Israel Model Railways Club (ILMRC), the first one in the Middle East, was founded in 1989 by Ya'akov Haran. Today there are 30 members who meet weekly in Kibbutz Netzer Sireni (20 kilometers south-east of Tel Aviv). The members build HO and N layouts operating on the DC system, and also a Märklin (AC) section. Most of the equipment and other items are coming from donations and sales. The club is also active in exchange of information and catalogues, advice to anyone interested in model railroading, repair of equipment and trips to explore Israel Railways history and current developments. Layouts The club also maintains four layouts in three of the biggest hospitals in Israel, all in the children's wards. The layouts are located: # At Assaf HaRofe Hospital, in the Children’s Surgery Dept. # At Assaf HaRofe Hospital, a new layout in the “Pediatric Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Department”. # At . # At Kaplan Medical Center in the Children Department.