If you have ever been to the Old Depot Museum in Ottawa, you’ve seen the incredible model railroad display that depicts scenes around the Ottawa and Franklin County area. Up to five trains can travel the tracks around the massive display. Ottawa’s Greg Gilroy and a devoted few others, designed the display.
When Gilroy passed away in 2019, the Lawrence Model Railroad Club came on a fairly regular bass to Ottawa to maintain the layout. That group was led by Steven Meseraull. Steve passed away last Friday, April 18th. To say he was a model railroad enthusiast is saying it mildly…hours were spent designing and decorating train layouts, engines, and train cars. Steve was an artist and excelled at the smallest details on his train layout. He was a founding member of the Lawrence Model Railroading Club and served as its president for many years.
The Ottawa model railroad display meant so much to him that in lieu of flowers, his family is requesting that memorials be sent to the Franklin County Historical Society to support the upkeep and care of the model train layout so future generations may know about the trains that shaped Franklin County and the state of Kansas. To make a donation, you can send a check to the Franklin County Historical Society, with “model railroad” in the memo, or stop by the Old Depot Museum and drop off a donation there.
Thank you Steve for all the hard work and dedication you gave.
