Clarion Model Railroad Club, Inc.

03/27/2026

🚂 A Quick Update — and Our Hours of Operation
Thanks for your patience! I mentioned earlier that we’d be posting every two weeks, but I was out of town for a bit. Now that I’m back, we’re continuing our series with something visitors often ask about — when you can stop in and what we offer during open hours.
The Clarion Model Railroad Club meets every Wednesday evening from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Members are usually around a little before and after, working on projects or running trains.
During our open hours, visitors can:
• Watch trains run on our HO, O, and G‑scale layouts
• Explore our LEF&C‑themed modeling and scenery
• Chat with members about modeling, operations, or local railroad history
• Try running a train using our HO‑scale Digitrax DCC system
• Bring an old Lionel engine to test or run on the layout
• And if you have a locomotive that’s misbehaving, we can often take a look — we do minor repairs and troubleshooting right at the club
Whether you’re a longtime railfan or just curious about the hobby, you’re always welcome to stop by and see what we’re working on.

02/27/2026

Welcome to the Clarion Model Railroad Club! We’re excited to kick off a series that will be highlighting the three scales we have on display and gives visitors a closer look at what makes each one special.

🚂 HO‑Scale: Our Operating Layout
Our HO‑scale layout is a fully operating railroad powered by a Digitrax DCC system, allowing smooth, independent control of multiple locomotives. The design is primarily point‑to‑point, reflecting how real railroads move freight and passengers between destinations, but it also includes a section that can run as a continuous loop for relaxed, round‑and‑round operation.
When the layout was first built, it modeled the Lake Erie, Franklin & Clarion Railroad, a line with deep local history. Over time, the club expanded the layout with two freelance extensions, adding new scenes, industries, and operating possibilities while still preserving the spirit of the original LEF&C theme.

🛤️ O‑Scale: Three Ways to Run
Our O‑scale display offers three different loops of action:
• Two loops are powered by an MTH DCC system, giving visitors a chance to see modern command‑control operation in a larger scale.
• The third loop is wired so it can be switched over to a traditional transformer, perfect for running conventional locomotives and showing how classic O‑scale trains operate.
This mix lets us demonstrate both modern and traditional O‑scale running side by side.

🚉 Our G‑Scale Overhead Railroad
Suspended above the room, our G‑scale layout adds a unique touch to the club. It features one continuous loop that circles overhead, giving visitors a fun surprise as big‑scale trains glide by above them.

We’ll be sharing photos, stories, and behind‑the‑scenes details every two weeks. Whether you’re a longtime hobbyist or someone who just enjoys watching trains roll, we’d love to have you follow along—and even better, stop in and visit us.

Send a message to learn more

02/09/2026

Nothing beats reconnecting over lunch!!! Lany Johnson a former member of the Clarion Model Railroad Club was in the area along with his wife Janice and his daughter-in-law Jackie so a group of current members and old friends of Lany's met him and his family at the Clarion Eat-N-Park for lunch. Seated are Jackie and Janice. Standing are Ray, Rolly, Lany, Bill, Frosty and Roger. A huge thanks to Roger for making this happen.

10/15/2025

Stop in during our Autumn Leaf Festival show to check us out. We have our HO-Scale layout modeling the Lake Erie, Franklin and Clarion (LEF&C) Railroad, our O-Scale (Lionel) layout with some skyscrapers from downtown Pittsburgh plus our G-Scale running around the ceiling. While viewing our O-Scale, see how many of our local businesses you recognize and if you have a local business and don't currently have a car on our Business Box Car Train, ask any of our members for details as to how you can have one on it to advertise your business. Admission is free but donations are gladly accepted.

04/08/2025

R.I.P L T Snyder, past member of the Clarion Model Railroad Club

12/04/2023

Hello everyone hope your holiday season has been good so far just wanted to let everyone know there will not be a Christmas train show at the cranberry mall this year and most likely none in the future. We are sorry to disappoint so many of you but with not having as many club members as we did, we just can’t do it anymore we appreciate you all for coming to the show the last 13 years, We will have the club house open during the weekends for the Public to come see at 515c main st in Clarion PA and also Wye Bridge Hobbies 247 Seneca St Oil City PA has there trains set up for the holiday season! We hope you have a wonderful Christmas!!!

12/24/2022

12/23/2022

Due to unsafe weather conditions, the train show will be closed today.

Our train set raffle will be conducted on the next open day. Follow this page for continued updates.

11/10/2022

Here it is! The 2022 Christmas Show Schedule is set! We'll see you soon!

09/30/2022

7 Deadly Stitches, another one of our awesome business train sponsors is here at ALF! Head on up to the craft fair and let them know you saw their great looking car on our business train!

09/26/2022

Forest Fire BBQ, one of our Business Boxcar Sponsors, is set up in town for Autumn Leaf Festival!

Go show them some love, let them know you saw their boxcar in our business train, and get yourself the 𝘽𝙀𝙎𝙏 smoked meat at ALF!!