Members of the Meridian Model Railroad Club say they have been locked out of the Meridian Railroad Museum building on Front Street, with thousands of dollars worth of equipment still inside.

“The city… changed the locks and is not answering phone calls from Meridian Model Railroad Club officers,” Kevin Salvo, a club member, wrote in an email. “The club has around $14,000… of model railroad equipment still in the building.  There was no notice nor any date given for the club to be out of the building.  They just locked the club out of the building.”

A statement issued Tuesday from City Hall said the locks were changed because the club placed “unauthorized signs” in the windows of the city-owned building.

According to the statement, access will remain restricted until a schedule can be discussed.

“We have been working with the Jimmie Rodgers Board and local museum professionals on the possibility of allowing the Meridian Model Train [Club] to remain in the building and be a complimenting attraction to the Jimmie Rodgers Museum that is in the process of relocating,” the statement said. “The Community Development Department has been attempting to meet with [Meridian Model Railroad Club] representatives to discuss access to the facility.”

But Salvo said that wasn’t the case, as numerous attempts to reach city officials have failed. To date, no calls have been returned, Salvo said.

“We’re just fed up with the way they’re treating us… [club members] just want to get their stuff out right now,” Salvo said. “Unfortunately, that means the city loses a free attraction for the kids.”

Last year, the Jimmie Rodgers Foundation announced it was relocating its artifacts from the Jimmie Rodgers Museum at Highland Park to the railroad museum. Initially scheduled to open last month, the plan is to combine the two museums into the Jimmie Rodgers Railroad and Music Museum.

The JRF plans to open the museum in September during Rodgers’ birthday celebration.

Since then, discussions have continued as to whether or not the club will be able to give model train demonstrations on Saturdays.