The San Diego Model Railroad hosts over 27,000 square feet of trains, trestles, and tracks in the majestic Balboa Park 🚂 We are temporarily closed.
Temporarily closed
Every year, the threat of "coal in your stocking" coaxes naughty children into good deeds. Railroad workers of old would have used LOTS of coal – a 1954 study from the Norfolk and Western Railway Company showed that steam locomotives could combust up to 14,000 pounds (6,350.3 kg) of coal per hour! #TrainFactTuesday
Our Cabrillo Southwestern O-Scale layout takes you on a trip down memory TRAIN 😉 showing California circa 1955.
We had so much fun reading The Polar Express at Coronado Public Library today! If you didn't catch the livestream, here's the video. Thank you to all who tuned in!
Tonight is the final night of Hanukkah 🕎 1 week until Christmas 🎄 And 2 weeks until the final night of Kwanzaa and the New Year🎉 No matter what you celebrate, all of us at SDMRM hope you are having a safe and happy holiday season.
📸: Mike Hays of the San Diego 3-Railers, 2019.
Need a last-minute stocking stuffer? We're here to help! Tomorrow is the LAST DAY to order gifts from our Online Gift Shop 💻 with US Postal Service guaranteed delivery by Christmas. Live nearby? Choose FREE Curbside Pickup! After you enter your address at checkout, you'll see the option for Curbside Pickup. A member of our team will reach out and coordinate the best time for you to (safely!) get your goodies. Or purchase a Digital Gift Card (https://www.sdmrm.org/allitems/gift-card) – they are customizable & delivered instantly.
Thank you to everyone who has supported the museum through their purchases!
Here's a #TrainFactTuesday straight out of the silver screen 🎞️ Robert Zemeckis directed two films featuring trains – Back to the Future Part III and The Polar Express – and the latter repeatedly references the former. When Doc Brown pulls a train whistle, he says "I've wanted to do that my whole life." The unnamed protagonist of The Polar Express says the same line when HE pulls a train whistle! Additionally, eagle-eyed viewers can find a working Flux Capacitor in the Polar Express' engine room.
We are proud to unveil our Winter Wonderland ❄️ display at Coronado Public Library and announce we will co-host a free LIVE reading of The Polar Express at 11 a.m. on Sunday, December 20 on Facebook Live. There will be singing, a model train, and holiday cheer galore! RSVP below ⬇️
https://www.facebook.com/events/713031819340433
Don't miss the final (for now!) installment of Modeler Citizens, on Thursday 12/17! Lynne Thompson, distinguished ornament specialist at the Timken Museum of Art will tell the fascinating story of the history and craftsmanship behind the beloved Jewels of the Season. Register for as little as $1 🕔 12/17 at 5 p.m.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jewels-of-the-season-tickets-128159511549
#HolidaysinSanDiego
🔔 Giveaway Alert! 🔔 Head over to our Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/p/CIoOXiBHbFs/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link) to see how your "ugly" sweater pics can get you a bag of SDMRM goodies!
📱 If you don't have an Instagram account, you can make one for free through your Facebook account!
🦅 Sorry, international friends. This contest is only open to US residents due to shipping constraints.
📸: professor_lenny_beans on Instagram
2021 will mark 40 years since our first public opening, and we will celebrate this milestone starting on January 4 with SDMRM Turns 40! Get ready for a bevvy of events, including a special 40th Anniversary edition of our annual fundraiser, in the spring 🎉 With that said, we won't be holding Ales N' Rails this December. We're working on ways to create a fun (and safe!) event for our guests & members, so we promise it will be worth the wait.
Every year, donations help make Ales N' Rails a reality. This year, given the effects of the pandemic, your contributions matter more than ever. Give at https://www.sdmrm.org/donate
The intricate Jewels of the Season ornaments are a feast for the eyes & spark the imagination – learn more about them in our next edition of Modeler Citizens!
