Planning your travel for this summer? Be sure to include some model trains in those plans! These five train layouts throughout the country (and world) are all worth a visit this summer.
Colorado Model Railroad Museum
Featuring more than 500 HO scale locomotives, 80 scale miles of track, and tens of thousands of handmade trees, this massive layout is located just north of the Denver metropolitan area. It even features a 1919 Colorado & Southern caboose inside the building, right next to the train layout! The layout is featured in Great Model Railroads 2023.
Address: 680 10th St., Greeley, CO 80631; 970-392-2934; cmrm.org
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday – 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
EnterTRAINment Junction
Home to a 25,000-square-foot interactive display, this G scale layout features more than two miles of track with 90 trains traversing the layout each day. Throughout your journey, you’ll see in excess of 1,200 pieces of rolling stock along with cities and landscapes featuring many handmade buildings and an 11-foot-tall waterfall. It was even featured in the August 2011 issue of MR!
When you’re finished watching trains in the impressive display, visit the attached hobby shop stocked with models from all scales.
This will also be your last summer to visit EnterTRAINment Junction as it was announced earlier in June that the attraction will close in January 2025. So visit while you still can!
Address: 7379 Squire Ct., West Chester Township, OH 45069; 877-898-4656; entertrainmentjunction.com
Hours: Monday through Saturday – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday – 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
San Diego Model Railroad Museum
With 27,000 square feet of model railroad, the San Diego Model Railroad Museum has no shortage of model train action. In the heart of San Diego’s Balboa Park, the museum is home to not only the famed Southern Pacific on the Tehachapi Pass layout, but also The Cabrillo & Southwestern, San Diego & Arizona Eastern, Pacific Desert Lines, The Toy Train Gallery, and Freight and Flora. These layouts cover a variety of scales and landscapes, with something for everyone. Keep your eyes peeled as the Tehachapi Pass layout will be featured in an upcoming issue of MR.
Address: 1649 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101; 619-696-0199; sdmrm.org
Hours: Vary, see website
Northlandz
Located between Philadelphia and Manhattan, Northlandz provides the northeast with an impressive train layout featuring more than 400 bridges and 200 tunnels throughout 52,000 square feet. Watch 100 trains travel throughout the eight miles of track.
Not only are there indoor model trains, but the museum even has an operating replica steam engine outside, giving train rides to families of all ages.
Address: 495 Route 202, Flemington NJ, 08822; 908-782-4022; northlandz.com
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Miniatur Wunderland
With 12 different themed areas throughout over 5,550 square feet of layout, Miniatur Wunderland is a bucket list layout for many modelers. More than 1,200 HO scale engines haul approximately 12,000 cars throughout 54,104 feet of signaled track. This includes a 47-foot-long train. In addition to trains, several boats move through real water, vehicles drive on the roads, and planes taxi and take off at the airport.
In addition to the current layout, many different sections are currently under construction to expand the layout. These areas include the Rainforest, the Andes and Atacama Desert, Central America & The Caribbean, and Asia — all to open by the end of 2028.
Address: Kehrwieder 2/Block D, 20457 Hamburg, Germany; +49 (0) 40 300 6800; miniature-wunderland.com
Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
