Est. 1956 • Staten Island, NY

Staten Island Society of
Model Railroaders

Building Community, One Track at a Time

For nearly 70 years, we've brought together hobbyists of all ages to build, operate, and share the art of model railroading. Whether you're a seasoned modeler or just curious, there's a place for you on our layout.

Get Involved Our Story
1956 Founded
28+ Members
Multi-Scale O 1:48 · On30 1:48 · S 1:64 · HO 1:87 · N 1:160
Staten Island #482 HO-scale locomotive model on detailed track with scenery

Our Story

A Staten Island Tradition Since 1956

The Staten Island Society of Model Railroaders, Inc. is a Non-Profit 501(c)(7) organization and one of Staten Island's longest-standing and most beloved hobby clubs.

First chartered in 1956, our club has called several Staten Island locations home — from our origins in Pleasant Plains, to Historic Richmond Town, to over a decade at Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Center.

Our members combine craft, imagination, and engineering to recreate miniature worlds showcasing models of actual American trains. Working in O Scale (1:48), On30 (1:48), S Scale (1:64), HO (1:87), and N Scale (1:160), members build tabletop layouts that connect with others to form sprawling, detailed railroad scenes.

“This is a hobby that lends itself to always being worked on. You can always add to it or subtract as you get new ideas and more products come on the market.”

— Tom Nolan, Past President
1956

Club Founded

Chartered in Pleasant Plains, Staten Island, bringing together model railroad enthusiasts.

1980s

Richmond Town Era

Relocated to Historic Richmond Town, growing the club and its community presence.

2000s–Present

Sea View Hospital

Moved to the Staff House at Sea View, running monthly shows for residents and the community.

Today

Still Chugging Along

28+ members strong and actively meeting, doing shows, and welcoming newcomers.

What We Do

Something for Everyone

Model railroading is more than a hobby — it's art, engineering, history, and community rolled into one.

Build & Operate Layouts

We presently have tabletop layouts in O Scale combined with an S Scale loop, HO Scale and N Scale that we are building and modifying.

Community Shows

We regularly do train shows for Sea View Hospital residents, Richmond Town's Yankee Peddler Day, and Snug Harbor Children's Museum. We also set up free model railroad displays at schools, churches, and cultural institutions across Staten Island.

Holiday Train Shows

Our annual Holiday Train Show is a beloved Staten Island tradition, drawing families from across the borough to marvel at miniature worlds in motion.

Buy, Sell & Trade

Members participate in buy-and-sell events across the tri-state area, finding rare pieces and sharing treasures with fellow enthusiasts in New Jersey and beyond.

Workshop & Learning

From beginners running their first set to experts building trains from scratch, we share skills in scenery, wiring, weathering, and scratch-building.

Fellowship

More than trains — it's the friendships. Members meet regularly to work together, share stories, and enjoy a creative hobby that spans generations. We also organize trips to other train club layouts, museums, and train shows.

Four Ways to Enjoy the Hobby

1

Run

Buy a train set and run it as-is — pure enjoyment out of the box.

2

Customize

Personalize your setup with custom scenery, track layouts, and details.

3

Modify

Modify locomotives and rolling stock with new paint, decals, and mechanisms.

4

Build

The ultimate challenge — build trains and structures from scratch.

In the News

Making Headlines on Staten Island

Staten Island Advance / SILive.com December 2015

Model trains on center stage at annual holiday show

The annual Holiday Train Show at Clove Lakes, a joint venture with the Richmond County Model Railroad Club, draws families from across the borough.

Holiday Show

“Any hobby should be relaxing. It takes a lot of thought to make the modules look simple and make it look realistic. When it’s finished, there’s a great deal of satisfaction.”

— Ron DeMartini, Past Vice President

Join Us

All Aboard!

Whether you've been collecting trains since childhood or you're just discovering the hobby, we welcome you.

Beginners Welcome

Never built a layout? No problem. Our members love sharing their skills and helping newcomers get started. All you need is curiosity.

What You Get

  • Regular meetings and work sessions
  • Access to club tools and materials
  • Participate in shows and events
  • Learn from experienced modelers
  • Build lifelong friendships

All Skill Levels

From running trains out-of-the-box to building locomotives from scratch — there are four levels of the hobby, and we have members at every one.

Contact

Get in Touch

Mason Logie, President

347-628-6017
mlogierjr@aol.com

Michael Pillarella, Vice President

718-916-8845
hotrain57@aol.com

Bill Losco, Treasurer

917-362-3686
mrbill9236@aol.com

Or email us directly at sismr@googlegroups.com