Join us and Timken Museum of Art ornament specialist Lynne Thompson on 12/17 at 5 p.m. to hear about the history of these beautiful decorations. Register for as little as $1 at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jewels-of-the-season-tickets-128159511549
#HolidaysinSanDiego
Did you know you can plan your holiday festivities AND give back at the same time? Just a few clicks on https://www.sdmrm.org/learn-more/ & you can make a difference at no cost to you!
💻 Link the museum to your AmazonSmile account, and the museum will receive a percentage of your purchases as a donation.
🛒 Link your Ralph's Rewards Card to the museum (using the NPO number XR048) through the Ralph's Community Contributions Program, and the museum will receive a percentage of your next purchase as a donation.
You probably know we have an online gift shop full of present potential, but did you know about our eBay store? We offer a variety of model train cars from around the world, and every purchase directly supports the museum! Go ahead and visit https://www.ebay.com/usr/sdmodelrailroad ...we can't promise you won't be tempted 😉
Pictured: Lionel O scale Erie Lackawanna Jumping HOBO car 6-26787 Original Box
Thank you to KPBS Evening Edition for featuring the San Diego Model Railroad Museum in last night's piece about nonprofits in Balboa Park! Our Marketing and Community Engagement Coordinator spoke with John Carroll about our educational programs, the La Mesa Model Railroad Club - LMMRRC, Inc. Tehachapi Pass layout, and more - in front of our Timken Museum of Art-adorned Christmas tree and an array of artifacts from Walt Disney's Carolwood Barn. Part two of the story airs tonight!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEI-VJOQ3Cs&feature=youtu.be&list=PL2BEE055A0FBFA666&t=1084
High winds, wildfires, trees downed, power outages. We are in the midst of a red flag event that has seen homes burned, schools closed and debris all over th...
Christmas came early this year - Receive 2 complimentary guest passes 🎁 when you become an SDMRM member during December! Museum membership is the most fun-filled way to support the museum. Enjoy free admission, gift shop discounts, seasonal exchanges with other museums in town, and more. Our community of train lovers has been key to our success through this difficult year.
Membership makes for an excellent holiday gift, pays for itself in as little as 2 visits, and helps us keep our engines running at full steam 🚂 Visit https://www.sdmrm.org/become-a-member to join today!
Offer valid December 1-31, 2020. Your membership's expiration will be adjusted to accommodate for COVID-19 closures.
Don't miss the holiday grand finale of our Modeler Citizens Lecture Series!
🚃 On 12/3, hear the fascinating tale of Walt Disney's half-mile-long backyard Carolwood Pacific Railroad from two Walt Disney's Carolwood Barn volunteers.
🎄 On 12/17, learn about the Timken Museum of Art's dazzling Jewels of the Season--the history and the sparkle--from Lynne Thompson, San Diego's foremost Jewels ornament specialist.
Register at https://www.sdmrm.org/modelercitizens for as little as $1 & support the museum!
Today is #GivingTuesday, a day to give back to nonprofits in your community. Having lost months of operating days to the pandemic, SDMRM needs your help more than ever. We've already raised over $4,000 toward our goal of $40,000 – will you help us reach it by donating at https://www.sdmrm.org/donate
On the page, you'll see a list of generous donors who have already given – yours can be added to this list!
If you’re unable to make a gift at this time, we’ll be sharing the many ways you can support the museum at different levels of giving throughout the week ❤️ Contributions of ANY size make a difference, and sharing this post with your friends and family helps to spread the word and gets us closer to our goal.
📸: Vic Yoder of the La Mesa Model Railroad Club
If you're looking for a sign to shop...this is it!
Today, nearly 1500 museums have banded together for #museumstoresunday Use code MUSEUMSTORESUNDAY at Online Gift Shop checkout to receive $10 off your purchase of $50 or more!
Don't know where to start? 🤷♂️ Gift a day of fun with a museum Guest Pass, or send a Digital Gift Card that can be used to purchase a membership or any of our unique shop items!
Visit museumstoresunday.org to see if any other museums you love have joined in on the fun.
