WATERLOO - The end of the line could be approaching for an enormous model railroad pieced together over 15 years by the Cedar Valley Railroad Modelers Association.

If the group is forced from its home at the Vose Industrial Service Building, 3470 W. Airline Highway, because of new building ownership, members would be forced to rip apart their beloved tracks.

"It's kind of a sad deal. There have been a lot of people who have worked on this railroad over the years," said Lee Bertholf, a club member.

The railroad association was receiving free rent in a small section of the massive warehouse in return for maintaining the furnace. Ron Vose, who used to own the building, was an acquaintance of one of the railroad club members.

"This is a lot bigger than most people would be able to build in their home. You can always add on here," club president Terry Helmrichs said. "The layout is never complete here. It's an ongoing process."

When a new landlord bought the building in the beginning of this year, the group was told it would have to leave by fall because the new owner may need the space.

"Here's the bottom line: I've come to Waterloo, and I've invested a lot of money into the building and I've brought a lot of jobs to Waterloo," said Robert Carel, the owner of the new building. "I haven't made a final decision. The decision is pending on my own business needs for the space."

Before making his decision, Carel said he will have to verify the group's insurance, but said the model railroad group may not fit into his larger plans to renovate the building.

"I've been very reasonable with them," he said. "I've been very flexible with them and tried to give them ample time to move."

Carel operates his business Firstco Inc., a supplier for John Deere, out of the building.

If the model railroad group has to leave, all 1,190 feet of track and surrounding scenery will have to come down. Some of the items would be sold, some saved. The rest would be destroyed.

"We're going to have to get a Dumpster, and what doesn't sell will go to the landfill," Helmrichs said.

The Cedar Valley Railroad Modelers Association has a core group of about 20 members whose passion is model trains.

"This is my stress reducer after my day at work. Some people hunt, some boat and some build cars. I do this," club member Dave Burman said. "It kind of gets in your blood. We start asking how we can make it more real."

Trains twist and turn throughout the room, going over bridges and through tunnels. Each member has a specialty, whether it be mechanics or crafting landscape and scenery.

"What one guy doesn't know how to do, the other guy does," Burman said.

Even if the group is forced out, it will continue to meet. Some club members said they've already started building smaller models in their basements that could hold them over until the association finds a new home.

"The nice thing about this group is, it's ready to start building again - if we could find a place," Burman said.

Finding a home that requires little or no rent is necessary, Helmrichs said, because the only income the group has is a nominal annual membership fee and some small donations.

"It's going to be tough to find something comparable to this in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls area," Bertholf said.

If a location is found, one thing is certain about the next model built.

"I guarantee if we build again, it will be made to move," Burman said.

Contact Brandon Coutre at (319) 291-1461 or brandon.coutre@wcfcourier.com.