Columbia Historic Preservation Society

Located at 21 N. 2nd St in Columbia, Pa., the Columbia Historic Preservation Society Model HO Model Railroad covers 1000 square feet and is HO (1:87) scale. The picture above is located in the Columbia area of the layout. The Columbia area is prototypical (based on what actually existed). The time era of Columbia is 1920-1940. Columbia covers approximately 200 sq.ft. of the layout, and is home to a large roundhouse facility, a major yard, coaling and diesel facilities as well as two railroad stations (Pennsylvania RR and Reading RR).

The layout started out in the basement of Jack Belsinger, a Lancaster,PA man. Being from Europe, he modeled European trains. He gave the layout to Calvin Duncan who worked to find a home for it. The layout was smaller than what it is today. In 1993, CHiPS agreed to take the layout. It was cut into pieces and stored in the unused second floor of the history museum. In 1998, work began on preparing the unused second floor, and the layout was reconstructed.

In 2000, it was decided to build an HO diorama of Columbia as it appeared in the first half of the 20th century. Since 2000, all the track was replaced, and Digital Command Control (DCC) was installed, replacing the Zero-1 System. Two foot high backdrops were constructed to isolate various scenes, and to direct visitors up and down aisles around the layout. The layout is an ongoing work in progress.

At our annual meeting, it was decided that everybody work to upgrade the Columbia area of the layout in an “all-out blitz”, and to finish that section. This includes wiring and making the turntable and yard area fully functional. Ballasting the yard will also occur. Some streets will be redone in cobblestone. All the foamcore/cardstock buildings with paper windows will be replaced with styrene plastic buildings with styrene window and door castings. Some backyards will be redone to add more trees and detail. Another goal for 2013 is to place plexiglass around various areas of the layout. As of this printing, we are planning to open for the Susquehanna Division (MER) NMRA meet day in April, as well as the PRR Convention in May. It was suggested the historical society extend the open hours to include Saturday as well as Sunday. Look for a schedule on this website in the near future for when trains will be running. The addition is still in the plans, but is pushed back in order to complete the Columbia area.