Model Railroading in Southeast Wisconsin

Milwaukee and model railroading share a deep, historic connection that has shaped the city's cultural landscape for decades. From the early days of the Model Railroader Magazine to the establishment of the National Model Railroad Association, the "beer city" has been a hub for enthusiasts who have contributed significantly to the hobby. This rich heritage continues today through a thriving network of model railroad clubs across Southeast Wisconsin.

Finding these clubs can be like searching for a needle in a haystack, but with the help of the Wisconsin Southeastern (WISE) Division of the Midwest Region (MWR) of the NMRA, a comprehensive list of clubs in the area has been compiled. This guide highlights what each club offers to visitors or potential members. If you know of a club not listed here, feel free to reach out and help update the list.

Kenosha County

Kenosha Garden Railroad Society

• Scale: Large
• Layout Type: Modular – Portable for train shows and 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 – Portable for train shows and 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 – Portable for train shows and 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), 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 – 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 – 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 – 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 – 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 – 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/