The Yonkers Model Railroad Club is a chartered not-for-profit organization of approximately a dozen train enthusiasts. The club has been in existence since 1939 and has maintained a permanent train layout in the Administration Building at Tibbetts Brook Park in Yonkers, New York since 1969. Before that, the club had permanent layouts in various church basements in downtown Yonkers, New York. Our club began as an extension activity at Saunders Trade School in early 1939 and by the end of that year was fully operational and independent.
The Administration Building of Tibbetts Brook Park has recently been remodeled by the County of Westchester. As a result, the old permanent layout was taken down and the Club’s new permanent layout is currently under construction in a new room. The Club will focus its permanent layout on the Old Putnam Division of the New York Central System—a branch of that railroad that ran from New York City to Putnam County from the late 1800’s through 1968.
The Club runs an annual Christmas Show of its modular layout in partnership with the Greenburgh Nature Center (which raises funds for both the Nature Center and the Club. The modular layout can also be viewed at periodic “Open Houses” at Tibbitts Brook Park. See Schedule for current dates.
The Club’s modular layout is constructed by assembling “modules” various lengths, (usually two or four or six feet in length) and each two foot wide, into a full continuous “loop” of track. The modules have track, scenery, and structures and the overall layout can be shaped to fit the spaces in which the shows occur. The members of the club operate trains they have built and assembled themselves and provide answers to questions from interested children and adults alike!
In our shows, the Club’s model trains present in miniature the steam, diesel, and electrical train operations that existed in the Eastern United States in the second half of the 20th Century. The shows usually include the sounds of steam locomotives, the bells and whistles of diesel locomotives, and the colors and designs associated with freight cars and passenger trains of the great railroads of America’s past, including the New York Central System, the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad, the Long Island Railroad, The Delaware and Hudson Railroad, and the Pennsylvania Railroad. Of course, our spectators also usually get to see modern prototypes such as Amtrak, Conrail, Norfolk Southern, Chessie System models as well.
When the organization hosting us wishes, we run simultaneous clinics at our shows to demonstrate the skills of the hobby. Such clinics are presented by various members of the Club who have expertise in particular areas, such as, layout construction, rolling stock kit building, structure building, or scenery building.
Schedule of Upcoming Events for 2024:
Spring Open House: March 2 & 3, 2024 from 11:00am to 3:00pm.
Tibbetts Brook Park, Yonkers, NY
Fall Open House: October 5 & 6, 2024 from 11:00am to 3:00pm.
Tibbetts Brook Park, Yonkers, NY
Holiday Train Show: Dates to be arranged November ?? & ??, November ?? & ??, November ?? & ??, December ? &?, 2024.
From 10:00am to 4:30pm.
Greenburgh Nature Center, Scarsdale, NY
Check back soon for more details.
The membership of the club is made up of train enthusiasts who, when not building or operating trains, are active and retired engineers, information technicians, mechanics, teachers, and other professionals. We are always looking for new members and no experience in the hobby is necessary. Join a group of individuals who share the same interests with you. Members generally meet at the club room in Tibbetts Brook Park on Monday and/or Thursday evenings at 7:00pm.
More Info Coming Soon.
