The West Island is a HO scale model railroad club currently occupying a 5,600 square foot space located in Hicksville, NY.  The club was founded in 1947 and originally located in Westbury, NY.  The club subsequently moved to first to Hicksville, then in 1972 to Farmingdale, NY. 

In Farmingdale, the former Allegheny & Western Railroad thrived until 2008.  Impending municipal code compliance problems forced us to seek a new location and one was found, ironically, back in Hicksville.  The Farmingdale layout was shut down on March 28 and we moved into our current space on June 1.  We are now well along in our efforts to build the “new” A&W.

Our goal is provide the maximum level of fun for our members through the planning, construction and operation of our railroad.  We encourage active participation and members’ creative ideas across the many aspects of model railroading.  The A&W is being designed to accomplish three main goals:  realistic and prototypical operations, informal running of trains, and public exhibitions.