Model Railroading as Education

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Wed Apr 03, 2019 12:41 pm

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/loc ... story.html

Quote:

Lopez and Gould were building a bridge as part of a weekend educational program run by the Garfield-Clarendon Model Railroad Club in Uptown. They were competing against other teams of young boys and club members to see which bridge could carry the most weight with the least amount of material.

For five Saturdays in March, club members taught 10 neighborhood grade school students concepts like basic electricity, coding, power sources and bridge mechanics, while having fun with one of the biggest model railroad layouts in the United States. This was the second year for the program, which is open on a first-come, first-serve basis to kids from nearby elementary schools.

The model railroad club dates back to 1947, but moved from Garfield Park to the Clarendon Park Community Center in 1963. The current layout, on which every 3 millimeters of the model represents one foot on an actual railroad, is the largest in the club’s history — it can take 30 minutes for a train to run through the whole thing, and up to 25 independently operated trains can run at the same time. Designed to look like a cluster of Appalachian towns in the 1960s, the layout has stores, train stations, houses, schools, farms and even a family of bears in the woods on a mountain side.

The club started the educational program last year, said club member and youth program coordinator Scott Baumgartner. Last year’s classes included two girls, but this year, only boys expressed interest. BNSF provided $2,000 in funding for this year’s program. Every week featured a different lesson in a classroom on some railroad-related subject, then a session in the train room, where the students learn to control the model trains and heed the signals.

This is how a "bunch of old guys playing with trains":
1) makes itself relevant to the community at large;
2) lets people know they exist;
3) makes people CARE they exist; and
4) helps create future members, rail enthusiasts, and volunteers.

So what are YOU doing along these lines?

softwerkslex · **Posted:** Wed Apr 03, 2019 4:03 pm

I completely agree.

Pantograph · **Joined:** Thu Oct 26, 2017 8:39 pm **Posts:** 7

I am a member of this club and helped with the program. Everyone had a great time and I think it is a great way to educate people about both real and model railroading and to connect with the local community.

Bradford Smith

Randy Hees · **Posted:** Thu Apr 04, 2019 12:35 pm

This program sounds great... a wonderful learning experience, but, in the world of formal education, to be considered "educational" it would probably need a planning document, calling out learning objectives and how they meet defined curriculum goals as published by the Department of Education... This formality is frequently forgotten by volunteers and may be beyond the skill set of the people who create great programs...

Randy

gw75 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 04, 2019 1:17 pm

I think this is brilliant. I'm a school music teacher. If writing an "eduspeak" document is beyond the skill set of the current members of the club, then it's time to recruit a teacher. We teachers are one of the largest populations per capita in the country. Surely, some teacher near ANY club must have some interest in trains, at least enough to help out if not to join.

Tourist/historic railroads could easily pursue this, too. Just think of how many STEM lesson are waiting to be taught, beside all the history. A little cooperation could go a long way. I'd happily consult with anyone interested.

PCook · **Joined:** Sat Jul 02, 2005 7:16 am **Posts:** 2129

Just received the advance notice from the NERPM (New England Railroad Prototype Modelers), they have more than 50 clinics this year, some of which deal with various aspects and details of conventional railroad equipment and operation. An assembly of valuable talent that could possibly assist with events at a museum or tourist railroad.

The NMRA (National Model Railroad Association) for many decades maintained a list of programs and presenters, who they could contact to help support their regional meetings and national convention.

PC

wsakalaucks · **Joined:** Mon Apr 08, 2019 10:58 pm **Posts:** 1

gw75 wrote:

I think this is brilliant. I'm a school music teacher. If writing an "eduspeak" document is beyond the skill set of the current members of the club, then it's time to recruit a teacher. We teachers are one of the largest populations per capita in the country. Surely, some teacher near ANY club must have some interest in trains, at least enough to help out if not to join.

Tourist/historic railroads could easily pursue this, too. Just think of how many STEM lesson are waiting to be taught, beside all the history. A little cooperation could go a long way. I'd happily consult with anyone interested.

Also a school music teacher who started a mode train club this year at my elementary school. Kids love it. Some prefer operating, some prefer watching them run, others like the design aspect.

SD70dude · **Posted:** Wed Apr 10, 2019 12:01 am

wsakalaucks wrote:

gw75 wrote:

I think this is brilliant. I'm a school music teacher. If writing an "eduspeak" document is beyond the skill set of the current members of the club, then it's time to recruit a teacher. We teachers are one of the largest populations per capita in the country. Surely, some teacher near ANY club must have some interest in trains, at least enough to help out if not to join.

Tourist/historic railroads could easily pursue this, too. Just think of how many STEM lesson are waiting to be taught, beside all the history. A little cooperation could go a long way. I'd happily consult with anyone interested.

Also a school music teacher who started a mode train club this year at my elementary school. Kids love it. Some prefer operating, some prefer watching them run, others like the design aspect.

That is a terrific idea. Hope it continues to go great for you.

As a child I was once a junior member in my local model railway club for a couple years, before they unfortunately ended that program (after that I fell out of modelling, and in later years became addicted to the 1:1 stuff). But while I was there I had a great time, and learned a lot about problem solving.

One of my better childhood memories is the stunned looks the grown-ups had after I finished a particularly tough switcher assignment in record time.