NARCOA
is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and
safe, legal operation of railroad equipment historically used
for maintenance of way. NARCOA has over 1,800 members worldwide.
Gowanda & Buffalo Model Railroad Club Free
Open House
12 - 4 PM - Every
2nd Sunday - November thru April
Operation – maintenance – meetings – Fridays 8 pm public welcome
Basement – Building #73 - On the Grounds of the
Collins/Gowanda Correctional Facilities
14267 Taylor Hollow Road
- Collins, New York 14034 Across the street from the new water tower! Access to the display area is by stairs only.
Now with two operating Model Railroad Layouts!
The G&B is a 33 by 50 foot HO gauge railroad. It was
originally started in 196l by Doctor Zecker as an occupational therapy project
for patients at the former Gowanda Psychiatric
Hospital. This local landmark has been maintained
by a group of volunteers dedicated to the preservation of this creativity and
local railroad history. Highlights include a 52-inch long toothpick suspension
bridge that was originally built by a former patient; a large mountainous
region with a cogwheel incline railroad serving a mountain top resort; an oil
refinery, a steel plant on the water front in “Buffalo”
and a village scene of “Gowanda”. Other
areas include Collins, Lawtons, Eden, Hamburg
and Buffalo Creek Junction. Current
construction projects include scenery, mining operations, a new engine facility
with roundhouse and turntable. The rebuilding of the 30-foot long Collins Yard
is near complete! There are over 115
switches, 3 large yards, 600 foot of mainline track, an operational signal
system and 10 “block control” panels on the Gowanda & Buffalo Railroad.
The new N
gauge layout is operating “under construction”.
Some of the modules are scenic others are bare. You can see the many stages of the
construction and ask the builders the “how’s and why’s” we all have when we
read about those “Dream Layouts”. Yet un-named it is part permanent and part
standardized “N-trak Modular” allowing us to combine it with other modules or
to stand alone at model railroad shows.
This is a walk around operation from the mountains to the sea on three
main lines and a mountain line; with interchange, a wye, a main yard, many
passing sidings and industrial spurs.
Admission is FREE. Donations are appreciated. Access to the display area is by stairs only.
Membership is open
Directions: - watch
for signs and the new water tower – check on MapQuest.com
Buffalo/Hamburg - Rt. 62 South to right on Taylor
Hollow Road (Just past Lawtons)
Springville - Rt.39 West to Rt. 62 South to Left on Rt. 62
South to Gowanda Corrections,
Turn right on Main prison road to right on Taylor
Hollow Road.
Cattaraugus Indian Reservation, Irving - Rt. 438 East to
left on Taylor Hollow Road.
South of Gowanda - Rt. 62 North to Rt. 438 to Taylor
Hollow Road (Right on Taylor Hollow)
North
American Railcar
