About the HostlerS Model Railroad Club

The Hostlers Model Railroad Club was founded in February 1988 in Ogden, Utah by a small group of model railroad enthusiasts who wanted to share their passion for trains and model railroading. Originally formed as an all-scale club, the organization quickly began to grow, reaching fourteen members within just a few months.

In the early days, members met in each other’s homes for monthly meetings and work sessions. Within the first year, the club established its HO scale modular layout program, allowing members to bring their modules together to create large operating layouts at train shows and public exhibitions. Over the years, Hostler modular layouts have been displayed throughout the region, including events in Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, and Idaho, helping introduce thousands of people to the hobby of model railroading.

While members model many different scales and aspects of railroading, HO scale remains the most widely represented scale within the club. The Hostlers have grown from a small founding group to a large and active organization with members from across the Wasatch Front and surrounding areas.

Today, the club typically meets once a month at the Ogden Union Station, usually on the third Wednesday of the month, where members share projects, discuss techniques, and enjoy the fellowship of others who share an interest in railroading and model building. New members of all experience levels are always welcome.

For many years, under the leadership of longtime president Mike Murphy, the club developed a strong reputation among model railroad organizations throughout the western United States for both its operating layouts and its commitment to the hobby.

One of the club’s most visible contributions to the community is the Hostler Model Railroad Festival, held annually during the first weekend of March at Ogden Union Station. The three-day event attracts thousands of visitors each year and features operating layouts, vendors, displays, and family-friendly activities celebrating railroading and model trains.

Beyond the hobby itself, the Hostlers are proud of their community involvement and public service efforts. The club has supported local charities through donations and volunteer efforts, contributed to programs at Ogden Union Station, and participates in community traditions such as the Ogden Christmas Village at Ogden Municipal Park.

For more than three decades, the Hostler Model Railroad Club has continued its mission of promoting model railroading, sharing knowledge, and bringing people together through a shared love of trains.