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Welcome to The Cincinnati Northern Model Railroad Club, Inc. website. 

The origins of the prototype Cincinnati Northern Railroad can be traced back to the 1880s and the Cincinnati, Jackson, & Mackinaw RR.  The Cincinnati Northern Railroad ran from Franklin, Ohio, to Jackson, Michigan, with headquarters in Van Wert, Ohio.  By 1902, it was controlled by the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, and St. Louis Railway, also known as the Big Four Railroad, a subsidiary of the New York Central.

The Cincinnati Northern Model Railroad Club operates a HO scale layout that models the Cincinnati Northern from Franklin to Van Wert as though it had remained an independent railroad in the 1950s, while maintaining historical accuracy.  We also operate a 10′ x 17′ prize-winning sectional layout that we exhibit at local events and national train shows.

We are still looking for a permanent home, but not having a fixed layout hasn’t stopped us. We are working on a new modular design with many innovative technologies. We’ve gone through the design phase and will be prototyping modules very soon. Our new design eliminates 80% of the weight of standard construction. Provides fail proof electrical connections between modules. Has stand alone controls for switching and signaling on each module. It carries all the scenery and structures you’d expect on a model, and yet each module will be stackable for transport. Our plans are to build a model of the entire Cincinnati Northern Line from Franklin, OH, to Jackson, MI. The design allows us to display all or parts of the line as needed for exhibits and will eventually fit into a permanent space as a fixed layout.

If you are interested in learning how to build a model railroad, this would be a good time to consider becoming a member. Our current membership has well over 200 years of combined expertise in model railroading. Reach out with the Contact Us link, and we will be happy to talk with you.

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