We just put a donation box at the entrance and hope we get enough to cover our expenses. We haven't had a problem yet. The club maintains a modular layout that members take on the road to exhibitions. They also plan occasional recreational outings, always train related, of course. In the past the club has taken over the North Conway train, the train at the Weirs, and many others.
Similar activities occur at the various national and regional conventions.
Local train clubs host rides and special events on full-size working railroads in their areas. The railroads are generally eager to participate, says Trueheart, because it is an opportunity for them to talk about train safety. The more rail fans they get to understand the real danger of trains the fewer accidents they hope to have. The number of people getting killed by trains, most by getting hit, is fantastic. Most acccidents occur when people try to race a train to a crossing.