Naptown & White River Model Railroad Club

About NWR:

NWR Clubhouse
1115 McDougal Street,
Indianapolis, IN, 46203
317-643-0143

Everyone is welcome to visit us to enjoy the World's Greatest Hobby!

Approximately 30 members maintain a stand alone building, which houses an H0-scale model railroad with a sizable mainline, several branch lines, 8 towns and industry areas. We are expanding to include an N-scale layout as well. Our DCC (digital command control) layouts supports radio and infrared Digitrax walk-around throttles. The club is open to visitors most weeks. The members help each other grow in the many skills needed in model railroading, as well as volunteering in community events and shows associated with railroading, as well as volunteering in community events and shows associated with railroading. For the new and established model railroad enthusiast, the club is a great way to participate in the "World's Greatest Hobby."

NMRA.org

Please Visit Us! The Naptown and White River Model Railroad Club is open to visitors on the first Monday of each montht from 7pm - 9pm, except on Holidays. You're welcome to bring your DCC trains and meet the crew!

Our Layouts

History of the N+WRRR

The fictional NWR Railroad was incorporated in 1877 after the reorganization of its predecessor lines. This newly created company owned trackage from Evansville to Ft. Wayne and from Rockdale to Kentland—with the two lines crossing in Indianapolis.

“Naptown” is a nickname for Indianapolis. “White River” is the route the fictional NWR line would follow. The present layout has gone through many changes and continues to do so. The layout includes view blocks, valances and a walk-around control system for members’ and visitors’ trains. Many areas of the layout have finished scenic detail, while other areas are in stages of demolition and reconstruction.

The NWR grew into a viable small/medium-sized rail line through wise, conservative Hoosier leadership. The club chose to depict part of the NWR as it would have existed in 1960—stretching from West Marmon to East Bend—with the major Naptown Yards in the middle. Interchange traffic with the Monon occurs at Hunter’s Ridge just west of Miller Mine.  Some of the towns and industries along the main line and branch lines are:

  •  Naptown – NWR’s main yard with steam and diesel servicing facilities,
  • Lockwood Junction – Passenger station and connection to the LaSalle branch,
  • Cementville – Cement plant, diesel servicing facility and branch line connection,
  • Lasalle – Switching/interchange yard, passenger station and many small industries,
  • Thomasville – Livestock docks, and grain elevator.
  • Miller Mine – Major coal mine,
  • East Bend (under construction) – A major town with large passenger station and yard facilities.
  • West Naptown  – Various docks for several large industries.

The N&WRRR layout is actually two layouts in one.  
For open houses, the layout is a continuous loop starting at Naptown Yard, winding through the countryside to a loop at and below East Bend, and back to Naptown.
For operating sessions, the layout goes “point-to-point.”  The ends of the layout are both at the north end of the building.  One is at West Marmon, the other end at East Bend.  The sprawling Naptown yards are in the middle of point-to-point running.  
The club uses Digitrax Digital Command Control for operating the layout.  The system is outfitted with radio receivers to allow walk-around throttle control.  
At Lockwood Jct., Possman, Lasalle, Clark Jct., and Hunter’s Ridge, turnouts are connected to Tortoise® Slow Motion motors and a track diagram board.  Several turnouts have been upgraded to DCC control of Tortoise® motors.  The rest are hand thrown switches.  A PTC® Turntable control system is in place at Naptown yards, allowing automated function of the layout’s largest turntable/roundhouse facility. 

N Scale Layout

We are currently in development of an N-scale layout at the NWR facility. Come by any Monday night to see our progress!