When Steve Meseraul started the Lawrence Model Railroad Club (LMRC) over 26 years ago, he had grand plans to make the hobby more than just a club where a small number of enthusiasts come together and exchange knowledge. Our club members share a passion for the hobby, not only because the hobby brings us great satisfaction and a desire for creating model railroads, it also brings curiosity and joy to the people outside the hobby. Some may join and get involved with the various aspects of model railroading while others will want to learn more about the rail industry that the hobby represents.
For the members of the LMRC, it’s more than a hobby and the passion it draws, it’s about being a part of the community and spreading the joy of model railroading. The hobby brings out the inner child in those who enjoy the subject.
Before gaining access to the Santa Fe depot in Baldwin City, the club met monthly to share model railroad knowledge and to build the community. Our annual Train Show and Swap Meet was the primary activity of the club. Now that the LMRC has moved its N- and HO-scale layouts into the Santa Fe depot along with all the artifacts from the Santa Fe Trail Historical Society of Douglas County, we now have a dependable space to engage the public.
LMRC engages the community by having:
- Open house during Baldwin City’s Maple Leaf Festivals, free to the public.
- Open houses for the general public throughout the year. Click on the Events tab to see when open houses are scheduled
- Private showings are available up request
- Raising money for the O’Connell Children’s Shelter by creating wonderful Christmas themed trees or wreaths that are auctioned off each year.
The LMRC has great plans to expand the community involvement by:
- Holding workshops and educational events for individuals interested in learning about the various aspects of hobby.
- Expanding the current layouts .
- Sponsoring events where club members and model railroad enthusiasts can operate our model railroads in a manner like real railroads
The LMRC has many other objectives but the ability to make plans relies on funding.
To help the LMRC and its goals please:
- Consider joining our club
- Spreading the knowledge of our club to others so they can enjoy the joy it brings you to see model railroading and its connection with history
- Make a donation via our website, anything helps our goals of sharing the passion of the hobby with others.
If you prefer not to join, please feel free to scan the QR Code below to make a donation.
Every dollar donated will go to supporting the club and the community outreach.
