Welcome to The Model Railroad Club

The Model Railroad Club, Inc. was founded in 1949 by author and Master Model Railroader Paul Mallery. Today it is one of the largest model railroad clubs in North America and features HO scale and N scale layouts, as well as other model railroad and industrial exhibits.

Located in a mixed-use section of Lenape Park, Union Township, New Jersey, The Club is an activity of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation. Our 11,000 square-foot facility, named after our founder, was designed, financed and built by the members of the Club and then donated to Union County. The Club’s arrangement with the county allows it to occupy the building in order to build and operate model railroads and related displays.

The Model Railroad Club, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and is a registered charity in the State of New Jersey.

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New members are always welcome at The Model Railroad Club, Inc. Experience is not necessary, only an active interest in the hobby of model railroading, a desire to learn and a willingness to actively support the organization and its mission. A membership application is available at the Club during our regular public hours.

Application for membership must be made in person at the Club. It is strongly recommended that applicants attend operating sessions and/or participate in Saturday activities. This is to enable the applicant to become acquainted with the members and improve their chances of being approved for membership. It also provides the applicant an opportunity to determine the scale in which they are most interested. We have several and it is necessary to select one during the application process.

There are three categories of membership: Senior (18 and over), Junior (15 through 17), and Family.

If you are not ready for full membership but want to support the Club’s mission, please consider becoming a Friend of the Club.

For more information about membership, click here.

The Model Railroad Club, Inc., is a 501(c)3 educational charity registered with the State of New Jersey. We need your support to continue our mission into the 21st century.

The best way to support us is to get involved and become a member of The Model Railroad Club.

If you’re not interested in membership you can still support us by:

• Making a donation to Campaign21, the club’s ongoing fundraiser to help us maintain and expand the Mallery Center.
• Becoming a Friend of the Club. Friends receive tickets to our Saturday open houses as well as our Annual Light & Sound Show, and also receive our club newsletter, the Clearboard.