The Crossville Model Railroad Club breaking ground on its new 3,000 square foot facility located at 87 West Avenue.
Club Public Relations Officer Ann Grogitsky said the club uses a model railroad to educate the public about Crossville’s history with trains. Grogitsky said the new building will house different models for people to visit and learn about trains.
“It’s history, you know,” Grogitsky said. “Trains started out building the United States, you know, so we just want the kids to see what it’s all about and maybe get them interested in model trains.”
Grogitsky said the club was previously housed for several years at Crossville’s Outlet Mall before the mall was turned into a warehouse. Grogitsky said it is exciting for the club to finally have its own space.
“The Model Railroad Club was the second-visited place attraction in Cumberland County, and they shut us down,” Grogisky said. “And I feel really bad about that, because we had 25,000 – 30,000 people a year coming to our display, and we actually had over 25 different countries come and visit us. And that just blows my mind. But the people are there, and they want to see different layouts and how people do it differently than seen before.”
Grogitsky said though the railroads in Crossville are no longer used, there is still a rich history and story to tell.
“The Tennessee Central went through here, and we still have our depot here, just like in Cookeville there,” Grogitsky said. “And they used to do a special from Chattanooga up to Crossville, and the people would get dropped off, and they would stay for an hour and a half, and then they would go back to Chattanooga. They don’t do that anymore.”
Grogitsky said the club was started in 2001 and is still going strong with 55 members. Grogitsky said, funny enough, without a place to call home, the club gained eight members this year.
Grogitsky said the club is asking the community to donate so the non-profit can cover the cost of the construction.