Model railroad club forced to leave Brooklyn after more than 70 years

A famous display of model trains is facing its last day in Bay Ridge, as they are being forced out after more than 70 years.

News 12 Staff

Apr 6, 2019, 12:37 AM

Updated 2,086 days ago

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Model railroad club forced to leave Brooklyn after more than 70 years
A famous display of model trains is facing its last day in Bay Ridge, as they are being forced out after more than 70 years.
The Bay Ridge Model Railroad Club is based in the basement of a Brooklyn apartment building, and has remained there since 1947. The building's landlord is now forcing the club to move out, saying they need to do repairs.
Luckily, the club has already found their new home at the New York Trolley Club in Ulster County. But for club members, seeing the trains leave Brooklyn isn't easy.
"It's great that they want to save it, it's just unfortunate that it has to be taken apart because it's not meant to be taken apart. It was a permanent installation so it's going to be a lot of work," says Mark Wolodarsky.
Arthur Stensholt would come to the club with his friends back when he was a kid. He says as time went by less and less people came, and shows happened less often.
Stensholt thought the club was gone, but found out it was still in business when his son moved into an apartment above it.
"I found out by accident that the club was still here," says Stensholt. "That's the way things go a lot of times, you don't know what's going to happen in life."
He says when he jumped back in, it was like old times. He got the greatest joy from the holiday open house and getting to see kids check out the trains.
Members expect the train display's new home to be ready by early 2020.