‘We’re restoring a piece of railroad history and Milwaukee history.’

One of the oldest model railroad clubs in the country is in Milwaukee. It originally started in the 1930s, and the current train track layout was created in 1950. Within the two rooms, there’s over a mile of track laid down for the trains to run on. It’s located under the train tracks on National Avenue, in a building that used to be the Allis train station, originally built in 1916. Scott McFarland, one of the members, has a long history with model railroads.

Zyair Buckner: When did you become a part of this club?

Scott McFarland: Probably about six to seven years ago. I’ve been in model railroading for 50 years or so.

Zyair Buckner: What made you want to get into model railroading? What did you find cool about it?

Scott McFarland: Well, that’s a good question. I think just about everything, you know, just the miniaturized trains and how we think, you know, how all this is built to scale. And, you know, you can run trains in my own little miniature world, really.

Zyair Buckner: What has been your favorite experience so far with this club?

Scott McFarland: Actually bringing it back to life. If you would have came here six years ago, there wouldn’t have been a lot running because it wasn’t maintained and you know, it was just the age group of the members. And a bunch of us just started restoring one section after another after another after another, you know, until we got to where we’re at now. We pretty much systematically went through all the electrical and we’re able to run at least three trains now, hopefully next year or so, four at one time…You know, we all have a good time. And you know, I can tell everybody, and I’ll tell you, we’re restoring a piece of railroad history and Milwaukee history, and we just kind of like to think we’re preserving it for the next generation. Because we’re actually the oldest model railroad club, still in the same building. We’ve been here since 1936.

Zyair Buckner: What was your prior knowledge before joining this club? Did you know anything about trains?

Scott McFarland: I volunteered at the Illinois Railway Museum and East Troy Railway Museum and grew up with trains. You know my dad was into trains, my grandfather was into trains. So, I guess I just kind of grew up with it. I really enjoy it.

Zyair Buckner: What’s something unique about this club that you find that’s different from all the other railroad clubs?

Scott McFarland: Well, like I just mentioned, you know, we’re the oldest club, second oldest club in the United States. We use scale two rails, which is a kind of unique scale. It’s not Lionel three rail or HO. Yeah, it’s a true quarter inch. And you know, it’s just nice to know that we’re preserving something that’s been here for so long. We’re just kind of a piece of Milwaukee history and everyone wants to come too.

Zyair Buckner: Which one’s your favorite out of all the trains or the streetcar?

Scott McFarland: Probably the highest and the Chicago Northwestern 400, just because the Hiawatha ran right over us on the tracks and the Amtrak Hiawatha still runs right above us and then two tracks over was Chicago Northwestern. They were, and I mean they were right here, and we’re running the miniature ones now. Yeah, that’s amazing, and everyone likes seeing those too.