The Mid-Ohio Valley Model Railroad Club held an open house Saturday in memory of late founder Louie Creel. Creel’s son, Brendan Creel, allowed the MOVMRC to showcase Creel’s H-scale caboose train. According to Jimmy Bee, chairman of the Board of Directors for the MOVMRC, Creel was “kinda famous” for this train. (Photo by Clara Noelle)

PARKERSBURG — The Mid-Ohio Valley Model Railroad Club held an open house Saturday as a memorial to the late Louie Creel, one of the original five founders of the club in 1981.

“He was really well respected down here,” said Creel’s son, Brendan. “This was like his second family.”

Brendan Creel noted his father loved to tinker and he “loved the relationships” he built in the club. He also loved the open houses.

Club Chairman of the Board of Directors Jimmy Bee said the annual February open house will now be a memorial in Creel’s honor.

In addition to having his personal model railroad set, Creel helped make a lot of the scenery for the models on display at the club’s facility in the basement of NOE Office Equipment in downtown Parkersburg.

Jessica Youmans brought her son Cayson Youmans, 8, to the Mid-Ohio Valley Model Railroad Club Louie Creel Memorial Open House Saturday. (Photo by Clara Noelle)

“A lot of these buildings are ones he worked on,” said Brendan Creel.

There was a caboose train that, according to Bee, Creel was “kinda famous for.” According to Bee, Creel painted most of the cars on the train. Brendan Creel allowed the club to run it during Saturday’s open house event.

Brendan Creel noted that while he does not have the time for model railroading at the moment, he can see the spark of interest with his kids.

“We’re hoping to keep the memory alive,” he said.

Jessica Youmans said her 8-year-old son Cayson loves trains so she wanted to bring him to the event while he was young.

This N-scale model railroad was donated by local dentist Dr. Paul Powell. This specific track is modeled after the view of Parkersburg Powell saw through his window from across the Ohio River during his childhood in the 1950s. (Photo by Clara Noelle)

“This will definitely not be our only time,” she said.

Cayson Youmans said his favorite train was the Z scale Norman-Rockwell “Spirit of America.” According to Bee, only 2,500 of the Rockwell trains were sold.

The MOVMRC showcases five scales of model trains: Z, N, H-O, O and G. Bee said the Z scale is the smallest of their model trains.

The largest model train the club runs is the G or garden scale. Bee noted the reason it is dubbed the garden scale is because people typically have that scale of train in their garden.

Bee also said the club offers five open houses during the year, and this was the first of 2024. The next one will be the third Saturday in May. They will have another one in August and two in December.

The Mid-Ohio Valley Model Railroad Club is running a temporary O-scale model train while their other O-scale track is under renovation. (Photo by Clara Noelle)

The MOVMRC has monthly meetings at its facility on the second Thursday of every month. To become a member, one could come to an open house where the club has membership applications, talk to a member or “come by and ring the doorbell.” Bee said people are typically there Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday morning working on various projects. Regular members pay $50 a year and junior members, those under 18, pay $25 a year.

“We have a lot of professional modelers,” said Bee. “Different members specialize in different things. People can come and learn. It doesn’t matter if they are experienced in model railroading or a beginner.”

Bee noted that the club has two major renovations and projects going on.

“It would be a great time to join,” said Bee.

Bee said the club has around 75 members from Spencer and Ripley to Belpre, Marietta and Parkersburg.

Louie Creel, in whose honor the Mid-Ohio Valley Model Railroad Club dedicated the open house it held Saturday. (Photo Provided)

“Just really all over the Mid-Ohio Valley,” he said. “We are definitely the largest (model railroad club) in West Virginia.”

Bee noted that model railroad clubs usually only have 20-25 members.

Clara Noelle can be reached at intern@newsandsentinel.com.

The Mid-Ohio Valley Model Railroad Club held an open house in the memory of late founder Louie Creel. Pictured above is a G-scale model railroad. This particular track had two interactive elements in which guests could participate. (Photo by Clara Noelle)