In honor of its 75th anniversary, Northern Virginia Model Railroaders will host a community open house on Saturday, April 13 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the former W&OD railway station in downtown Vienna.
At the event, members will operate a diverse collection of models, including steam and diesel locomotives hauling both freight and passenger trains. For younger enthusiasts, Thomas the Tank and some of his friends will be sharing track space.
The club was founded in 1949 in Alexandria and now has more than 100 members. The group has been at the current location adjacent to the W&OD Regional Trail at 231 Dominion Road, N.E., in Vienna since 1977.
The club constructed and operates an HO-gauge miniature railway based on a scenic portion of the former Southern Railway in North Carolina. Within the station’s waiting room, the club displays historic railroad documents and memorabilia that trace the role of railroads in Northern Virginia’s development starting in 1847.
The former rail line, which is now the W&OD Regional Trail, ran from Old Town Alexandria to Purcellville and Bluemont until 1968. The railroad was instrumental in
the development of many communities that are today centers of commerce in Arlington, Fairfax and Loudoun counties.
For information on the organization and special event, see the Website at www.nvmr.org.
