The Fresno Model Railroad Club was formed in the early 1970’s. Several locations housed the club’s layouts until the final move to the Selma Railroad Depot, which itself was moved from downtown Selma to Pioneer Village. The original club layout is located upstairs, where the Southern Pacific’s Station Master quarters was located. The building is true to its original design, although the stairway to the second floor is now located indoors.
An agreement with the city of Selma allowed the club to expand to include the first-floor space, which houses a second HO (1:87) scale layout, as well as an N (1:160) scale layout and an O (1:48) scale layout. The cabinets just inside the door are original to the building, and as part of the usage agreement, must remain as original as possible. The layout occupies half of the counter space, the other half is dedicated to work space for the members or curious visitors.
The original HO scale layout is based on railroading in the Central Valley, with scenes of Selma, Fresno, and other locales represented. The first-floor layout is more freestyle, with a variety of industries and activities represented. Current members include people of all skill levels, from master builders and electronics experts to new to the hobby novices and children, all with a fascination with railroading in common.