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APN News
Upcoming Clinics
Mondays in February
Model Railroading Class
being taught by APN
at Lone Star College
Montgomery Campus
Class info in Catalog
Click Here and go to page 4
March 20, 2010, 1:30pm
Professional Photographer
Bob Werre will teach
Model Photography
at APN's Clubhouse
Next Op Sessions
February 27, 10:00 AM
Next Business Meeting:
February 13, 10:30am
 
Latest Additions
11/1/2009
HOOTERS Op Session Pics

10/12/2009
Our newest member,
Jack McKeon

10/11/2009
Added a couple of train meet movie clips shot yesterday at the club
10/5/2009
New Photo of the Month:
at the controls of a operational 1:1 steam engine
9/23/2009
Our newest member,
Clayton Adams
Railroading
Upcoming Events
Greater Houston Train Show
 February 20
 Stafford, TX
Sn3 Symposium
and Train Show
and layout tour
 February 24-27
 Houston, TX
7th Annual Great
Northwest Train Show
 February 27
 Bentonville, AR

Click here for links to
these and other events
 
Railroading in other media
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!

Talk with us at our table February 20
at the upcoming Train Show in Stafford, TX
Click here for information on the Show

 


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 almost 40 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. 

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. 

Although we still have several years ahead of us to "complete" the existing layout, we have made the decision to double the size of our clubhouse, which will more than double the square footage we have for layout space.

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
 

 

2009 President John Christiansen2009 Vice President Miguel Macias2009 Secretary Robert Miller2009 Treasurer Barry Cottrell2009 Member at Large Larry Stella

Carlton AdamsMarty BarkleyJason BienekB.J. CaronJuan CRichard ClaytonErrol CokerRich Cutler

Duane DarlingJim DunnuckThis could be you!Kevin GrandjeanRandy HandleyMark HerzogMoe JanuaryJim KastorMike Kelley

Mike KremhellerJohnnie KrezinskiScott KurzawskiRoger MacauleyRay McClureJack McKeonMike MeschlerEugene Moon

Chip MullenRaghu S. NarayanCharlie Richmond 2008 Member-at-LargeDavid RobersonWill SmithDavid TumultyBrad WilburnPhil Willman
 

The 37 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!

 

 

 

APN Members will be teaching the class "Model Railroading" to the general public through the the Academy for Lifelong Learning at Lone Star College-Montgomery.  The course will be held the Spring 2010 semester, the 4 Mondays in February from 1-3:50pm.

The class is free of charge to members of the Academy. 

The Academy is an organization for older adults (50 and over) and offers non-credit classes and social activities for continued intellectual and personal growth.

The Campus is located in The Woodlands just west of I-45 on Highway 242/College Park.

Click here for information on the Academy and click here for a course description in the catalog (on page 4 under the section FUN AND RECREATION)

 

 

 

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)

 

 

 

 

Comic strip courtesy of www.fborfw.com

(refresh page for random comic strip)

 

 

 

Link to NMRA WebsiteWant 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.
 
Other sources to consider:
 -Visit the World's Greatest Hobby Website
 -Visit the nearest local Hobby Shop that carries Model Trains
 -Call and arrange a visit with the nearest Model Railroad Club
 -Join APN!  

Boy Scouts
of America


Railroading
Merit Badge

Click here for
requirements


Link to Merit Badge Requirements
 

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:

Houston Railroad Museum
Galveston Railroad Museum
Galveston County Model RR Club

Created on 01/25/2007
Updated 01/31/2010