Our Model Railroads

The Milwaukee & Northern Railway Historical Society (MNRHS), a.k.a. the Neenah-Menasha Model Railroad Club (NMMRRC), maintains two model railroads. The larger one, downstairs, is our O-scale, 2-rail representation of the Milwaukee & Northern (M&N). Upstairs we have a smaller O-gauge, 3-rail layout. Many years ago, we used to have an HO-scale model railroad upstairs.

These buttons will take you to photographs and information about our present and former model railroads.

Workin' on the Railroad

Here we will list some ongoing or recently completed projects on our model railroads.

Workin’ on the Railroad – Dutch Door Bridge

Wally Rogers recently completed some important modifications to the Dutch door bridge on our O-scale, 2-rail layout, as seen on 20 July 2024.  This portion of a standard residential interior door serves as a double-deck railroad bridge for us. It was suggested by Wally during the planning and construction of the peninsula which now occupies the middle of the baggage room of our depot. He and Stanley Bye installed this feature in April of 1987.

For the recent upgrade, Wally installed an electrical interlocking so that power to the rails is cut off if the door is left open. This modification was motivated by a train crash during our 2022 open house. A distracted operator (me, Tom) was running a train through this area, but was not aware that the Dutch door bridge had been opened. Tragically, one locomotive crashed to the floor. Wally’s recent work will prevent a recurrence of that unfortunate accident.

While he was at it, Wally installed a better latch, so that the door closes more securely. Some excessive play had developed in the original door latch over the past 37 years, occasionally preventing the rails from aligning perfectly when the door was closed. Wally’s new latch is adjustable, which will make it easier to remove any play which might develop in the next 37 years, or more.

NEW – Our 2024 Open House

We have set the dates! Our 2024 open house will be held on Saturday, 7 December, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday, 8 December, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Any additional information will be posted to our Open House page and our facebook page.

Scenes from last year’s open house.

Wally checks the weight of a boxcar on our model railroad on 24 November 2021. Photograph by Richard Hopfensperger.