The Elkhart Model Railroad Club

Serving Northern Indiana and Southwestern Michigan Since 1950

The Elkhart Model Railroad Club is a group of model railroad enthusiasts who meet every Friday evening at 2703 Hawthorne Street in Elkhart, Indiana. The club is open  from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM


  • January 2026 Announcements
    Winter in Northern Indiana has been keeping us on our toes — snow one day, rain the next, followed by a warm-up or a deep freeze. If you don’t like the weather, just wait until tomorrow! Despite the ever-changing conditions, EMRRC has been buzzing with activity. Many members have kicked off the new year by gathering at the clubhouse to run trains and proudly show off the new locomotives and rolling stock they received for Christmas. Be sure to visit the EMRRC YouTube channel to catch videos of the wide variety of locomotives and train cars that make an appearance most Fridays at 7:00 PM. And mark your calendars: January 22, 2026, will be EMRRC’s first operating session of the new year. Remember, operating sessions only happen once each quarter — you won’t want to miss it!   Featuring hundreds of scale miles of track, expansive scenery, and a computer-controlled operating system, the Elkhart Model Railroad Club is continually hard at work on maintenance to keep the railroad in top shape.   The steel mill area on the N-Scale layout keeps growing, made possible by the ongoing efforts of several hardworking members.     On the HO-Scale layout, the bump-out along the north wall has been removed, creating additional aisle space and making it much more comfortable for members in what was previously a crowded area. This improvement allows for better traffic flow and gives operators more room to enjoy the layout. As part of this change, the junkyard scene that once occupied the bump-out is being relocated farther north into a more open area of the layout. The move will provide more space for the scene to expand while better fitting into the overall layout design.   Many new trees have been planted around the paper mill area, further improving the scenery and adding realism to this section of the layout. The 21st Annual Nappanee Train Show is fast approaching, and excitement continues to build. All vendor tables are officially sold out, and marketing efforts are well underway. With strong interest from vendors and the public alike, we believe this year’s show is shaping up to be our biggest and best yet. We hope everyone has a great month, and we invite you to consider stopping by the Elkhart Model Railroad Club. Now in our 76th year, the club is open to the public most Fridays at 7:00 PM. Be sure to check the schedule on this page for the latest information—we’d love to see you there!

Regular Club Schedule and Visiting Hours

We love having visitors! Unless noted otherwise, the club is open most Fridays from 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM. Here’s what typically happens each Friday of the month:

Friday of the MonthWhat’s HappeningOpen to the Public?Public HoursNotes
1st FridayClub maintenance nightYes7:00 PM – 9:00 PMTrains may be running, but only for testing/maintenance
2nd FridayMembers running trains informallyYes7:00 PM – 9:00 PM (club stays open until 10 PM for members)Great night to meet members and take photos
3rd FridayBusiness Meeting (7:00–8:00 PM or whenever it ends) → Members run trains afterwardPartially8:00 PM – 9:00 PM (or right after the meeting ends)Meeting is members-only. Clinics (if scheduled) are open to the public starting at 8 PM or when the meeting ends
4th FridayUsually: Members running trains informally
Quarterly: Formal Operations Session; The next one is January 22, 2026
Yes (both cases)7:00 PM – 9:00 PM (club stays open until 10 PM for members)Formal operations with dispatcher, yardmaster, and radio communication happen only four times a year. On all other 4th Fridays, it’s regular member running sessions (still fun to watch!).
5th Friday (when there is one)Members running trains informallyYes7:00 PM – 9:00 PM (club stays open until 10 PM for members)Same as 2nd Friday – perfect for photos and chatting with members

Quick Summary for Visitors

  • Best nights to visit: 2nd, 4th, and 5th Fridays (open 7–9 PM) and 3rd Friday starting at 8 PM.
  • On formal operations nights (only 4 times a year), you’ll see the layout running like a real railroad — highly recommended!
  • The club is closed to the public during the first hour (or so) of 3rd Fridays.

We look forward to seeing you trackside!

 

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