Two floors of model railroads can be viewed at Railroad Days events, hosted by Black Diamond Society of Model Engineers, at its headquarters at 900 E. Macada Road, Bethlehem.

“Trains is a disease. It is not fatal, but there is no cure for it,” quips George Parsons as he stands by the club’s antique trolley fare box.

While he has been a BDSME member for five years, Parsons also belonged to a live steam model train club for 40 years. The Northampton resident said he was infected when his dad gave him a model railroad set when he was 4 years old.

Founded in March 1965, BDSME has operated out of various locations in Bethlehem, Hellertown and Easton throughout its 60-year history. One of the Easton club buildings burned down in 1973, destroying all but a locomotive bell and the club’s antique trolley fare box.

While the bell was returned to a former member, the trolley fare box greets visitors at the entrance to the Macada Road clubhouse, located in a former Grange Hall. Since 1981, club members have built and reworked miniature landscapes on the 650-square-foot first-floor layout featuring models of O, On30 and S scale steam and diesel trains, as well as the 800-square-foot HO scale display on the second floor at this location.

Ackermanville resident Charles Mattes and one of his five adult daughters, Charissa Mattes of Allentown, enjoyed exploring the HO scale empire on the second floor during the club’s Dec. 6, 2025, open house as they celebrated Mattes’ 78th birthday. A rail fan since he was a kid, his enthusiasm for model railroading has carried over to the next family generations.

Model rail fans will be able to observe these highly detailed miniature railroad empires 1-4 p.m. Jan. 10 and 11, Feb. 21, 22 and 28 and March 1.

Membership is open to anyone interested in model railroading. The society meets regularly 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays. For more information, visit bdsme.org.