On a cold, blustery, snowy day, the Pocatello Model Railroad and Historical Society held another Open House.  On 15FEB2025, non-club members could come in from the cold and watch some neat displays come to life.  Hopefully the club, which also helps to preserve a very important part of Pocatello’s history, which many local railroad hating officials seem to want to bury (I’ve noted elsewhere that a major cause of the demise of the local economy is due to public officials making a decision that ultimately killed thousands of local Union Pacific jobs), will gain more members, or better yet, raise some much needed cash.

Always under construction.

Anybody remember their display in the old Pocatello Mall? Pocatello Model Railroad and Historical Society’s current location needs a new roof. My blustery video report:

East Idaho News, March 2024: “The railroad went to Chief Pocatello to get permission to lay their tracks through here. The Chief asked (what was in it for them) if they donated land. The railroad said, ‘Anytime you or your braves want to ride the train, we’ll let you ride it for free.’ That’s what it took to get the tracks through here.”-Larry Gilbreath, President of the Model Railroad and Historical Society

The ‘Big Room’.

Tax revolt? Some of my video from the Big Room:

Pocatello Model Railroad and Historical Society is funded with membership fees and donations.  The club was started by Union Pacific railroad employees, and other fans of mini-trains.

Alas! No more passenger service.

More Big Room video:

If you missed the 15FEB2025 open house, no worries, since the end of the fake-news Pland-emic (which temporarily shutdown the club) they are usually open to the public every third Saturday of each month, from 10:00 to 14:00 hours.

Some of my video of the Middle Room:

They have a working telegraph, and you can try it out!

The Small Room:

You can see more of my PMRHS videos on my YouTube channel: Aaron Hutchins @aaronhutchins1545

Follow PHMRS here: https://www.facebook.com/PMRHS

KPVI, April 2023:

KIFI, PMRHS reopens after the Pland-emic, February 2022:

Idaho State Journal, 2010: Model train enthusiasts attend PMRHS event

Trains.com: Did UP’s Big Boy run through Pocatello?

Idaho economy:

Anybody wanna buy a hobby store?

Starting in 1991, Dapco Hobbies used to be the main supplier for model railroaders in the Pocatello/Chubbuck area.

In a nearly abandoned Pocatello rail car repair shop, a father and son team are trying to combine machining techniques and artistry to create ‘bulletproof’ family photos?

Chubbuck: JCPenney; the final domino falls at the Pine Ridge Mall, now under 4th ownership!

Pocatello: Big Lots! failure, par-for-the-course.

U.S. economy, 2016-17:  Model railroad hobby demise?

U.S. economy 2014: Model Power, a major internet model railroad retailer, is being killed off by Too Big to Jail banks!