Railroad Museum of Minot - New Page

08/30/2026

Thank you Minot Daily News for the great article! We look forward to seeing everyone for a fun weekend of railroad history and model trains (assuming of course the Souris Valley Model Railroad Club actually behaves.

Minot’s railroad museum to celebrate 40th anniversary https://www.minotdailynews.com/life/arts-entertainment/2026/08/minots-railroad-museum-to-celebrate-40th-anniversary/

08/26/2026

Wednesday Trivia!

🚂 How much does a modern railroad tie weigh?

A) About 75 pounds

B) About 200 pounds

C) About 400 pounds

D) About 800 pounds

Take your best guess before reading on!

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The answer is... C) About 400 pounds!

A typical wooden railroad tie is 8 feet 6 inches long, about 9 inches wide, and 7 inches thick. Most weigh between 200 and 400 pounds, with many modern hardwood ties tipping the scales around 400 pounds after being treated with preservatives.

Why so heavy?

A railroad tie has an enormous responsibility. It supports the rails, keeps them the correct distance apart (known as the track gauge), and spreads the weight of trains into the ballast below. Considering a loaded freight train can weigh 15,000 to 20,000 tons, every tie has an important job to do.

On a typical North American main line, you'll find about 3,000 ties in every mile of track. That means there's well over 600 tons of wood supporting just one mile of railroad, before you even count the rails, spikes, tie plates, and ballast!

The spacing is important too. Most ties are placed about 19 to 20 inches apart, allowing the weight of passing trains to be shared across many ties at once rather than concentrated on just one.

Next time you visit the Railroad Museum of Minot, take a look at one of our ties. It may not look like much, but each one supports thousands of tons, one train at a time.

Bonus Question: Before concrete ties became common, what type of tree do you think was the most popular for making railroad ties? 🌳🚂

(Answer: Oak was the favorite in much of the United States because of its strength and durability, though many other hardwoods were also used depending on the region.)

08/26/2026

40 YEARS OF RAILROAD HISTORY IN MINOT!

Somehow, the Railroad Museum of Minot is turning 40 years old this year. That means we've officially reached the age where we can call everything in the building an “artifact” and hope nobody asks how old the volunteers are.

Join us Saturday, September 26, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. as we celebrate four decades of preserving Minot's railroad history.

For 40 years, the museum has worked to preserve the story of the railroads that helped build Minot and northwest North Dakota. Railroads brought settlers, hauled millions of bushels of prairie grain, connected local businesses to markets across the continent, and helped turn a little town along the Great Northern into the Magic City.

And we've collected quite a bit of that history along the way.

Come explore railroad artifacts, cabooses, historic equipment, model trains, photographs, tools, signs, and pieces of local history that survived long enough to end up in our care.

40th Anniversary Celebration
Saturday, September 26
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
📍 19 1st Street NE, Minot

FREE ADMISSION ALL WEEKEND!

We'll also have a silent auction on Saturday, ending at 4:30 p.m., and food catered by Magic City Hoagies.

Whether you've been visiting us for 40 years, haven't stopped in since you were a kid, or have driven past the museum a hundred times wondering what exactly is hiding inside, this is the weekend to come see us.

Forty years down. A whole lot more railroad history left to preserve.

08/22/2026

Welcome to Minot, Airstream Club!

We hear there are a few more shiny aluminum travelers rolling around Minot this weekend, and we’d like to welcome everyone from the Airstream camper club to the Magic City!

While you’re exploring Minot, stop by the Railroad Museum of Minot and discover some of the history that helped build our community. From the Great Northern and Soo Line to cabooses, railroad artifacts, model trains, and stories from more than a century of railroading, there’s plenty to explore.

After all, Airstreams and railroads have something in common: both prove that sometimes the journey is half the fun.

This weekend’s hours:
Saturday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Welcome to Minot! We hope you enjoy your stay, and we’d love to have you visit the museum while you’re here.

08/19/2026

Wednesday Trivia!

🚂 Why do railroad tracks have small gaps between sections of rail?

A) To allow the steel to expand and contract with changing temperatures.

B) To make replacing damaged rails easier.

C) To help rainwater drain off the tracks.