We're popping up on the Prado with San Diego History Center this weekend – Saturday and Sunday from 11-3, in front of the museum. Swing by and pick up an array of our gift shop items – and possibly some free tickets? If you prefer to shop from home, visit www.sdmrm.org/shop
Tomorrow, we'll be joining nearly 1500 museums globally for #MuseumStoreSunday, which encourages patrons to support their favorite arts & culture organizations through shopping at museum gift stores. Check our social media tomorrow 😉 for something special!
On behalf of all of us at SDMRM, we hope you have a joyous Thanksgiving 🥧 Every day, we are thankful for the support of our guests, fans, members, and donors. We couldn't fulfill our mission without you!
Blink & you'll miss the subject of this Train Fact Tuesday! This scale model of the Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland & the mining town of Rainbow Ridge was created by Sam Towler of Walt Disney's Carolwood Barn. The Carolwood Foundation is currently restoring one of its locomotives and two box cars to preserve the model's beauty for years to come. The original mine train was an attraction that ran at Disneyland(R) from July 2, 1956 (Originally as the Rainbow Caverns Mine Train) and closed on January 2, 1977.
Want to know more about the mine train restoration and Walt Disney's backyard railroad, the Carolwood Pacific? Register for as little as $1 at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-carolwood-pacific-walts-magical-railroad-tickets-128158977953 for our talk on December 3 at 5 p.m. with Towler and his colleague Jeff Ino from Walt Disney's Carolwood Barn.
Thanksgiving is coming up quickly, and whether you're browsing the stuffing section or browsing Amazon for an express-shipped tablecloth, YOU can support SDMRM for free while you shop!
Visit https://www.sdmrm.org/learn-more/ and...
💻 Link the museum to your AmazonSmile account, and the museum will receive a percentage of your purchases as a donation.
🛒 Link your Ralph's Rewards Card to the museum (using the NPO number XR048) through the Ralph's Community Contributions Program, and the museum will receive a percentage of your next purchase as a donation.
Some railway wisdom for your weekend: Be sure to not to lose your train of thought...you'll get off-track!
Don't forget that tomorrow, we're taking you into the Rockies thanks to Roger Gredvig! This tour of his N-Scale layout covers much of the American west and showcases how the steam-to-diesel transition period affected the region.
Our Modeler Citizens series (which will continue into December!) is a great way to support SDMRM and learn more about railroading history. Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rodger-gredvig-layout-tour-tickets-122576655075
We've been enthralling guests & lighting up young minds for almost 40 years, and we could not do it without the support of our members and donors ❤️ Now, during a time of unforeseen challenges, we need your help more than ever. We are aiming to raise $40,000 to commemorate the upcoming 40th anniversary of our public opening and help our staff continue to provide unique & engaging programming for years to come.
If you can, please give at https://www.sdmrm.org/donate. Any amount, or any shares, help us get just a bit closer toward our goal.
We miss our guests and members already...but don't worry. We'll keep chugging along, even when the track ahead is uncertain 💪
Already making a list and checking it twice? 🤶 🎅 Our online gift shop (https://www.sdmrm.org/shop) has train-themed presents for anyone on your list! From apparel to fascinating books to train sets, you'll find the perfect thing to place underneath the tree.
Take a trip back in time 🕰️ in our next Modeler Citizens presentation! Master Model Railroader Rodger Gredvig will showcase his N-Scale layout, the Lode Stone & Iron Railroad, via Zoom Webinar at 6 p.m. on Thursday, November 19. Attending our Modeler Citizens series is a great way to support the museum - Register at https://www.sdmrm.org/modelercitizens by donating what you wish, and your gift will ensure that SDMRM can continue offering programs like these well into the future.
The layout depicts a route that was designed but never built, along the Colorado River from Grand Junction, CO to San Diego. Rodger’s model covers intricately crafted deserts and mountains, showing the look and practices of a typical western railroad in the transition period from steam to diesel in the 1940s and 50s. See you there!
