By Dan McDermott | Photos and Videos by Dan McDermott except where otherwise noted
9:02 pm EDT August 30, 2023
MIDDLETOWN, Va.—A new railroad station building to stand at the spot of its 19th century predecessor is further along its way thanks to a major gift from former Valley Proteins President and CEO J. J. Smith.
Smith’s gift of $50,000 brings the club to about 80% of their $200,000 goal.
Standing near the tracks and future station, Smith said he’s had model trains since he was 12-years-old and enjoyed taking his son and his friends to see the old model trains at the former Winchester Model Railroad display on Cameron Street in Winchester.
“I think all kids should have the opportunity to see a good scenery model railroad. I want to see them have an even better home than they had,” Smith said.
Present at the announcement was fellow model railroad enthusiast and Middletown Mayor Charles H. Harbaugh, IV.
“Last October we purchased 20 acres and had 5 acres donated and stopped 85 homes from coming. The Winchester Model Railroad Club needs a new home and so we’re going to rebuild the circa 1880s train station that was here. We’re also working with a local nonprofit to hopefully get a caboose here,” Harbaugh said.
“You can still see the ruins where it was knocked down in the 1960s. It was the B&O Railroad at the time. Now it’s CSX. It’s just freight now but this was a passenger station back then and people would wait here along the route,” Harbaugh said.
Jim Clevenger is president of the Winchester Model Railroad Club says they’ve modeled in HO scale which is 1/87th of the full size. The club was founded in 1982 and had its headquarters in Winchester until the railroad sold the property.
“We cut out a 38-year-old model railroad. We salvaged as much as we could–the electronics, the rolling stock. It’s been about 4 years and we’ve been looking for a new home ever since,” Clevenger said.
“Our plan is to have a replica of the building that once stood on this property that was owned by the B&O Railroad and behind it we plan to have a 36 x 60 open room where we plan to construct a model railroad, Clevenger said.
The project is being overseen by Patrick Sowers and Dave Holliday Construction, Inc. of Winchester, who contributed the first $100,000 towards the goal.
dan@route11news.com
