The Beaches Area Model Railroad Club (BAMRC) will hold an open house Nov. 22.

The club maintains its HO scale layout in the historic Mayport Depot, part of Pablo Historical Park located at the Beaches Museum and History Center. The complex is located at 413 Beach Boulevard.

The open house hours will be from 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

As part of the open house, the club will raffle a completed portable 4’ X 8’ HO scale model railroad. Tickets are $5. Proceeds will benefit activities of the club and the Beaches Museum. The layout includes all track and structures.

Several other activities are scheduled at the Beaches History Center on Nov. 22, including special tours of the full-sized steam locomotive that is on display next to the depot, and a Meet-the-Artists event.

BAMRC President Ken Hoot noted that November is National Model Railroad Month.

“And, with Christmas coming soon, this is a great time to spotlight the hobby of model railroading as a family activity,” Hoot said.

Hoot noted that many club members are busy constructing a portable O-scale modular layout. Several members are building sections to a common national standard so that they may be combined with similar modules at trains shows and exhibitions. Many of the locally constructed modules will be on display Nov. 22 in the passenger section of the depot. The club’s permanent layout is located in the freight section of the same depot.

HO scale is 1/87th full size (roughly 1/8 inch to the foot). It is the most popular size modeled worldwide. O scale is 1⁄4 inch to the foot. 

Membership in the BAMRC is open to anyone interested in any aspect of the model railroad hobby and new members are always welcome. Adult dues are $20 per month. Junior memberships, for those 12 and older, are also available.