Covid 19
CMR is very happy to announce that we opened back up to the public on our regular schedule on June 5, 2021. The public may visit our HO and N scale layouts that depict the Greensboro area to the North Carolina Mountains and to the Sandhills on Saturdays from 10am-5pm and Sundays from 2pm-5pm and also during our work night (Thursdays from 7-9pm) unless otherwise noted. Before visiting us, please check this website to assure that there isn't a special closure due to a holiday or other reason.
Due to the ongoing Covid-19 concerns, if you visit our club, please follow NC Executive Order 215 and wear a mask as appropriate.
CMR under Construction
Covid interrupted and slowed the progress, but a substantial amount of work has been completed on our new layout, thanks to the efforts of a dedicated team of club members.
The original DC layout with HO, N and HOn3 scale trackage was constructed the 1970's in one of the former waiting rooms at the ex-Southern Railway train station adjacent to our current location in the former Railway Express Agency building. When the station was renovated beginning in 2001, the club moved to a former knitting mill in northeast Greensboro and then to our current location in 2004. It and the current layout have been DCC since then, with electronics by Digitrax.
Below is the track plan for the HO portion of our new layout depicting the Piedmont, Sandhills and western North Carolina.
Below is the N scale freelanced (not meant to represent any specific area) layout.
Here are photos taken in spring 2021.
Seen above is the entire length of the layout room in the former Greensboro Railway Express Agency building, with the HO portion of the layout in the foreground and the N scale portion in the far distance.
The N scale layout is seen above.
One of two mines and backdrop on the N scale layout (above).
The timber trestle (above) from the Winston-Salem Southbound Model Railroaders' old layout.
8-stall Pomona (Greensboro) roundhouse is seen above.
Running trains on the new layout.
Crossing the Davie Street bridge in Greensboro (above left). Running a tank train (above right).
"Honey, I don't have time to mow the lawn - I've got to go work on the railroad."
Excuse our mess - building materials and tools are everywhere, but all is a sign that lots of work is going on. We have been able to run trains now since early this year, as the main is complete, but we have to be careful to check for tools and other obstacles. A member looked up the other day in time to see that his freight train was heading straight for a depot that was parked on the double-track main.
Making a mountain out of a molehill of styrofoam (above).
The model above of Evonik Stockhausen Chemical in Greensboro is almost complete. Stockhausen, a fixture in Greensboro for years, is the largest manufacturer in the world of a super-absorbent polymer that is used in diapers and similar products, producing over 100,000 metric tons a year.
A high level meeting (above) on the N scale layout.
Above, a Durham & Southern GP38-2 pulls a freight toward the passenger station.
You're liable to see anything passing through North Carolina on our layout. Above, a Canadian Pacific SD40-2F pulls its train past the grain elevators in West Statesville.
An NS coil car train gets ready to pull out (above).
A long slow freight passes through town in the scene above. Soon, this town and street will be finished and there will be cars with honking horns for the trains to hold up. On the wall in the distance are old photos of Greensboro trolleys.
A BNSF coal drag passes the cement plant.
An NS freight approaches Bartlett Milling, with detailed and lit interior by a talented CMR member.
It's a busy day on the back dock at Bartlett Milling.
One of two mines on the N scale layout
Greensboro's Pomona Yard, with the Colonial Pipeline petroleum tank farm in the background. The actual Pomona Yard has a capacity of over 800 freight cars. Colonial's 600-acre Greensboro complex is the largest on their 5500 mile system, with pipeline branches to other cities in the eastern US that daily deliver 3 million barrels of 86 types of petroleum products.
The Norfolk Southern Greensboro intermodal yard is beginning to take shape (above)
A river takes shape on the N scale layout (above left); N scale fiddle yard (above middle) and the spectacular HO Perdue elevator from Candor NC (above right)
Our Organizations
CAROLINA MODEL RAILROADERS, INC.
Founded in 1973, the purpose of the Carolina Model Railroaders is to promote model railroading, build and operate model railroad layouts, and to foster fellowship among persons interested in model railroading. Membership in the Carolina Model Railroaders is open to any person interested in the goals of the organization.
We are currently building an HO Scale (1:87) layout extending southeast to the Sandhills and west to the North Carolina mountains.
Our club models in two primary scales, N and HO. However, we built and maintained the O-gauge layout at the Greensboro Children’s Museum that was displayed for about 9 years. We also operate a Z-scale layout at shows and special occasions.
Our club is open to all who wish to promote and further model railroading. Family participation is encouraged and visitors are always welcome.
CMR Hours: We will open to the public June 5 2021. Visitors must observe posted protective regulations.
CMR Club Meetings open to public we meet every Thursday at 7:00pm; Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 2-5pm
Location: GALYON DEPOT, RAILWAY EXPRESS AGENCY BUILDING, NEXT TO GREYHOUND TERMINAL
Address: 234-B East Washington St, Greensboro, NC 27401
Mailing Address: Post Office Box 13642, Greensboro, NC 27415-3642
Phone Number: 336-312-4198
NATIONAL RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
From the "glory days" of steam locomotion to today's fast-paced world of high-speed urban transports, railroading has played a key role in developing our vast American landscape. The Greensboro Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society works to preserve this heritage by bringing together a core group of individuals dedicated to reliving the past glories and future possibilities of the world's most exciting form of transportation. Founded in 1977, the Greensboro Chapter is but one of over 160 chapters located throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Activities include monthly meetings, a library, trips to places of railroad interest, and railroad excursions on some of the Piedmont's most exciting railway systems. We also enjoy railroad literature, music, poetry, and meeting railroad people. Family participation is encouraged and visitors are always welcome.
We also operate a small museum in the lobby of the former Railway Express Agency building, with exhibits focused on Greensboro area railroad history. On display are lanterns, conductor uniform parts, photos, artifacts from freight and passenger trains and the bell attributed to be from the locomotive that was the subject of the famous song "Wreck of the Old 97." This tragic accident of the Southern Railway train called The Fast Mail happened in Danville VA in 1903.
Greeensboro Chapter NRHS museum area, showing steam locomotive bell attributed to the Wreck of the Old 97 engine.
The NRHS is a non-profit section 501(c)(3) organization, and contributions are tax-deductible.
NRHS Club Meetings: WE'VE MET EVERY THIRD MONDAY AT 7:00 PM BY ZOOM DURING COVID BUT WATCH THIS SPACE FOR EXPECTED CHANGES AS RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED
Location: GALYON DEPOT, RAILWAY EXPRESS AGENCY BUILDING, NEXT TO GREYHOUND TERMINAL
Mailing Address: Greensboro Chapter NRHS, PO Box 16745 Greensboro, NC 27416
Phone Number: (336) 908-2321