📸: The Colorado Encyclopedia
Due to an increase in COVID-19 case rates in San Diego County, the San Diego Model Railroad Museum is closed, and will remain closed for at least three weeks. If you purchased admission tickets online, you are eligible for a refund, or you may permit us to keep your admission fee as a charitable donation to the museum. Please look for an email from [email protected]. Our holiday exhibits, The Carolwood Pacific: Walt's Magical Railroad and Jewels of the Season, will debut when the museum is allowed to reopen. Membership expirations will be adjusted to account for the temporary closure.
While there is work being done to advocate for the safety of museums, this news is especially difficult as admissions makes up a majority of our revenue and helps keep our facilities maintained, programs on the books, and staff working. We are in the midst of our 40th Anniversary Capital Campaign, which aims to raise $40,000 and will help replace admissions revenue lost during this closure. If you feel compelled to give, make your tax-deductible donation at https://www.sdmrm.org/donate. If you cannot donate, sharing the link to your friends & family helps spread the word and get us closer to our goal.
Please visit our website, or continue to follow us on social media to receive reopening updates.
Finally, but most importantly, stay safe this holiday season. Throughout your festivities, continue to wear your mask, practice social distancing, and frequently wash your hands. We look forward to seeing the smiling (and masked!) faces of our guests when it's possible to do so.
Today's #TrainFactTuesday takes us to Germany, where the Diesel engine was first conceived & patented by inventor Rudolf Diesel in 1892 (second photo). The Diesel locomotive we know of today took 33 years to perfect, and it wasn't until the end of World War II in the late 1940s that the Diesel locomotive began widespread use, slowly replacing steam engines. Slow and steady (development, that is) wins the race!
Boughs of holly sound nice, but the "Jewels of the Season"
will deck our halls this holiday thanks to the Timken Museum of Art! Each intricate ornament took two San Diego artisans anywhere from two days to two weeks to design.
This December, you can even make your own stunning ornament with the Timken’s Virtual Ornament-Making classes! Learn more at https://www.timkenmuseum.org/calendar/list/
Come celebrate the holidays with us! 🎁 In the spirit of the season, we have joined with the Timken Museum of Art and Walt Disney's Carolwood Barn & the Carolwood Foundation to bring you something special.
From November 20 to January 4, our Pacific Beach Room will be transformed into a winter wonderland featuring unique artifacts from Walt Disney’s Carolwood Barn – some of which were personally owned by Walt himself – and the Timken's dazzling Jewels of the Season ornaments!
We've long felt a kindred spirit with Walt Disney for his love of trains, so don't miss this glimpse of Disney's iconic backyard railroad enhanced by the sparkling Jewels full of holiday memories.
We won't lie – our vision for 2020 was seriously impacted by the economic hardship of COVID-19. Through the challenges, we have explored new ways to entertain, inspire, and educate the community, museum members, and guests of all ages.
In 2021, we will celebrate the 40th anniversary of first opening to the public, and you’re invited to commemorate the occasion by helping us raise $40,000 to keep us in operation and achieve our 2021 goals, including growing our educational programs and expanding our digital offerings.
Contributions of any size are crucial, and there are multiple ways to donate and spread the word:
👉 Visit https://www.sdmrm.org/donate
👉 Click the "Donate" button on this post
We’ve been able to complete our mission for 40 years; help us to keep the museum's magic going for 40 more!
1649 El Prado
San Diego, CA
92101
Bus Information: (619) 233-3004 Bus Routes: #7, 7A OR 7B Nearest Trolley Station: City College, then any #7 Bus to Balboa Park
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Tonight is the final night of Hanukkah 🕎 1 week until Christmas 🎄 And 2 weeks until the final night of Kwanzaa and the New Year🎉 No matter what you celebrate, all of us at SDMRM hope you are having a safe and happy holiday season. 📸: Mike Hays of the San Diego 3-Railers, 2019.
