~ Early Web Links ~

The Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society operates the Diablo Valley Lines, one of the largest and most mountainous HO scale model railroads in the United States, featuring standard gauge, narrow gauge, and interurban overhead electric lines. Based in Walnut Creek, California, this non-profit club hosts public shows and welcomes new members interested in large-scale model railroading.

The 1/87 Vehicle Club is a long-running community dedicated to HO scale (1:87) vehicle modeling, featuring hundreds of photo galleries showcasing detailed truck, car, and trailer models built by members around the world. With product news, reviews, manufacturer and retailer directories, how-to articles, and an archive stretching back to 1998, this site is an essential resource for serious HO scale vehicle enthusiasts.

The Tapiola Parish Model Railway Club (TaPRK) is a Finnish club based in Tapiola that builds and displays model railway layouts at national exhibitions and events. The bilingual site covers club layouts, projects, shows, and excursions, with highlights including participation in FREMO-FIN layouts and joint Christmas exhibitions with the Railway Museum in Helsinki.

The Rose City Garden Railway Society is a club dedicated to outdoor garden railroading, bringing together enthusiasts of large-scale model trains in the Portland, Oregon area. The site serves as a hub for club members and hobbyists interested in building and running garden railways in outdoor settings.

The Slim Gauge Guild is a model railroad club based in Pasadena, California, operating two narrow-gauge layouts in a 2000 square foot basement, including an HOn3 layout modeled after the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad and an Sn3 freelanced layout inspired by Colorado and Southern railroads. The club welcomes new members and hosts regular open house events where visitors can see prototype-accurate and freelanced Colorado mountain railroad scenes up close.

Valley HO Trak is a Connecticut-based modular HO scale model railroad club whose members each build standardized four-foot modules that connect together for train shows across the region. The site lists upcoming show dates, club news, member layouts, and details on how to join this active hobbyist community.

Trainmaster by Werner Meer is a Swiss shop and community hub dedicated to American model railroad layouts, showcasing 30 detailed layouts across scales from Z (1:220) to G, built by members of the American Railroadfans in Switzerland and contributors from the USA. With hundreds of photos and films documenting each layout, plus links to brass models, passenger cars, and hobby shows, this site is an impressive reference for serious model railroading enthusiasts.

N-Scale Magazine is a long-running publication dedicated to N-scale model railroad enthusiasts, covering kit reviews, layout builds, photography, and modeling techniques from contributors across the hobby. With 35 years of back issues available on CD and a regularly updated current issue, it serves as a central resource for the dedicated N-scale railroading community.

Spike Systems, created by Christopher D. Coleman, is a hub of railroad history and hobby content hosting multiple sub-sites covering real railroads like the East Broad Top and the Pennsylvania Railroad GG1 electric locomotive. From backyard garden railroads to Lionel tinplate collections and historical archiving, it blends railfan enthusiasm with early web presentation in a genuinely detailed package.

Steve's Hobby Blog is a richly detailed chronicle of one hobbyist's passion for miniature painting, wargaming, figure collecting, and historical modelling, with over 400 articles already published. From Crusader armies and Samurai forces to Napoleonic troops and battle reports, the blog offers practical tips, project updates, and genuine enthusiasm for the craft.