Founded in 1938 by Harry Ebert and Borden Lilley, the Model Railroad Club of Toronto (MRCT) is one of North America’s premier O scale

O scale

O scale is a scale commonly used for toy trains and model railroading. Originally introduced by German toy manufacturer Märklin around 1900, by the 1930s three-rail alternating current O gauge was the most common model railroad scale in the United States and remained so until the early 1960s...

 model railroad clubs.

History

Originally located in Harry Ebert’s basement, the MRCT soon moved to new premises at Toronto’s Union Station

Union Station (Toronto)

Union Station is the major inter-city rail station and a major commuter rail hub in Toronto, located on Front Street West and occupying the south side of the block bounded by Bay Street and York Street in the central business district. The station building is owned by the City of Toronto, while the...

. After World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

, the railways annexed the space the Club occupied. In January 1946, the Club moved to its present location in the basement of 171 East Liberty Street (formerly 37 Hanna Avenue). The former munitions factory is now part of Toronto's Liberty Village

Liberty Village

Liberty Village is a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is bounded at the north by King Street West, the west by Dufferin Street, the south by the Gardiner Expressway, the east by Strachan Avenue, and the northeast by the CP railway tracks...

 neighbourhood.

Since the mid-1960s the Club has built and operated its layout as the Central Ontario Railway.

Membership

The MRCT's many members are passionate about their model railroading hobby. For many, membership at the Model Railroad Club of Toronto is a lifelong commitment.

Annual open house days

The Club hosts Annual Shows (open to the public) on the last three Sundays and on the Family Day holiday in February each year.