Milwaukee and model railroading share deep, historic ties. Model Railroader Magazine, Wm. K. Walthers, Inc., and the National Model Railroad Association all had their humble beginnings in the beer city. This rich heritage has fostered a healthy and diverse group of model railroad clubs throughout Southeast Wisconsin that are still active today.
Finding these clubs can sometimes feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. With assistance and insight from the Wisconsin Southeastern (WISE) Division of the Midwest Region (MWR) of the NMRA, we’ve compiled a list of the model railroad clubs in Southeast Wisconsin, highlighting what they offer for visitors or prospective members. If you know of a club not on this list, please leave a comment and we’ll update this list.
Kenosha County
Kenosha Garden Railroad Society
Scale: Large
Layout type: Modular — Layout is portable for train shows and other events
Location: Marina Garden Family Restaurant; 5001 7th Ave., Kenosha, WI 53140 — Monthly business meetings only
Website: kgrs.org
Facebook: facebook.com/KenoshaGRS
Milwaukee County
Cream City Traction Club
Scale: HO
Layout type: Modular — Layout is portable for train shows and other events
Location: Twice-a-month meetings at members’ homes
Website: sites.google.com/site/creamcitytraction/home
Email: JasoneDavies@gmail.com
Metro Milwaukee Z Scale Club
Scale: Z
Layout type: Modular — Layout is portable for train shows and other events
Location: 6560 S. 27th St., Oak Creek, WI 53154
Facebook: facebook.com/mmzsc/
Email: kd79ctls@aol.com
Phone: (920) 668-6857
Milwaukee-N-Southeastern Model Railroad Club
Scale: N
Layout type: Permanent and modular — 150,000 square feet modular layout is portable for train shows and other events
Location: 4747 S. Packard Ave., Cudahy, WI 53110 — Enter back door and walk downstairs
Hours: Open to the public on Tuesdays, 7-8:30 p.m.
Website: mnse.org
Email: mnse1986@gmail.com
Facebook: facebook.com/people/Milwaukee-N-Southeastern-Model-Railroad-Club-Ltd/100064815905381/#
Model Railroad Club of Milwaukee
Scale: O, 2 Rail
Layout type: Permanent
Location: 215 E. National Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53204
Hours: Public open house last Saturday of each month
Email: 3georgediane@gmail.com
Phone: (414) 425-8635
North American Prototype Modelers
Scale: HO
Layout type: Permanent
Location: 3441 S. 27th St, Milwaukee, WI 53215 — Email for directions to the club entrance
Hours: Public open houses scheduled year-round
Website: www.napmltd.org
Email: cpunclejoe@yahoo.com, President Mark Zeibell; 70741.2122@compuserve.com, Treasurer Michael “Tad” Parks; and mbeckemeier@wi.rr.com, Webmaster/Director Mike Beckemeier
Overland Western Lines
Scale: HO
Layout type: Modular — Layout is portable for train shows and other events
Ozaukee County
European Train Enthusiasts, Milwaukee Chapter
Scale: OO
Layout type: Modular — Layout is portable for train shows and other events
Website: ete.org/milwaukee
Email: Dudley Blank, kpev@wi.rr.com
Phone: (262) 377-8172
Metro Model Railroad Club
Scale: HO
Layout type: Permanent and modular — Modular layout is portable for train shows and other events
Location: Harbor Club; 322 W. Walters St., Port Washington, WI 53074
Website: metrorrclub.org
Email: rzmeyer@sbcglobal.net
WIZ KIDZ Z scale model train club
Scale: Z
Layout type: Modular — Layout is portable for train shows and other events
Facebook: facebook.com/people/WIZ-KIDZ-Z-scale-model-train-club/100082867405899/
Email: Anthony Sevcik, tsevcik2@yahoo.com; and Scott Zimmermann, zimnanook@yahoo.com
Racine County
Lionel Railroad Club of Southeast Wisconsin
Scale: O, 3 rail
Layout type: Permanent
Location: 4625 Washington Ave., Racine, WI 53405 — Above the American Coin & Jewelry store
