The Worcester Model Railroad Club, one of the oldest clubs on the East coast, begun in 1946, has its operations in a 3000 square foot building in Webster, MA. We began building out this space in 2017 following a move from similar space in Dudley. Our building houses two layouts, a lounge/meeting area and a workshop that is isolated from the layouts. A 30’ x 45’ HO gauge layout is the main attraction. Our fictional railroad, the Worcester Central Lines, is modeled after central New England railroads of the 1980s. Operations originate from the 14 track P&W yard in Worcester, MA. Our primary route follows P&Ws main line from Worcester to the port of Providence, with a secondary branch that runs from the P&W yard to Norwich, CT. We also model Conrail trackage between their Worcester yard and the Palmer interchange with the Central Vermont and Mass Central railroads. Our layout incorporates two helixes that move trains to/from Palmer on the upper level and to/from staging below the layout. Scenery is about 75% complete. Our HO layout is powered by a Digitrax DCS240 command station connected to 7 boosters and nearly 50 circuit breakers. Simplex and duplex Digitrax radio receivers are available as well as a WIFI interface to operate using TCS or phone-based throttles. We are two years into the installation of a block detection/signaling system on the main route throughout the layout. Main line and many hard-to-reach turnouts are thrown by Tortoise switch machines which can be dispatcher controlled via JMRI, or operator controlled via throttle or local panels. Our club also features a freelanced, 10’ x 30’, O gauge layout. There are 3 separately controlled tracks with crossovers to move trains between the 3 circuits. The 3-rail track is capable of running older Lionel equipment as well as more modern motive power. The club has some O gauge equipment but members often bring their own to ensure more reliable operation. In addition to these two fixed layouts, we have a traveling G scale layout that we set up and operate as a part of Old Sturbridge Village’s Christmas by Candlelight program between Thanksgiving and New Years Day. At Sturbridge we also operate a 4’ x 8’ HO gauge layout and a 7’ x 10’ N gauge layout.