Today is #GivingTuesday, a day to give back to nonprofits in your community. Having lost months of operating days to the pandemic, SDMRM needs your help more than ever. We've already raised over $4,000 toward our goal of $40,000 – will you help us reach it by donating at https://www.sdmrm.org/donate On the page, you'll see a list of generous donors who have already given – yours can be added to this list! If you’re unable to make a gift at this time, we’ll be sharing the many ways you can support the museum at different levels of giving throughout the week ❤️ Contributions of ANY size make a difference, and sharing this post with your friends and family helps to spread the word and gets us closer to our goal. 📸: Vic Yoder of the La Mesa Model Railroad Club
We miss our guests and members already...but don't worry. We'll keep chugging along, even when the track ahead is uncertain 💪
Some railway wisdom for your weekend: Be sure to not to lose your train of thought...you'll get off-track!
This spirit lurking in a railway tunnel didn't mean to scare anyone...they just wanted to make sure everyone was caffeinated!
In this spooky story, a narrow-gauge train track in Maine is visited by a literal blast from the past thanks to an ominous whistle...
During Click or Treat, we'll be sharing stories of spooky or paranormal happenings around trains 🚂 This first edition takes us to the life – er, afterlife – of President Lincoln. Have YOU ever seen this all-American apparition?
Keep up the steam and keep the wheels turning – you're halfway through the week! 💪 This video features a Lionel Chesapeake & Ohio F19 Pacific engine whizzing past the camera.
It's #throwbackthursday every day in the San Diego and Arizona Eastern HO-scale layout, which showcases San Diego and El Centro as they looked in the 1950s!
Don't get it twisted – this is one of our trains entering the iconic Tehachapi Loop! Video credit: Vic Yoder of the La Mesa Model Railroad Association
Take a one-minute train trip 😌 with Santa Fe 2, which you'll see sometimes making its way around our HO-scale Tehachapi Pass layout! 📷 Vic Yoder of the La Mesa Model Railroad Club
We're headed down under for #TrainFactTuesday 🐨 The world's longest stretch of perfectly straight railway track 🛤️ is in Australia – and it's 478 kilometers (297 miles) long!
We ❤️ this clip of these colorful trains on the move!
How does Thomas the Tank Engine even work?! Learn more about steam locomotives 🚂 in this video from our STEAM for Schools series! 💻 The full series is under the "Learn" tab on our website!
Today kicks off Thomas Takeover Week, so click "Thomas Week" on our website to see what Thomas and his friends have planned to celebrate their 75th birthday 🎂 and help them get to Donation Station! 🤫 PS – Museum Members, check your inbox for some important info we sent your way last week! 📖 🛍️
Now THAT's a role model...or, a model on a roll?
This model car in our 3-Railer Room is getting its Friday fuel-up ⛽ In need of a Friday fuel-up of your own? Here's some ideas: 🚴 🎹 🎨 🍷
SDMRM likes to party during the Holiday season! 🎄🎄 Ales N’ Rails is the museum’s annual fundraiser complete with 🍺 Beer tasting, 🥁 🎷 Live music and of course - Trains! 🚂🚂 This year will be our 6th annual Ales N' Rails! http://ow.ly/rvfw50zjxcg . . . What are some of your favorite local brews? We want to support the San Diego community by highlighting last year's beer vendors who graciously donated their time and🍺 to help us. . Please check out our beloved partners below and consider supporting them by picking up or scheduling a food or drink delivery today! . Mike Hess Brewing Company Societe Brewing Company Boochcraft Kairoa Brewing Company Pizza Port Brewing Company California Tap Room AleSmith Brewing Company Mikkeller Brewing San Diego The Homebrewer Modern Times Beer Kensington Brewing Company Waypoint Public Station Tavern and Burgers . . . #funraiser #alesnrails #sdmrm #sandiegomodelrailroadmuseum #beer #sandiego #community #train #trains #sandiegobeer #sdbeer #balboapark #craftbrew #holidayfundraiser #supportlocal #fundraiser TikiTronic Mid Century Museum of Beer Mona Lisa Italian Foods San Diego Mesa College
