Toy train operating and collecting

You can visit the Bob Keller special at CTT.  I is worse than my Soundstop Desert Prairie layout.   Just fly Nawth to the frozen tundra [actully was pretty good weather while I was there], drive a little north [I think it was north] of Milwaukee and visit CTT. 

BTW: big one in Wilson NC.  Upstairs at the Train Barn.  Think layout section is only open on Sat. 

Buckeye Riveter wrote:

The layout,  Cincinnati in Motion is probably the best S gauge layout in the country.  It is highly detailed and includes many old scenes from Cincinnati.   The trains that run on the exhibit are all in period.   It was built by professionals for the museum.  Just off of I-75. The best layouts, that I have seen are the layouts in Balboa Park in San Diego.  Smoky Mtn. Trains in Bryson City, NC has an all Lionel exhibit and layout.  The layout is run by command control.  I could spend the whole day in Bryson exploring the museum, taking photos, shopping in the train store, riding the trains, eating, breathing, and sleeping.  Find a place on the south side of the mountains to stay.

Smokey Mtn. Trains is especially kid friendly.  They have a hand out to find fun details

Jim

Sturgeon-Phish wrote:

Buckeye Riveter wrote: The layout,  Cincinnati in Motion is probably the best S gauge layout in the country.  It is highly detailed and includes many old scenes from Cincinnati.   The trains that run on the exhibit are all in period.   It was built by professionals for the museum.  Just off of I-75. The best layouts, that I have seen are the layouts in Balboa Park in San Diego.  Smoky Mtn. Trains in Bryson City, NC has an all Lionel exhibit and layout.  The layout is run by command control.  I could spend the whole day in Bryson exploring the museum, taking photos, shopping in the train store, riding the trains, eating, breathing, and sleeping.  Find a place on the south side of the mountains to stay. Smokey Mtn. Trains is especially kid friendly.  They have a hand out to find fun details Jim

South is always friendly.

I'm suprise that Roadside America was not on the list. It's right outside of Reading, Pa. I haven't been there since I was a young but it left quite a impression. If anyone can tell me if it still is open?

Roadside America is still open to the best of my knowledge & is located closer to Hamburg then Reading PA or to be more precise it is located in Shartlesville PA along I-78, just off of old route 22, west of Hamburg a few miles.

I had grandparents who used to live near Centerville & Dauberville PA, small towns north of Leesport PA, I know the area rather well near Roadside America.  Was up to Reading about four years ago.

Lee F.

And speaking of New Jersey....

How about Northlandz(.com) on Flemington?  I've never been there, they tell me it's nice (sorry a little Joe Walsh there)  The web site look impressive.

About Trainworks:  There is an admission charge ($4 adults, $1 Kids, Senoirs $3), it is attached to a retail store.  But it showcases his custom built layouts, which is the core business.  The retail store is the only TRAIN dedicated store in North East Florida.  I "work" there on Saturdays, just to get my fix.  There is also a little Thomas table where the little ones can play.

Dennis, if you get that web site, I'd love to see it. 

anjdevil2 wrote:

And speaking of New Jersey.... How about Northlandz(.com) on Flemington?  I've never been there, they tell me it's nice (sorry a little Joe Walsh there)  The web site look impressive.

I've heard a number of train people comment that it's "HO", in poor repair, with few trains running. Not worth the 1+ hour trip for me. Joe

Blueberryhill RR wrote:

The Western Reserve Model Railroad Museum is the First item on my list of places to visit this summer. The Roseyville Train Barn and Dog Kennel is the Last item.

me too...actually i might make it there in sometime in april! thanks for the post! 

vbkostur wrote:

Blueberryhill RR wrote: The Western Reserve Model Railroad Museum is the First item on my list of places to visit this summer. The Roseyville Train Barn and Dog Kennel is the Last item.     me too...actually i might make it there in sometime in april! thanks for the post!

Our next Open House is April 12!

Ogaugeoverlord wrote:

We ran every public, year-round O/S/standard gauge layout we received info from - if it was left off it, they must not have submitted a profile. We actually added the 38th layout after the story was designed by the art dept. BTW I made this sticky so more people will see the reviews of the venues.

Hi Bob, If you check Trains.com under Museums and Railroad Attractions, you will see we are listed!

The Foley Alabama Railroad Museum is well worth a visit, and it's on the way to the Alabama Gulf Coast beaches!  The web site given in CTT doesn't (wasn't) working, but you can e-mail them at foleymuseum@gulftel.com or phone (251) 943-1818 for more information (or get in touch with me -- I live nearby in Fairhope, AL).

 The layout was donated to the City of Foley several years ago, and members of the informal "Caboose Club" went to Montgomery, where the layout had been professionally built, and in three days dismantled the layout and moved it and all the trains back to Foley where they were put in storage.  Over the next year or so Foley built a building just north of their historic L&N depot, and members of the Caboose Club designed a new layout for the building, using scenery, track, etc. from the old layout.  The new layout opened to the public early in 2007.  It is 22 x 60 ft., with beautiful scenery.  Most rolling stock came with the layout, but members also bring some of theirs to run and/or to donate.  Operation is mostly MTH DCS, but trains can also be run with TMCC or in conventionel mode.  Trains are in operation each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10 to 2.  It's an all volunteer operation, and no admission is charged.

To reach the Foley Alabama Railroad Museum, take the Gulf Shores Parkway exit off I-10 or I-65 (between Mobile and Pensacola), turn south onto Alabama 59 and continue to the intersection with US 98.  Turn left on 98 at the light and the museum is on the left.  You can't miss it.  It's an old restored depot with a full-sized train sitting beside it (diesel switcher, two box cars and a caboose).

For those of you in LOTS, there's a photo of the layout on p. 5 of the February 2008 issue of the SWITCHER.

PhilaKnight wrote:

I'm suprise that Roadside America was not on the list. It's right outside of Reading, Pa. I haven't been there since I was a young but it left quite a impression. If anyone can tell me if it still is open?

Yes still open. I haven't been there in a few yrs. but my brother who lives in Albrightsville recently took a visiting friend, who is a rail fan, to Roadside America. He likes European style trains in particular.

cooltech

Joe Hohmann wrote:

anjdevil2 wrote: And speaking of New Jersey.... How about Northlandz(.com) on Flemington?  I've never been there, they tell me it's nice (sorry a little Joe Walsh there)  The web site look impressive.     I've heard a number of train people comment that it's "HO", in poor repair, with few trains running. Not worth the 1+ hour trip for me. Joe

I've been there twice and found it impressive both times. I remember three scales running. 'HO' (mostly), 'O' (Lionels primarily), and 'G'. The back of my mind says a lmited 'N' layout. You'll walk, I guess the equivilent of two stories to see all the displays. There are some toy and doll exhibits and a custom built pipe organ that the owner comes out and plays periodically during the day. The displays do require quite a bit of maintanence and I wouldn't be surprised if it overwelms the staff to maintain.

There is an outside train ride that travels the property. I also purchased a Northlandz box car for my souvenir.

cooltech

I guess I'll mention the ones I've been to. Strasburg in Lancaster area of Pa. as well as the one in Allentown area, Stroudsberg Pa. There is a 'Big Boy' loco there. The round house in Maryland and in prev. post I've mentioned Northlandz in Flemingotn N.J.

Near Christmas time there seem to be many in the N.J. & Pa. where folks open there homes for a time and welcome visitors to view their own layouts.

cooltech