The Big Bend
Model Railroad Club (BBMRC) held its first meeting on September
15, 1987. The BBMRC was organized for the purpose of promoting
and preserving model railroad activities for the benefit of
the general public and the 
members of the Club and for the
purpose of promoting and preserving historical material and
information pertaining to railroad transportation. The organization's
unofficial motto is: "Run
Trains!"
In early 1988, the membership decided to form three modeling
divisions, with each division constructing a modular layout.
A Tinplate Division was constructed and operated dual mainlines,
but is no longer operational.
The HO Division
features modules with dual mainlines and are built to NMRA
specifications. The N Division features modules with double
mainlines with one branchline and are built to NTRAK specifications.
The corner modules and return loops of the N Division and the
corner modules of the HO Division are owned by their respective
divisions, all other modules are owned by individual members.
Most modules are two feet wide with lengths of two, four, six
or eight feet.
The Big Bend
Model Railroad Club decided to incorporate and was chartered
as "The Big Bend Model Railroad Association,
Inc." (BBMRA) on June 28, 1990.
At present,
the BBMRA is still comprised of three divisions, the HO modeling
division, the N-Scale modeling division and a Large Scale division.
The Tinplate Division’s right-of-way
was abandoned during the 1990’s but has been resurrected
as the Large Scale Division.
The Association has a seven member Board of Directors: the President,
Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary/Editor, N Division Coordinator,
HO Division Coordinator and Large Scale Division Coordinator.
General elections are held for the President, Vice-President,
Treasurer and Secretary/Editor while the three Division Coordinators
are elected by members from each Division.
The HO Division
maintains and operates a dual mainline dogbone layout that
measures 8 by 24 feet. It also has a modular layout that can
be configured from 8 by 8 feet to 16 by 28 feet.
Meetings are held on the third
Tuesday of each month. Clinics
and other member-oriented activities are conducted during the
meetings. Member swap meets are held quarterly.
Each year the
Association sponsors our Tallahassee Model Railroad Show & Sale at
the North Florida Fairgrounds. This event showcases our Association
and other clubs from surrounding communities.
