...Main Menu

Timetable, Calendar, & Club Events

Membership Meetings: The club holds meetings monthly on the 4th Tuesday of the month at 7:00 PM, usually at the Eagles Nest Arts building room 100.  These meetings will include a very short business meeting and mostly focus on railroad films, workshops, train running, or a featured speaker.  Check the detail listing below to see if there is a different location for a specific meeting.

Railroad Work Sessions: Construction of the Great Lakes Western HO railway is our top priority and work sessions currently are happening twice a week.   Members are generally present during these days and visitors are welcome to come and see our layout.

All members have access to the railroad room at any time through our combination lockbox system so in reality they can work on the railroad at any time.  Construction is under the direction of HO Superintendent Gelzer.  Please coordinate all work with Gary, or check with him for current work needing assingment.

Operating Sessions (OPS Sessions): State-of-the-Art model rail roads are not just model dioramas where trains go round in circles.  They have evolved into detailed simulation games in which railroaders "operate" the railroad as realistically as possible over a defined time cycle.  Scale "clocks" are even sometimes used.  Freight is moved from one point to the next, cars are switched and set out for unloading and loading.    Reefers are iced, cattle unloaded, coal moved from tipple to steel mill.  Your train may be a slow peddler freight or a crack passenger train moving on tight schedules while lesser trains taking the sidings as needed to allow the efficient operation of the line.   Ops sessions may have radio linked dispatchers controlling the movement of trains.  Operating signal systems also guide the engineers.

Operating Sessions are now held regularly on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 7 PM for members and invited guest operators.

The Great Lakes Western RR is designed for operations and frequent op sessions are being held for members now that enough of the railroad has been built.   In addition, several Pebble Creek railroaders routinely operate on the Great Northwestern Coastline (Gary Gelzer's line), and other model railroads around the greater Phoenix area.  If you are interested in operating, talk to Dick Vogler, Chief Dispatcher.

Highballs & Special Events: PCMRC sponsors several special events throughout the year.  These include "open house" sessions for the general public, a Christmas party,  spring picnic, swap meet and tours of operating railroads and related industries.  Scheduled Highball events are listed on the home page.

Last Update: 06-10-2009