Podcasts for Model Railroaders
Did you know there are hobbyists like us that produce Podcasts that
you can download and listen to on your computer or MP3 player?
For a list of a few of these, Click here
A few good reads
Although
we have our own library, the public library is also a source for
books on railroading and our hobby. One example is this book
that most model railroaders would enjoy: "Playing with Trains: A Passion Beyond Scale"
"Check it out" at the
Montgomery County Library.
Click here
Or
check out this suspense thriller about a railfan that tries to stop
a killer responsible for a mysterious series of train wrecks: "Foamers" Click here
Recommended
reading from the APN library:
"Model Railroading with John Allen"
by Linn Westcott
Trains for your ear Instead of music,
how
about a free download of an MP3 "old time radio" melodrama
for your iPod / MP3 Player? Click here
2-10-0 Road Test How does it perform?
"It corners as if it is on rails!" Click here
to read Road &
Track magazine's road test of a 1924 Baldwin Decapod.
Better than YouTube
Vintage movie footage,
some full length featurettes
from when rail was king
Click here
Welcome!
We have doubled the size of our
Clubhouse, now we are doubling the size of our already HUGE layout. Do
you want to be a part of it?
Take a tour of our layout/clubhouse by looking through our
Photos of the Month or our other
Photo Galleries. Or come visit us and take an up close and
personal tour. Just call one of the 2 phone numbers below and set a
date to watch trains running over our mainline.
To get under the hood and learn about some
of the more detailed mechanics of operating our layout,
click here. Like what you see? Do you want to become a part
of this? Come play trains with us. Read the article below to
learn about the excitement of our exploring plans to
GROW.
Welcome to the official website of the All
Points North Model Railroad Club
Founded in 1981 as a social
club, APN currently has about 3 dozen members. In 2001 APN
completed construction of a new 2,500 square foot clubhouse
located on two acres of land in Conroe, Texas (just north of
Houston).
In early 2003 we began construction of our
permanent layout. We feature an operating HO scale
point-to-point railroad with over 530' of mainline run. We
also have a narrow gauge HOn3 line.
In less than 7 years we
constructed 1500 square feet of layout, and wanted more.
In May of 2010 we added an extension to the building, doubling
its size to 5,000 square feet. More of this space will be
available for layout than the original building. This
summer we will embark on our plan to more than double the size
of what is already one of the largest if not the largest HO
layout in the Greater Houston Area.
We are one of only a handful of model railroad clubs in the
United States that owns both the land and a building solely
dedicated to model railroading. Members have access to the club
anytime, day or night, allowing them to run trains or access the
club's library, or use the work bench or paint booth to work on
their models.
Saturdays will almost always find someone
at the club house sometime during the day. We hold a
business meeting the third Saturday of the month.
Operating Sessions have become an important facet of our
enjoyment of our layout, and is what most modelers ultimately
aspire too, many at the expense of finishing the scenicing of
their layouts. Come play with us at APN and enjoy both!
We hold an Operating Session on the
fourth Saturday of the month. From time to time we also alternate with other layout owners
in the Houston area (and beyond) and operate as guests on their layouts.
Click here to find out more about
operating on the APN Railroad.
Become a member as we implement
our plan
for growing
our layout
In
less than 10 years we've bought our own land, erected a
Clubhouse, paid off our debt, and built what we think is a
very nice, large layout. See for yourself by looking
at the photos on this website or better yet, by paying us a
visit.
If you have been putting off joining a
club, now is a great time!
Not just a great time, this is an exciting time at APN, and a time for opportunity.
If you would like to be a participant in our excitement,
by joining APN now you can get in on the ground floor as
we develop and implement plans that we expect will culminate in one of the
premier layouts in the Houston area. Become a member now and
be a part of it.
APN has
memberships available to individuals with an interest in
any phase of the model railroading/rail fanning hobby. Membership is
restricted to individuals 21 years of age or older. Click here for an Application for Membership.
Potential members are welcome to visit our clubhouse.
For more
information contact:
John Christiansen, APN President:
(713) 851-1641
Duane Darling:
(281) 257-8555
The 38 members of All Points North Model Railroad Club Click on an individual's
picture for more info on that member We play with trains
and aren't ashamed to admit it!
Here are a couple of videos shot
on our layout
Train meet on APN's Ralphred siding, just outside the town of Big Bend.
In both of these videos watch for the signals change, giving the train in the
siding the OK to proceed.
(Clink on the photo to play)
Another train meet, this time at CP Sabinal near Port Keechi.
(Clink on the photo to play)
In tribute to the great country
of the United States of America (Click on the photo to play)
Want
to know more about Model Railroading?
The National Model Railroad Association
is the largest organization devoted to the development, promotion, and enjoyment
of the hobby of model railroading.
The NMRA has a web page devoted to beginners in the hobby. Click here
to go to that page.
If you are an adult leader of a Houston Area Boy
Scout Troop and would like to arrange for a workshop on the Railroading Merit
Badge, please contact one of the following:
Copyright 2000-2010 All Points North
Model Railroad Club. All rights reserved.
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2-8-2 Mikado Steam Locomotive (I wish) Before using or relying on any of this
site's content,
click
here and read our Conditions of Use
Recommended
reading from the APN library: 
