI have met and worked on projects with several members of this club - very helpful people, though quite spread out.
Riverside Railroad ClubWarren, Ohiowww.riversiderr.org
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/riversiderailroad
Located at the S.C.O.P.E. center at 220 West Market Street, Warren, OH 44481. We meet on Tuesdays at 5 and usually have three open houses a year.

Oklahoma

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
Central Oklahoma Garden Railway SocietyOklahoma City environsA Facebook Page is supposed to be starting.
Tulsa Garden Railroad ClubGreater Tulsawww.tulsagardenrailroadclub.orgSee web site.

Oregon

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
Emerald State Garden Railway Society EugeneGary Lane - 541-345-8223 - scudding@comcast.net
(Last verified April, 2008)
 
Rose City Garden Railway SocietyPortlandwww.rcgrs.com/Member railroad gallery
Southwest Oregon Large Scale TrainsCentral Pointwww.solst.comMaintains a permanent railroad in a public park.
Pacific Crossings Model Railroad ClubSalemhttp://pcmrc.comHosts occasional open railroad tours. Web page has some clever articles.

Pennsylvania

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
Northwest Pennsylvania Garden Railroad Society Warrenwww.greatgoshlines.com
/nwpgrs/nwpgrs.html
See web site.
Pittsburgh Garden Railway SocietyPittsburghwww.trainweb.org/pgrs/Member photo gallery
South Eastern Pennsylvania Garden Railway SocietyGreater Phillywww.www.sepgrs.comI know at least 2 helpful members

Tennessee

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
Crossville G Scalers Crossvillewww.crossvillemrc.comSee web site.
Mid-South Garden Railway Society Colliervillewww.msgrs.orgSee web site.

Texas

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/Other Comments
Garden Railroad Club of South Texas Needvillegardenrailroadclub.orgSee web site.
Heart-Of-Texas G-Gaugers Austinwww.hotgg.orgSee web site.
North Texas Garden Railway Club Plano, Wetherford, etc.http://ntgrc.orgMember's photo gallery, free newsletter archive
San Antonio Garden Railroad SocietyGreater San Antoniowww.txtransportation
museum.org
See web site.
Houston Area "G" Gaugers Greater Houston www.HoustonAGG.com
or e-mail HAGGPrez99@aol.com
See web site.

Utah

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
Utah Garden Railway Society Northern/Central Utahwww.ugrs.orgSee web site.

Vermont

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
Vermont Garden Railway Society http://www.vgrs.us/See web site.

Virginia

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
Big Lick Big Train OperatorsRoanoke and environsJohn Singleton - js1ton@aol.com
(Last verified April, 2008)
 
Tidewater Big Train OperatorsVirginia Beachwww.tbto.orgSee web site.
Piedmont RailroadersD.C. and environsTony Tripi - 540-347-9212 - tripi@earthlink.net
(Unverified as of April, 2008)
 
Shenandoah and Potomac Valley Garden Railway Club The Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, eastern West Virginia, Western Maryland, south central Pennsylvania. http://spvgrc.org/ 

Washington

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
Puget Sound Garden Railway Society Puget Sound regionwww.psgrs.orgSee web site.
Inland Northwest Garden Railroad Society, Inc. The Inland Empire of Eastern Washingtonwww.inlandnorthwestgardenrailroadsociety.orgHas members in Washington, Idaho, and British Columbia

West Virginia

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/ Other Comments
Shenandoah & Potomac Valley Garden Railway Club www.spvgrc.org/See web site.

Wisconsin

Club Name
Location or Region
Web Site or
Contact Info
Special Features/Other Comments
Wisconsin Garden Railway SocietySun Prairiewww.wgrsociety.orgSee web site.

Other Club Search Databases

Some other folks have been collecting club information for much longer than me, and they may have listings that I haven't tracked down yet, or that I didn't include because I couldn't get any verification for them. If you have a reasonably updated database of garden railroading clubs, please let me know and I'll check it out for possible inclusion here. Also, if you're searching for a club, and you find a good club near you that I don't have good information for, please let me know, and I'll update my list above.


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