History of the Union Pacific Model Railroad Club Inc.

The Union Pacific Model Railroad Club Inc. of Brisbane, Australia was formed in 1970 when three modellers of United States railroads, Ray Nunn, Len Matthews and Merv Paget got together to pool interests.

Meetings were first held at Mr Paget's residence. A display layout was built and was exhibited at several Hobbies and Crafts Shows which were held each year in the Brisbane City Hall. After a time, the layout was dismantled and in 1974 a new one was built on a more permanent basis at premises in an old butcher's shop at Keats Street, Moorooka.

The club layout was built utilising old packing case timber for baseboards and legs with funds raised from parking fees obtained from racegoers to Albion Park racecourse and raffles. It was extended as the club grew, and soon took up so much room that the back verandah of the Keats Street clubroom building had to be enclosed to provide an area for supper.

Obviously, more space was needed, so in 1979, negotiations were begun with the Holland Park Bowls Club for use of larger premises under the club house. These negotiations were helped by one of the members being an electrical contractor to the club at the time.

On 13th April 1980 the model layout was shifted to Holland Park. By this time membership had grown to sixteen members, and the club in course had obtained permission and the blessing of the Union Pacific Railroad Company for use of its name. Much work was put into improving the premises and today club members have at their disposal not only a layout, but a meeting area, and a kitchen. The layout itself has been extended and now occupies an area of 40 feet' by 20 feet (12x6m). It includes two switching yards, two industrial yards, four intermediate stations with crossing loops, and two mines.

The club layout is called the "Sierra Central Railroad" which is a fictitious name, but one synonymous with that of the Sierra Central Model Railroad Club of Sacramento, California, with which the club is affiliated. There is a real Sierra Railroad further south in this large American State which ran into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains which separate the west coast of U.S.A. from the mid-western high plains, and which is used extensively by Hollywood movie makers. Appropriately, layout operations include a climb over our own model mountains from Sierra Central to Pacific Flats.