The Rail Runners Rail Road Club of Grand Meadow will host a model railroad open house from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19, and Sunday, Nov. 20, at the Grand Meadow Business Center (209 First St. NE). The train layout is located in Room 119 and admission is free.

Established in 2004, Rail Runners is made up of approximately a dozen members coming from Rochester, Dodge Center, Kasson and Albert Lea.

Built to accommodate HO gauge, the layout consists of two main lines, each 210 feet in length that take trains more than five minutes to traverse. In addition, the layout includes a depot modeled after the Toledo (Ohio) Union Depot, a gravel pit, various industries and open countryside characteristic of the Midwest region. The layout also includes sidings, is situated on two levels and would total over one-half mile in actual distance. Model equipment often has sounds of prototype rail locomotives such as the diesel motor sounds, bells, whistles, horns, and the chuff-chuff of steam locomotives.

Club members will be on hand during the open house to describe the different types of cars in both the passenger trains and freight trains.

For more information about model railroading or joining the Rail Runners Model Railroad club, visit the open house on Nov. 19 and 20. The club meets on Wednesday afternoons, 1-5 p.m. for train operating sessions and to work on the layout. Visitors are welcome during meeting times as well.