Columbia Gorge Model Railroad Club 75th Anniversary Holiday Show

The Columbia Gorge Model Railroad Club will offer its annual holiday open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 25 and Dec. 2 and 3. The event is a celebration of the organization’s 75th year of operations. Admission is hourly timed endtry with final entry at 4 p.m. Make reservations online at cgmrc.com.

Founded in 1947, the Columbia Gorge Model Railroad Club portrays the city of Portland and the Columbia River Gorge to Wishram in the 1950s, allowing the running of both steam and diesel locomotives by volunteer club operators. In a custom-built facility the size of a basketball court, three miles of track snake past handcrafted models of Union Station, Vista House, Multnomah Falls Lodge and the new 3D-printed Stonehenge Memorial.

One of the largest layouts in the western states, the setup uses HO scaling- 1:87, or 3.5 mm to a foot. The Hood River logging section includes a working log dump and a fiery wigwam burner, while a miniature Sasquatch roams the surrounding forests. Among the meticulously placed miniature figures throughout the various scenes are new additions such as animated pecking chickens and automated roadway vehicles. Special features include vintage signs, working trolleys, an amusement park, circus, and a drive-in movie theater.