Ann Arbor club modernizes model railroad at restored depot

The Ann Arbor Model Railroad Club, based in the lovingly restored Dexter Depot, is mixing decades of tradition with modern control technology while keeping community engagement at the center of its work. Founded in 1946, the club operates an HO-scale layout roughly 20 by 45 feet that recreates southeastern Michigan scenes and a Norfolk Southern mainline, with recognizable landmarks from Ann Arbor, Chelsea and Dexter.

The layout remains the club’s public face and teaching tool. Members have upgraded running systems to Digital Command Control and now stage smartphone control demonstrations to show how modern DCC interfaces with everyday devices. Those demonstrations make it easier for newcomers and younger modelers to get hands-on experience with consist operations, throttle apps and realistic signal behavior without needing a full command station on their own benchwork.

The club runs monthly public open houses on the first Wednesday of each month at the Dexter Depot, giving neighbors and visiting modelers a regular chance to see operating sessions, ask about layout construction and learn about wiring and scenery techniques. The club also stages an Annual Train Show fundraiser, scheduled for February 15–16, 2026 at Saline Middle School, which serves as both a community event and a recruiting ground for new members and volunteers.

Volunteer labor and donations drove the depot restoration project that now houses the layout and public events. That investment in infrastructure has paid practical dividends: the restored depot offers a spacious, accessible venue for operating sessions, youth outreach programs and school visits, while preserving a local historic building. Club members emphasize outreach to young people through demonstrations and introductory sessions that focus on basic wiring, layout planning and simple starter projects.

For modelers working on their own layouts, the club’s practices offer useful takeaways: integrating DCC with smartphone apps can lower the barrier to multi-operator running; using a local, visible venue helps attract donations and volunteers; and modeling familiar local geography strengthens community ties and public interest.

The takeaway? Attend an open house, bring a kid or a novice, and try the smartphone throttle. Volunteer time or a small donation to the depot keeps the lights on and the trains running, and the Feb 15–16 train show is a great place to plug into the local scene and see what modern HO operations can look like in southeastern Michigan.