Looking for cooking inspiration? We at SDMRM tried out another Harvey Girl recipe - Scrambled Fruit Pie! A unique and delicious dessert for you railfans out there. . Don't forget to check out more recipes and send us your own results! You can find a select few here:https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5cb8b2c9797f746f05a5d090/t/5e9794e0206e6923abe6fedf/1586992369951/Harvey+Girls+Recipes.pdf . . #sdmrm #balboapark #sandiego #sandiegomuseum #museum #sdmuseums #museums #community #familyfun #familyengagement #sandiegomodelrailroadmuseum #harveygirls #museumathome #sdmuseumathome #familyfriendly #trains #train #railfan #onlineeducation #harveygirltakeover #harveygirlhungry #womenshistory #herstory #ourstaffareamazingcooks
Imagine it's 1875. You’re traveling west on the Santa Fe Railroad and you’re starving. Where do you go to get some grub? You’ll have to head to the local saloon and pray they have something that at least resembles food. Now, it’s 1876 and you’re continuing your trip west. The train stops and what’s that? A Harvey House! As you enter the doors you are greeted by the smell of fresh baked muffins, tables dressed with white linen tablecloths, and hostesses, all cleanly dressed, attractive, and certainly of good character. . So, what exactly could you eat at the Harvey Houses? Each Harvey House had its own menu, but they all shared one thing: quality. Prior to the Harvey Houses opening up, each traveler was on their own for finding a meal. This led to many low grade saloon dinners, or whatever could be scraped together. After Fred Harvey opened his hotels and restaurants, travelers were treated to freshly made meals, baked goods, and coffee. . Our own SDMRM staff took the time to try and make some of these Harvey Girl recipes, as you can see here in this video - Blueberry Muffins La Posada made by our own Curator of Collections, Margaret Harris! . Check out more recipes, try them out and send us your results! . You can find a select few here: http://ow.ly/bGqK50zftba and stay tuned as we post more that our very own staff made! . #sdmrm #balboapark #sandiego #sandiegomuseum #museum #sdmuseums #museums #community #familyfun #familyengagement #sandiegomodelrailroadmuseum #harveygirls #museumathome #sdmuseumathome #familyfriendly #trains #train #railfan #onlineeducation #harveygirltakeover #harveygirlhungry #womenshistory #herstory #ourstaffareamazingcooks
Kick off the new year with a visit to SDMRM! 🚂 Tomorrow, Tuesday, January 7th is the first Free Tuesday of 2020 🎉 General admission is FREE to residents of the City and County of San Diego, and to active military personnel and their dependents. *Please be prepared to present a photographic ID with your address #sdmrm #freetuesday #sandiego #balboapark #modeltrains
We had an awesome time at Ales N' Rails this year! Thank you to all the participating breweries, food suppliers, entertainers, sponsors and guests who attended. Everyone made the event that much more fun 🤗 We can't wait for next year! Here are a few highlights from the night courtesy of The Museum of Beer 👇
Only 30 days left until Ales N’ Rails 🍻🚂 Have you purchased your tickets yet? 🎟 View our events for more information 📲
The San Diego 3-Railers are bringing Halloween to the SDMRM Toy Train Gallery next week. But the creatures a beginning to make their appearance.
How ‘bout two Santa Fe diesels to get your Monday rolling?
Did you know that Plaster City, CA has the last industrial narrow-gauge in the US? The narrow-gauge railroad is 3 feet between the rails, and it’s owned and operated buy the United States Gypsum Company.
Can you find Waldo?
We love the loop action at the San Diego & Arizona Eastern layout!
Amtrak passing through Cliff.
Watching trains on a Thursday is a perfect way to get ready the weekend!
La Mesa Model Railroad Club - LMMRRC, Inc.
1649 El PradoSan Diego Model Railroad Association
1649 El PradoThe Gallery Collective: The San Diego Museum
1450 El PradoSan Diego Natural History Museum Botany Depar
1788 El Prado
San Diego Natural History Museum Canyoneers
1788 El Prado
Natural History Club at San Diego State Unive
San Diego State University
