About

The Lawrence Model Railroad Club is a nonprofit organization supporting the hobby of model railroading in Douglas, Franklin, and Jefferson Counties, Kansas.  The club was founded in 1998 in Lawrence, Kansas.  Starting in 1999 the club built two modular model railroads (HO- and N-scale) to display at model railroad train shows.  These model railroads were complete enough to be used at the First Lawrence Model Railroad Club Train Show and Swap Meet at the Douglas County Fairgrounds in 2001.  Since then, the club has had a train show and swap meet every year featuring modular model railroads from our and neighboring model railroad clubs, model railroad vendors, educational programs, and food.

In 2017 the club parted with the original club modular model railroads and started work on the current modular HO-scale model railroad.  In 2024 the club began construction on a modular N-scale model railroad.  Also, that year, the club rented the former Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad Depot in Baldwin City, Kansas.  This has become the home of both club model railroads.  Plans are underway to expand both model railroads.

The club has meetings on the second Tuesday of the month where projects are discussed and clinics on model railroad topics are presented.  The club has work sessions and clinics at the Baldwin City depot.  Several club members volunteer to maintain the model railroad at the Old Depot Museum in Ottawa, Kansas.  Club members have taken train themed trips to Chicago and St. Louis and have visited home model railroads in the Kansas City area.

The Lawrence Model Railroad Club is a 100% NMRA club meaning that all our members belong to the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA).  This allows our members access to activities and model railroad materials provided by the NMRA.

The mission of the club is to promote, stimulate, foster, and encourage the art and craft of model railroading and to advance the hobby of model railroading in the Douglas, Franklin and Jefferson County area of Kansas.