Connellsville’s model railroad tradition continues with open house
John F. Brothers/HeraldStandard.com
Two freight trains, one powered by steam and the other diesel,
pass by a scenic vista on the layout of the HObo Model Railroad
Club. The club is located on the third floor of the Connellsville Community Center, at 201 E.
Fairview Avenue.
John F. Brothers/HeraldStandard.com
Evan Brnich drives a train through another scenic portion of the club’s
layout.
John F. Brothers/HeraldStandard.com
The HObo Model Railroad Club is set for its annual holiday open
house from noon until 5 p.m. this Saturday and on Sunday, Dec.11. HObo
member John Hamman watches as a steam locomotive passes through a
village on the club’s layout.
Sounds of careful, electronic chugging will soon fill the Connellsville Community Center.
The rich tradition of Connellsville’s HObo model railroad club returns with an open house Saturday and Dec. 11 from noon until 5 p.m. each day.
An event nearly 50 years old, the local club bases its display on events and locations of yesteryear, with yearly updates to the models.
“We semi-model historic things in the area,” said club member William Beatty. “Most of the places on the railroad are fictitious.”
Few actual area landmarks on the model can be found, including the former B&O railroad station and P&WV viaduct in Connellsville.
This year, the club has some fresh scenes to share with visitors.
“We’re building a brand- new coal mine,” Beatty said. “We’re also redoing two older ones and doing some scenery work in our town.”
Modeled on an HO scale, the scene depicted is that of the fictional West Virginia Northern Railroad, a freelance coal-hauling line that runs from Connellsville to Clarksburg, W.Va.
There’s an advantage to club members modeling fictitious coal miners, lumber camps and scenery, Beatty said.
“We don’t have to research all that’s associated with the area,” he said. “We can model the mine correctly and it doesn’t have to be 100 percent, but we make it as close as we can.”
Local model railroaders started the club with meetings held in round-robin style in various locations until they found a permanent home in the community center.
“Businessmen around the area wanted to start a model railroad club,” Beatty said. “In 1953, the club first started, and they’ve had an open house for as long as they’ve had a layout.”
For club members like Beatty, their interest in modeling began long before they joined the club.
“Like most people, I had a Lionel train when I was a kid,” Beatty said. “It’s something you wanna do and you learn different skills like wiring and electric.”
For those in the club, their membership is something more than a weekly chance to model.
“It’s not just a Friday night thing; it could be an everyday thing,” Beatty said. “I enjoy the camaraderie of other model railroaders.”
According to Beatty, open house attendance can hinge on winter happenings, including shopping and weather — but they are hopeful for their usual numbers. “We usually get around 350 to 500 people,” Beatty said.
The open house is free to attend. The HObo model railroad club meets Fridays at 7 p.m. in the Community Center.
For more information, contact the community center at 724-626-0300.