2026 Spring Railroad Modeler Meet

Gerald Sahagian – Great Northern Kalispell Division

• Scenery: 85% Completed
• Scale: HO
• Prototype: GN / 200 miles between Havre, Montana and Whitefish, Montana
• ERA: 1950 – 1958

Replicating the mainline in west-central Montana during the 1950s, representing the crossing of the Rocky Mountains through Marias Pass, including eight towns and seven bridges along the eight scale miles of mainline.

Major industries served are coal, timber, wheat, and livestock. The 2,100 square feet layout has eight scale miles of mainline that is 100% complete with 85% of scenery complete. The Layout is designed for both operations and continuous running, and operated with EZ DCC wireless controllers.

For the Friday open house, proceed directly to the following address: 2025 Bluffs, Toledo OH.

Michael Finkler’s PRR, Toledo Division

• Scenery: 60% Completed
• Scale: HO
• Prototype: PRR / Ohio
• ERA: 1950’s

The PRR Toledo Division in the 1950s runs from just west of Mansfield, Ohio to Detroit with a branch line from Columbus Ohio to the docks at Sandusky Ohio. The modeled portion of the Toledo division runs from Carrothers, Ohio where the branch line from Columbus crossed to Sandusky. Staging on the lower level represents Detroit, Cleveland, Columbus, Pittsburgh and Chicago.

Major areas of operations are the interchange at Carrothers, Tiffin, and the local industries, lime plants at Millersville and Gibsonburg, Ohio, Outer Yard in Toledo, downtown Toledo, and associated industries along Water Street and the Ann Arbor Railroad that serviced industries in North Toledo. Operations consist of through freights, passenger (both local and The Red Arrow), way freights, and yard operations.

The PRR Toledo Division uses Signals by Spreadsheet (SBS) to control the routes and operating signals on the layout. Operating sessions are held monthly using a dispatcher and wayside phones for the movement of trains. A CTC panel is currently being designed.

Doug Tagsold’s Pennsy Panhandle

• Scenery: 10% Completed
• Scale: HO
• Prototype: Pennsylvania Railroad
• ERA: 1950’s

Veteran model railroad designer and builder Doug Tagsold is currently constructing a new HO scale layout inspired by the Pennsylvania Railroad’s Panhandle Division, stretching from western Pennsylvania into central Ohio. Known for his attention to detail and operational realism, Doug’s layout captures the character of this important PRR mainline, featuring signature scenes, heavy railroading action, and the distinctive look of the Pennsy in transition-era operations. Visitors will get a preview of a thoughtfully designed railroad that blends prototype accuracy with engaging operations.

Rick Lecki’s UP Fallen Flags

• Scenery: 80% Completed
• Scale: HO
• Prototype: Union Pacific – Freelance
• ERA: Modern

Rick’s layout is a freelanced representation of modern-day summer from the Great Plains to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The layout is in its own pole building and measures 26’ X 56’ with a double-track main line and a four-track diamond. Rick has close to 150 DC diesel engines from the fallen flags of the Union Pacific Railroad including Missouri Pacific, Denver & Rio Grande, Chicago & North Western, Southern Pacific, and Kansas City Southern. Rick also runs a UP Big Boy with two tenders. There are two engine facilities, a thirteen-track run-through yard, two grain elevators, a complete steel mill, a refinery, a coal fueled power plant, and other large and small industries.

Dave McMullian’s The MaineLines

• Scenery: 20% Completed
• Scale: HO
• Prototype: Boston & Maine, Maine Central, and Bangor & Aroostook
• ERA: Early 1950s, Maine

Dave’s Railroad “The MaineLines’ fills a room 30’ by 20’. It is controlled by a North Coast Engineering DCC system with Tsunami sound in some engines. His rolling stock and motive power are meticulously detailed and historically accurate. His structures have great detail. The layout includes a large waterfront scene which includes piers and warehouses with railroad sidings. Dave has also included a scratch built 400’ ocean going cargo ship. The waterfront includes several detail scenes including potatoes being loaded onto the freighter from box cars.

Blissfield Model Railroad Club’s BMRC

• Scenery: 100% Completed
• Scale: HO
• Prototype: C&O / Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Tennessee
• ERA: 1955 – 1965

The BMRC layout is loosely based on a section of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad from Cincinnati, OH to Charleston, WV, with a branch to Elkhorn City, KY, the line from Limeville Jct, KY to Toledo, OH, and a portion of the Clinchfield Railroad from Elkhorn City, KY to Johnson City, TN, in the 1955-1965 era. The layout has five levels, 16 towns, and 48 industries including the Port of Toledo and the Armaco Steelmill.