Meet then members of the Middlesex Central Model Railroad Club and see the largest model train exhibit in Westford!
The Middlesex Central Model Railroad Club takes its name from the Boston & Maine Branch Line that was once a thriving mover of passengers. That line started at the North Station on the B&M main line then branched off at Arlington and stopped at Concord, Carlisle and Westford. In its early hay days freight was also moved over this line.
Our club was organized in the 1980s and held meetings in one of the older buildings at the Tewksbury State Hospital. Then, we met at Brother Clayton Dearth’s home in Westford. Several years later, we moved to the Westford Senior Center (formerly the Cameron School) located at 20 Pleasant Street in Westford.
Around 2010, the Cameron building was extensively renovated for a growing senior population. During this period, our layout remained in storage.
By the fall of 2015, the Club was relocated to its current space in basement of the Cameron Senior Center. This new location provided an opportunity to install a layout that resembled the 1950’s era of the Rutland, Vermont Railroad System.
Over time, we have been able to improve our performance with a new (NCE DCC) digital train control system. This enabled us to utilize many new features in operating the trains. As we continued work, scenery and other refinements were completed.
At present, we have over 6oo feet of track. Our modern train control system allows several engineers to move freight and passengers to and from various stations within the layout. Further technological advances have provided locomotives with advanced motion control, lighting, and realistic sounds.