1936 Announcement that Pelham Manor Depot Would Be Re-Purposed as Model Train Headquarters

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For years after the New Haven Branch Line stopped running passenger service at the beautiful little Pelham Manor Depot designed by noted architect Cass Gilbert, a model railroad club used the station.  The Westchester Model Club, Inc. built a massive model railroad that even included a tiny replica of the very Pelham Manor Depot within which the model railroad sat.  The Club used the Depot until late April 1953 when the building had to be demolished to make way for today's I-95, the New York Thruway.  

The Club and its model railroad attracted national attention.  The O-Gauge model railroad was a marvel of miniature engineering operated with time-table precision over about 3,500 to 4,000 feet of track (the equivalent of about 27 scale miles).  The miniature railroad was believed at the time to be the longest model railroad of its type in the world.  When the club held another of its annual public viewings of the model railroad over two weekends in 1946, it attracted more than 3,000 visitors.  Newspapers and magazines throughout the nation wrote breathlessly about the amazing model railroad maintained by the Club in the little depot in Pelham Manor, New York.

Many still living in Pelham remember visiting the model railroad in the old Pelham Manor Depot.  I have written about Westchester Model Club, Inc. and its model railroad before.  See, e.g.:  

Wed., Dec. 14, 2016:  History of the World Record Pelham Manor Model Railroad of the Westchester Model Club.

Thu., Jul. 09, 2015:  The Model Railroad Once Housed in the Abandoned Pelham Manor Station on the New Haven Branch Line.

Fri., Apr. 09, 2010:  The Closing of the "Eastern Railroad" of the Westchester Model Club, Inc. in the Pelham Manor Depot in 1953. 

Tue., Oct. 13, 2009:  Film of the Westchester Model Club, Inc.'s Model Railroad in the Pelham Manor Depot Before its Demolition. 

Tue., Apr. 21, 2009: 1950 Article Mentions Model Railroading Club That Used Pelham Manor Depot.

Today's Historic Pelham article provides additional information about the announcement that the club would take over the deserted Pelham Manor Depot in 1936.  An article that appeared in The Pelham Sun on October 30, 1936 reflected the announcement and, significantly, provided the names of a number of Pelham residents who were involved with the venture.

Edwin P. Alexander of New Rochelle was the moving force behind the club's decision to move its headquarters from a tiny location in New Rochelle to the spacious Pelham Manor Depot.  Alexander was president of the American Model Railroad Co., Inc. which manufactured parts for miniature railroads.  He and his company were known for the construction of an amazing Baltimore & Ohio model railroad exhibit at the Empire State Building that drew crowds of visitors in Manhattan.

Edwin P. Alexander had help in moving the club headquarters members of the club from Pelham.  Those members included William F. Crosby of Pelham Manor who was the editor of Rudder, and Charles A. Penn, also of Pelham Manor, editor of Mechanical Craftsman.  

"William F. Crosby, residence on Stellar Place, Pelham Manor,

New York.  Model railroad, Mr. Crosby at work."  This Image

Shows Westchester Model Club Member William F. Crosby in

His Basement Workshop on Stellar Place Working on a Model

Train on May 8, 1941.  Source:  Library of Congress, American

Memory Collection:  Digital ID gsc 5a07115 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/gsc.5a07115

NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

On October 30, 1936, The Pelham Sun reported that the deserted Pelham Manor Depot would be used again and would see new life as the headquarters of The Westchester Model Club, Inc.  The newspaper reported:

"'Two tickets for Pelham Manor' -- Once a common phrase with commuters when the Branch Line of the New Haven Railroad, was a popular mode of transportation, has been all but forgotten these thirteen years since passenger service on the line was discontinued.  However The Pelham Sun learned this week that it won't be long until the 'Limited' makes regular stops at Pelham Manor depot.

That's not an announcement to rouse the interest of commuters, but it is mighty important to a group of Westchester residents who are interested in the program of the Westchester Model Club.  The club has arranged with the New Haven Railroad to use the deserted Pelham Manor depot for a meeting place, and plans now under consideration provide for the installation of one of the largest miniature railroad systems in the metropolitan area within the depot."

After years of dormancy, the Pelham Manor Depot would host Pelhamites yet again!

Above is a Fascinating Film of the Model Railroad Inside

the Pelham Manor Station as it is Being Operated by Club

Members in the Early 1950s Before the Station Was Closed

and Demolished.  Note that at the 0:35 Second Mark in the

Film, You Will See a Miniature Version of the Pelham

Manor Train Station in Which the Model Railroad is

Being Operated.  Click on Image to Begin Video.

*          *          *          *          *

Below is the text of the announcement published in The Pelham Sun on October 30, 1936.  It is followed by a citation and link to its source.

"'Limited Trains' Will Stop At The Pelham Manor Depot
-----
Miniature Railroad to be Installed in Deserted Pelham Manor Station -- Westchester Model Club Arranges to Hold Its Meetings There.
-----

'Two tickets for Pelham Manor' -- Once a common phrase with commuters when the Branch Line of the New Haven Railroad, was a popular mode of transportation, has been all but forgotten these thirteen years since passenger service on the line was discontinued.  However The Pelham Sun learned this week that it won't be long until the 'Limited' makes regular stops at Pelham Manor depot.

That's not an announcement to rouse the interest of commuters, but it is mighty important to a group of Westchester residents who are interested in the program of the Westchester Model Club.  The club has arranged with the New Haven Railroad to use the deserted Pelham Manor depot for a meeting place, and plans now under consideration provide for the installation of one of the largest miniature railroad systems in the metropolitan area within the depot.

Edwin Alexander of New Rochelle, president of the Westchester Model Club explained to The Pelham Sun this week that the use of the depot by his organization will not be for commercial purposes.  The Westchester Model Club is composed of mechanically inclined men whose hobby it is to construct model railroads, etc.  Its members include William F. Crosby, of Pelham Manor, editor of Rudder; Charles A. Penn, also of Pelham Manor, editor of Mechanical Craftsman.  Mr. Alexander is president of the American Model Railroad Co., Inc. which manufactures parts for miniature railroads.  His company constructed the Baltimore & Ohio model railroad exhibit at the Empire State Building in New York City.

When the branch line was open for passenger service many Pelham Manor commuters used it as a means of conveyance to New York City.  From 1910 to 1920 there was twenty minute service between Harlem River and new Rochelle.  Before the popularity of the automobile it was the only means of conveyance to City Island and to Pelham Bay section of the Bronx.  With the construction of the subway to Pelham Bay Park and the opening of bus lines to City Island, the line lost patronage."

Source:  Limited Trains' Will Stop At The Pelham Manor Depot -- Miniature Railroad to be Installed in Deserted Pelham Manor Station -- Westchester Model Club Arranges to Hold Its Meetings There, The Pelham Sun, Oct. 30, 1936, Vol. 27, No. 30, p. 1, cols. 7-8.

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