Meet New Berlin's Business Of The Month: The Lionel Railroad Club

NEW BERLIN, WI — On Monday, New Berlin announced the City's business of the month for November.

The title goes to the Lionel Railroad Club, a historic club founded in Milwaukee for the love of trains that has since set up shop in New Berlin. On its website, the club boasts itself as the oldest Lionel club in the world and the second oldest model railroad club in Wisconsin. This upcoming January will mark the 75th anniversary of the club's existence.

The business has deep roots in the Milwaukee area. According to its website, Lionel Railroad Club was founded in 1947 during a particularly bad January snowstorm.

Jerry Brettschneider was the founding member. He started the club with five of his friends during that snowstorm in his parent's basement. Brettschneider died in 2021, the Lionel Railroad Club website said, but since its inception in the late '40s, the brand has gone through some adjustments and moves.

In honor of the City's announcement, the railroad club set up a model train at City Hall, officials announced over Facebook.

At present, the club's website sells model trains and model train accessories. Detailed model train cars such as an aquarium car, a boxcar painted pink in recognition of breast cancer and other models dot the group's online store. Memberships are also sold by the group.

The club established its first formal headquarters in 1975 on 79th Street and Burleigh in Milwaukee. Eventually, the club moved to New Berlin in 2002. According to its website, the Lionel Railroad Club built a hi-rail layout and Hellgate bridge with the new layout.

The club's New Berlin location, 2721 South Calhoun Road, has the capacity for 17 trains running at once, the club's website said.

An event has been planned to show off model trains and sell them at the Four Points Sheraton hotel, 5311 S Howell Avenue in Milwaukee near General Mitchell International airport.

The Toy Train Show and Sale will bring hundreds of model trains into the public view on Nov. 21. More information on the event is available online.