HMR Railway

Harry Wade purchased the original model railroad in 1959 for about $50. Included with the layout were a couple engines and miscellaneous cars.  The 4×8 foot plywood layout consisted of 2 concentric ovals with a crossover at the back and a yard in the middle.  This simple layout provided years of enjoyment for Harry and his two boys Martin and Jeff.  Many hours were spent just driving the trains around and switching cars in the yard.  Martin took up modeling and added several structures including a paper mache mountain tunnel.  It looked awesome in the young eye’s of Martin and Jeff.  The layout found only occasional use as the boys grew up and left home.

The HMR railway was a successful narrow gauge operation serving the mining area around the town of Chanexa. Through daring investments and common sense management it stayed in operations while many similar railways went bankrupt. The railway, mining district, and local town all had a history that was interwoven as was typical of mining towns and mining railways.

The railway was founded by Harry Wade. Harry worked for the mighty Union Pacific Railway drafting sidings and providing estimates to businesses along the UP right of way. In 1898 he drafted plans for a short line railway to connect a mining district in the Colorado Mountains to the UP branch line at Chanexa. The UP decided not to pursue this line as it was too risky and did not fit their focus of moving heavy freight across the Midwest. As the mining area grew it became desperate for transportation. Harry saw too much of an opportunity and left the UP to start the railway. Harry founded the railway with his son Martin as the H&M Railway. Martin led the general operations and expanded the railway as the mining needs rose.