Christmas is just around the corner, and just in time for the Christmas season, the Railrunners Model Railroad Club is holding their annual open house on Dec. 7-8.   Boys and girls of all ages are invited to come take a look. This is part of an open house for all the Grand Meadow Business Center with an opportunity to visit other businesses as well. The times will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 7 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Dec. 8. The event is free.  Small children need to be accompanied by parents, grandparents or another adult. The Grand Meadow Business Center is located at 209 2nd Avenue NE, next to the city park.   The layout is an HO scale layout that fills a classroom of the former high school in Grand Meadow. Models operated are authentic replicas of prototype trains that have operated primarily in the United States. There will be passenger trains and freight trains of varying lengths as well as diesel and steam locos operating. Visitors may enter the building by either the north or south door and go to Room 119 in the second hall. Members of the club will be available to answer questions about the layout and to demonstrate train operation    Railrunners was formed in 2003 by an informal group of model railroaders who had to look for a new location when Hendy’s Train Store in Rochester closed. The group formed into a more formal arrangement with a title and bylaws. Goals were established “to promote interest in and better understanding of model railroading; to show and demonstrate the benefits of model railroading to assist in public education and youth guidance; (and) to provide a central layout in the Grand Meadow area …”  Grand Meadow was selected because that was where a suitable location for a layout was found. Members, however, come from Rochester, Dodge Center, and as far away as Northfield. At present there are 18 members including associate members and junior members. Club members typically meet on Wednesday mornings for train operating sessions and to work on the layout, but often will be found there at other times as well. Visitors are welcome to visit any time the club is open. For those who are especially interested in model railroading, information about the club and applications for membership will be available at the open house. The post Model railroad open house Dec. 7-8 in Grand Meadow appeared first on Austin Daily Herald.