D) To reduce noise from passing trains.

Leave your guess in the comments! We'll reveal the answer at 3:00 p.m.

Bonus question: Why don't you hear the famous "clickety-clack" on most modern railroad tracks anymore?

08/13/2026

Summer Hours Are Leaving the Station

This weekend is our FINAL weekend of summer hours!

School starts next week. We’re crying too. Mostly because that means it’s time to say goodbye to Fridays and switch over to our NEW WINTER HOURS.

But first, you still have one last chance to enjoy a Friday at the Railroad Museum of Minot!

This weekend:
Friday: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Starting next weekend, our winter hours will be:
Saturday: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

As winter settles in, these hours will be somewhat weather and attendance dependent. If winter gets a little too wintery and the City of Minot shuts things down, we’ll have to close too.

We’ll also be watching attendance. If Sundays get quiet, or Saturdays after 3 p.m. start feeling like we’re keeping the trains running for the dust bunnies, we may adjust our hours later in the season.

For now, though: Saturday 11–5 and Sunday 1–4 all winter.

Come enjoy one last Friday before summer ends!

08/12/2026

Wednesday Trivia!

🚂 What was the purpose of the "cowcatcher" on the front of a steam locomotive?

A) To push livestock and other obstacles off the tracks.

B) To clear snow before it reached the wheels.

C) To make the locomotive more aerodynamic.

D) To carry extra coal for long trips.

Cast your vote in the comments! We'll reveal the answer at 3:00 p.m.

Bonus question: Do you know what railroaders actually called the "cowcatcher"?

08/10/2026

This looks like a fun event. Go check them out.

🚗 **SAVE THE DATE!** 🚗

The **Dwight Jelsing Memorial Car Show & Rhubarb Festival** returns to Prairie Village Museum in:

📍 **Rugby, ND — Geographical Center of North America**

📅 **Sunday, June 13, 2027**

🚘 **Car owners:** Follow our page to stay informed about registration and show details!

🏁 **Car enthusiasts:** Follow us to learn about all the activities being planned!

🥧 **Rhubarb lovers:** Follow us so you’ll know where to find all those delicious rhubarb treats!

The 2027 event will also feature even more family-friendly entertainment, including a **kids’ coloring station, Giant Connect Four, a Prairie Quest mystery to solve, and more!**

Mark your calendar now for **June 13, 2027**—it’s going to be a good time for the entire family!



**Confidence: 99%**

08/05/2026

Wednesday Trivia!

Most people notice the rails. Some notice the wooden ties. But have you ever wondered about all that crushed rock underneath?

🚂 What is the primary purpose of railroad ballast (the crushed rock beneath the tracks)?

A) It keeps the track stable while allowing water to drain away.

B) It makes trains quieter for nearby towns.

C) It strengthens the steel rails.

D) It keeps the railroad from freezing in the winter.

Take your best guess in the comments! We'll reveal the answer at 6:00 p.m.

No peeking at Google... the old section crews are watching. 😉

07/31/2026

Keeping a museum running isn't just about opening the doors on the weekend. It's cleaning displays, organizing artifacts, repairing exhibits, mowing the lawn, answering questions, planning events, researching local railroad history, and tackling the dozens of little jobs that seem to appear out of thin air.

The Railroad Museum of Minot is powered entirely by volunteers. Right now, we have five active volunteers doing everything they can to keep the museum moving forward. The problem is, there's simply more work than five people can handle.

You don't have to know anything about railroads to help. We need people who enjoy cleaning, organizing, painting, basic repairs, yard work, researching history, greeting visitors, or just lending a hand wherever it's needed. Whether you can spare a few hours a month or a few hours a week, every bit helps.

If you've ever walked through our museum and thought, "This place is pretty neat," here's your chance to help make it even better for the next visitor.

The cabooses may be retired, and our snow plow hasn't seen a drift in years, but preserving history never stops. Every volunteer leaves their own mark, ensuring these stories are still here for the next generation to discover.

If you're interested in volunteering, send us a message on Facebook, stop by during museum hours, or talk with one of our volunteers. We'd love to have you on the team.

Together, we can preserve North Dakota's railroad history for future generations.