Mt Hood Model Engineers

Trains opened the West as surely as the clipper and the Oregon Trail before. I believe in trains, though I’m uncertain they will regain their groove delivering freight expeditiously. High speed passenger rail, as is found in Japan, China and France would rule hard too. But this in none of that. It’s a private club of model train enthusiasts, the Mt Hood Model Engineers. They are opening their clubhouse today. It has a house size model train model. Keep Portland trains weird!
They have modeled segments on Northwest towns in their vintage stage from Spokane to Eugene, including Portland. The quality of the constructed and painted scenery is excellent. They have been working on it for 35 years!
It’s in the former Irvington Masonic Lodge in the cramped basement of what was the Belmont telephone exchange. They are open Tuesdays, then Saturdays in November, and have an occasional open house. The layout is about 4 ½ feet above the floor, and they are not set up like the Columbia Gorge Model Railroad Club for kids. This definitely fits into Portland’s museum of oddities.