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Black Diamond keeps on track for 60 years

Published January 13. 2026 02:50PM
by Ed Courrier Special to the Bethlehem Press

Two floors of model railroads can be viewed at the “Railroad Days” events hosted by the Black Diamond Society of Model Engineers at their 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 for five years, Parsons has also belonged to a live steam model train club for 40 years. The Northampton Township resident was infected when his dad gave him a model railroad set when he was four 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 their 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 the 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 from Allentown, enjoy exploring the HO scale empire on the second floor during the club’s Dec. 6 open house as they celebrate 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 from 1 - 4 p.m. Jan. 3, 4, 10 and 11, 2026, as well as Feb. 21, 22, 28, and March 1, 2026.

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

A classic Studebaker waits at a crossing as a silver passenger train streaks past on part of the highly-detailed first floor layout. At right is a hunter returning with what appears to be Bambi’s mom draped over the front of his vehicle.
Northampton Township resident George Parsons greets visitors as he stands by the club’s antique trolley fare box.
PRESS PHOTOS BY ED COURRIERDan Meehan from Lehigh Township keeps a sharp eye on a passenger train he is running from the control panel at his fingertips. Meehan has been a club member for five decades.
Right: A BDSME club member for six years, Ken Robibero from Nazareth is feeling the Christmas spirit from high atop an HO scale mountain ridge.
Ackermanville resident Charles Mattes and one of his adult daughters, Charissa Mattes from Allentown enjoy watching an HO scale World War II era freight train loaded with military vehicles roll by.
A freight train rolls behind a bustling lumber mill on the first floor three-rail display. At center is a tongue-in-cheek boxcar tribute to the 1973 film “Soylent Green.”