| Model railroading enthusiasts enjoy only one | | | | layouts in HO and N scale in the world as |
| thing more then showing off their pride and | | | | well. |
| joy: seeing other prototypes and displays | | | | |
| that they can then go back home to compete | | | | The Twin City Model Railroad Museum in St. |
| with! Fortunately since showing off is | | | | Paul Minneapolis features model panoramas of |
| inherent to all of us getting a chance to see | | | | the 1930's, 40's and 50's and has been |
| some truly spectacular displays is not that | | | | operating since 1984. |
| hard, and in many cases involves only a short | | | | |
| journey as there are literally hundreds of | | | | South Florida Railway Museum This museum is |
| museums across the country that displays tens | | | | designed primarily to educate the public |
| of thousands of locomotives, cars and scenes | | | | about the history of railroads in southern |
| between them. | | | | Florida but includes several very nice |
| | | | layouts, including a large N scale and a Hon3 |
| Most museums do charge a fee for admittance, | | | | model. |
| but it normally is quite small (averaging $6) | | | | |
| and proceeds typically go towards the | | | | Smokey Mountain Trains Located in Bryson City |
| maintenance and upkeep of the models and | | | | North Carolina this wonderful site houses |
| facilities. A few sites are run by private | | | | many of the layouts once available from the |
| organizations while others are run by a state | | | | Harmar Station museum in Marietta, OH and is |
| or municipality but they all have one thing | | | | a great vacation destination for the model |
| in common: people who love trains and | | | | train enthusiast. |
| railroad modeling are involved! There is | | | | |
| hardly a state in the United States that | | | | The Museum of Science and Industry located in |
| doesn't have at least one major museum or | | | | Chicago Illinois also has a wonderful Model |
| showcase for the Model Railroader and all are | | | | Train exhibit called The Great Train Story |
| worth visiting, but some are worth making a | | | | which boasts as having a 3,500 sq. foot |
| trip to see even if you are only marginally | | | | layout that shows the winding journey from |
| interested. A partial list of some of the | | | | Chicago to Seattle through the Midwest, the |
| more famous destinations that are sure to | | | | Rockies, and the Cascades. |
| thrill both enthusiast and family alike | | | | |
| follow: | | | | The Clovis Depot Located in Clovis New Mexico |
| | | | in an old train station depot which has been |
| The San Diego Model Railroad Museum - | | | | rebuilt to its original condition this site |
| Partially available 'online' the museum is a | | | | was registered with the National Register of |
| tax exempt non-profit educational entity that | | | | Historic Places in 1996. |
| was incorporated in 1980 in affiliation with | | | | |
| the San Diego Model Railroad Club; the La | | | | So crank up that old locomotive and head out |
| Mesa Model Railroad Club; and the San Diego | | | | to one of these or any of the other hundreds |
| Society of N-Scale. Over 27,000 sq. ft. of | | | | of exciting museums dedicated to this |
| display space makes this the largest indoor | | | | wonderful hobby of ours. Full steam ahead " |
| display in the world with two of the largest | | | | the past is waiting! |