Remembering the original Milwaukee, Racine & Troy

The original Milwaukee, Racine & Troy, located on the third floor of Kalmbach Publishing Co.’s former headquarters at 1027 North 7th Street in downtown Milwaukee, started in rather unassuming fashion. No fanfare. No ribbon-cutting ceremony. Just a short memo dated November 13, 1975, with the subject line “Kalmbach Model Railroad Club.” It read:

“A club charter and budget have been approved by the Executive Committee. The space on the 3rd floor will probably be ready sometime in January, so it’s not too early for us to get going on some of the preliminaries. A short kickoff meeting will be held Monday, November 17th at 12:15 p.m. in the conference room on the 6th floor. If you are interested in being a member of this club, please try to attend.”

But over the next 14 years, the MR&T went from concept to the star of Kalmbach’s headquarters. The layout became the subject of articles for Model Railroader magazine, served as a test bed for projects, and hosted nearly 150 operating sessions. A who’s who of model railroaders helped build the MR&T, and the list of operators featured many well-known names, too.

“The club layout was started as a fun activity for employees,” Russ Larson, MR’s managing editor when the MR&T was founded, said in a 2020 interview. “It certainly achieved that goal and also provided a lot of good material for MR.” – Cody Grivno

The MR&T was located on the third floor, former home of Kalmbach Press, the company’s printing division. Once the room was cleaned and painted, club members got to work building benchwork. Shown counterclockwise from left to right are Alan Cerney, Linda Burow, Michael Stephens, Maureen Heinisch, Dave Ingles, and Russ Larson. Model Railroader collection

Mike Schafer (left) and Jim Hediger were part of the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy track plan committee. The two are shown here constructing L-girder benchwork on December 9, 1976. Mike Schafer photo, Model Railroader collection

Jim Hediger runs a train on the original Milwaukee, Racine & Troy at Kalmbach Publishing Co.'s headquarters in downtown Milwaukee, Wis. Though much of the layout was just plywood and track, some early scenery was starting to take shape. Model Railroader collection

Several new faces joined the MR staff in the late 1970s. Among them were (left to right) Jim Kelly, Dick Christianson, Andy Sperandeo, and Rick Johnson. The four are shown working on the Winter Hill section of the layout in March 1979. Mike Schafer photo, Model Railroader collection

Allen Keller added a brewery complex to the MR&T in 1983. The brewery helped draw attention away from the large pillar directly behind the industry. Model Railroader collection

 This photo shows the Mukwonago (foreground) and Hales Corners sections without backdrops. Model Railroader collection

Backdrops were a major addition to the layout in 1983. Gordon Odegard takes a look at the yet-to-be-painted backdrops. Andy Sperandeo photo, Model Railroader collection

Outside operating crews helped bring the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy to life. Bob Hayden, sporting his trademark sweater vest, is shown switching cars in the Port Marquette Yard on November 14, 1984. In the background, operator Mark Rick checks the call board. Paul A. Erler photo, Model Railroader collection

Gordy Spiering (center) was part of the Wednesday night operating group on the MR&T. He’s shown setting out cars at the Port Marquette Yard. With Spiering are fellow operators Andy Hayek (left) and Mark Rick. Paul A. Erler photo, Model Railroader collection

William Jr. (left) and Marshall Beecher watch their dad, William Sr., work an industry at Mukwonago. The Beecher brothers later became members of the MR&T’s youth operating group. Today, William Jr. is an engineer for Canadian National and Marshall is a terminal trainmaster for Metra. Jim Kelly photo, Model Railroader collection

To some, 14 years isn’t a long run for a model railroad. But the original Milwaukee, Racine & Troy more than fulfilled its mission during that time.

Click here to see a track plan for the 1989 iteration of the MR&T.

Click here for a retrospective gallery on the 2024 iteration of the MR&T.