Columbia Historic Preservation Society

The Columbia Historic Preservation Society 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.

A city liftout has been completed that will be located near downtown Metropolis. In Columbia, the buildings have been completed as far as Union Street. These buildings include the North Mansion at 2nd & Cherry Sts, as well as the first hospital. The 4-building complex at St.Peters is also completed. In the middle aisle, retaining walls have been placed and rocks are being added near the shay line area. Up in Brandtsburg, retaining walls and hills were removed to allow for a larger town. Also, the Reading line curve was modified, as this was a problem area for trains.

The addition is still in the plans.That would extend the mainlines another 150 feet. A large staging yard is planned to handle the large 50+ car trains. The subway line will be extended to include an underground station (photo above). A steel mill and coal mine are planned for the far end of the layout.

New plans include adding a wye to the Reading Line (upper line) near Bekinstown. The upper line would be extended onto the newly added aisle, and serve the steel mill. Bekinstown would move to the new addition as an extension of Metropolis.