Big Bend Railroad Club

09/02/2026

We had a great turnout Tuesday night. While the minor issues did not cause problems we could not handle, we are happy to see everyone. It was actually a little hard to figure out the new members from the visitors. Thankfully most of the food was consumed so cleanup was easy. In a few weeks meetings will begin on the various steps facing us for replacing the layout and making upgrades and a few repairs. Keep checking in for updates.

08/21/2026

Here is an upcoming event you may want to attend.

Opaque Collective presents two exhibitions: Steel Wheels in the gallery space and United Freights of America in the shop space. Together, they trace the living histories of more than 350 graffiti writers and the vehicle that connects them: the freight train. Both exhibitions will open Friday, Au

08/14/2026

Thanks to an AC unit set up in our meeting room we were comfortable enough for the monthly meeting last night for the Railway Enthusiasts. One of the featured videos was on the Chicago, Aurora & Elgin, interurban line. New members and visitors are welcome on the second Thursday of the month at 7 PM.

08/02/2026

Reminder that we will still have our monthly open house this coming Tuesday evening as well as September first. We will not be running in October or November while reconstruction on the layout is in progress. Using a temporary, smaller layout, we plan to have our usual holiday dates in December on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and one new special one on Sunday, December 29. Keep checking our page for any changes. Soon you will lose your opportunity to take pictures and videos of our current layout that is our second one in the depot, getting its start in the early 1960s.

07/29/2026

We recently had more O gauge, wood roadbed donated to us. Most has ties milled on it and some are smooth. Includes straight and curved sections. Prices are very affordable. Once we sell them to a store they will ask more money for them.

07/28/2026

This was our table at this year's RPM show which was also part of the Mid-Continent Region/NMRA Convention. I was flanked by other tables and a layout for the O Scale Central group. I do not know if I can do this again next year.

07/24/2026

As an FYI for the RPM show this weekend, should you have questions or just want to talk and I am not at our table, and you do not see me walking around the main room, I will have the club phone on me (314-968-6847), and you can call me on it. Or you can wait and I should be back to the table within five minutes.

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07/22/2026

Reminder that this coming Friday and Saturday is the annual RPM show in Collinsville. Over-lapping these days is the annual Mid-Continent Region/NMRA Convention at the same location. Whatever the reason or event that brings you out there are many things to entertain you. Very likely for the last time I will be there wearing my conductor uniform, part of which I found in a local antique mall and later added a hat and vest. I will be at the table for our club which is the O Scale Central area. While I will periodically walk around and visit some of my friends, most of my time will be at our table where I hope to meet new friends, maybe sign up some new members, and tell them about our eighty-eight-year history and impact on the NMRA family.

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07/16/2026

Very few comments have filtered in about the article featuring us in the recent issue of Caboose Kibitzer. The publication is free and easy to access by everyone, so you do not have to be an NMRA or their Mid-Continent Region member to read it. So far the comments are good and we have been told it is very informative. We hope you will like it too.

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07/13/2026

This morning the Mid-Continent Region/NMRA released the latest issue of their Caboose Kibitzer, quarterly magazine. Access is open to the public. It contains an eight-page article about us. Over forty years ago our club published and distributed this magazine before the member who had the printing equipment had a stroke. I think we may have had a picture or two appear in the magazine since we stopped publishing it, but this is the first major piece since then.