Central Iowa Railroad Club

Central Iowa Railroad Club HO gauge Model Railroad Club at Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines IA, founded in 1967 "CIRC" started Jan 1st 1967, first State Fair layout began in 1984.

Our current location/layout started in 2006. Current Mainline (upper deck with continuous run) is 430 ft. double track mainline - about 7.1 miles scale. Estimated full run from Chicago to Council Bluffs - 1000 ft/16.6 miles scale or using lower deck continuous run - 1082 ft./17.84 miles scale. Current turnout count at 289 with more being built at a furious pace - check back for updates - more are

in at this moment. No time to count all trackage yet - too busy building more, but with 5 major yards done and more to come the total track could exceed 10,000 feet or somewhere north of 160 scale miles! 3 helixs linking three decks in a layout 103 ft. 8 in. long by 19 ft wide. We have a replica of the Kate Shelley High Bridge as a major Iowa landmark. The current layout is using Digitrax DCC as a control platform. There are 40 - 50 current members, 334 all time member roster since 1967. Layout room, viewing isle club meeting room, lobby, workroom, storeroom, kitchen, bathroom and mechanical rooms comprise our building 148 ft. by 28 ft. 5 in. Public open houses are held throughout the year last Friday of most every month from about 7-9pm. The club meets every Tuesday 7:00 PM for train operations, work night or business meeting (depending on which Tuesday in the Month.) There are members at the club bldg Saturday afternoons around 2pm.

03/27/2026

Please use the west side for access for open house tonight east side closed

We will be having our Monthly Open house this Friday January 30 from 7 to 9 PM please come and enjoy
01/29/2026

We will be having our Monthly Open house this Friday January 30 from 7 to 9 PM please come and enjoy

We will be having our Open House tomorrow Friday Dec 26 from 7-9 pm please come!!
12/26/2025

We will be having our Open House tomorrow Friday Dec 26 from 7-9 pm please come!!

We will be having our Open House on Black Friday Nov 28🚂🚂from 7-9 pm please come!!
11/26/2025

We will be having our Open House on Black Friday Nov 28🚂🚂
from 7-9 pm please come!!

Please be advised when coming to the open house please park to the West of the big slide due to construction near the bu...
03/28/2025

Please be advised when coming to the open house please park to the West of the big slide due to construction near the building

In 2015 the first train to pull a few cars around Beaver Valley. Mark Coles is in one of the pictures. Keith and Ron are...
01/02/2025

In 2015 the first train to pull a few cars around Beaver Valley. Mark Coles is in one of the pictures. Keith and Ron are out of view.

Pictures of CIRC main street from 2014
01/02/2025

Pictures of CIRC main street from 2014

Pictures of Ron Graham and Brenda Mainwaring (Union Pacific Director of Public Affairs) presenting us with a grant donat...
01/02/2025

Pictures of Ron Graham and Brenda Mainwaring (Union Pacific Director of Public Affairs) presenting us with a grant donation in 2012

Pics from December 2012.
01/02/2025

Pics from December 2012.

Address

Des Moines, IA

Telephone

+15152668899

Website

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