Hours: Public open houses scheduled year-round
Facebook: facebook.com/LRRCSEW
Northwest Traction Group
Scale: HO
Layout type: Modular — Traction layout featuring live overhead wire to power the trains
Email: Andy Breaker, funeralguy20@gmail.com
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/602636593264272/
Tri-County Model Railroad Club
Scale: HO
Layout type: Permanent
Location: 1010 Vine St, Suite 100, Union Grove, WI 53182
Hours: Public open houses scheduled year-round
Website: trainweb.org/tricountymrclub/
Facebook: facebook.com/TriCountyModelRailroadClub/
Email: tricountymodelrailroad@gmail.com
Phone: (262) 551-9610 or (262) 818-1458
Washington County
Cedar Ridge Model Railroaders
Scale: HO
Layout type: Permanent
Location: Cedar Ridge Independent; 113 Cedar Ridge Dr., West Bend, WI 53095 — Second floor, south wing
Hours: Open to the public on Tuesday mornings, 9-noon; or anytime by appointment
Facebook: facebook.com/CedarCommunity/
Phone: Gary Seymour, (262) 338-0049
Kettle Moraine Ballast Scorchers
Scale: HO and N
Layout type: Permanent and modular — HO and N modular layouts are portable for train shows and other events
Location: 215 N. Main St., Suite 60, West Bend, WI 53095 — Entrance at rear of the building by the river
Hours: Public invited to attend club meetings on Wednesdays at 7 p.m., and first and third Sundays at 6:30 pm
Website: kmbsrrclub.org
Facebook: facebook.com/kmbsrrclub/
Milwaukee Light Engineering Society
Scale: 7½” gauge live steam
Layout type: Permanent
Location: 2620 Country Aire Dr., Cedarburg, WI 53012
Hours: Scheduled public train rides year-round
Website: mlesrr.org
Facebook: facebook.com/MLESRR/
Email: mlestrainhotline@gmail.com
Waukesha County
Badgerland-S-Gaugers
Scale: S
Layout type: Modular — Layout is portable for train shows and other events
Location: 741 Grand Ave., Waukesha, WI 53186 — Lower level below the Social Security office
Hours: Open houses scheduled year-round
Website: trainweb.org/bsg/
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/1478647115778366/
Phone: Secretary Jeff Madden, (262) 968-3729
Milwaukee Lionel Railroad Club
Scale: O, 3 rail and Standard Gauge
Layout type: Permanent and modular — Three modular layouts are portable for train shows and other events
Location: 2721 S. Calhoun Rd., New Berlin, WI 53151
Hours: Fridays, 1-9 p.m. (year-round); Saturdays and Sundays, 1-5 p.m. (Oct.-April)
Website: milw-lrrc.org
Facebook: facebook.com/milw.lrrc/
Email: milw.lrrc@gmail.com
Phone: (262) 754-9900
Milwaukee North Western Railroad
Scale: HO
Layout type: Permanent
Location: Oconomowoc Area Historical Museum; 103 W. Jefferson St., Oconomowoc, WI, 53066
Hours: Tuesdays to Thursdays and Sundays, 1-4 p.m.
Website: oconomowochistoricalsociety.org
Facebook: facebook.com/MilwaukeeNorthwestern/
Email: cgevaert@gmail.com
Phone: (262) 569-0740
Pewaukee Road Lego Train Line
Scale: L gauge (LEGO)
Layout type: Modular — Layout is portable for train shows and other events
Facebook: facebook.com/p/Pewaukee-Road-Lego-Train-Line-100070424400839/
Waukesha County Gandy Dancers Model Railroad Club
Scale: HO
Layout type: Permanent
Location: 741 Grand Ave., Waukesha, WI 53186 — Lower level below the Social Security office
Hours: Open houses scheduled year-round
Website: wcgdrailroad.com
Facebook: facebook.com/wcgdmodelrailroadclubofficial
Instagram: instagram.com/wcgd_railroad/
Email: wcgdrailroad@gmail.com
WisLUG Milwaukee Chapter
Scale: L gauge (LEGO)
Layout type: Modular — Layout is portable for train shows and other events
Location: Bricks & Minifigs; 16700 W. Bluemound Rd., Brookfield, WI 53005 — Members meeting
Website: wislug.org
Facebook: facebook.com/Wislug/
