The San Diego Model Railroad hosts over 27,000 square feet of trains, trestles, and tracks in the majestic Balboa Park 🚂Open Fri-Sun 11-4!
Operating as usual
Today's #TrainFactTuesday should make you grin 😁 The heaviest train pulled by teeth is a pair of commuter trains weighing 574,964 pounds! Velu Rathakrishnan, a Malaysian man, pulled the trains along nearly 14 feet of track in the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station via a rope he held in his 🦷
📸 Instagrammer, rusted_rails
📍 Tehachapi Pass #HOScale Layout
Attention modelers, railfans, and mini-world-builders of all ages 🚨 We offer items for your little empire in a variety of scales, manufacturers, and styles on our eBay!
👉https://www.ebay.com/usr/sdmodelrailroad
Note: As our eBay stock changes frequently, exact item shown may not be available.
Attention modelers, railfans, and mini-world-builders of all ages 🚨 We offer items for your little empire in a variety of scales, manufacturers, and styles on our eBay!
👉https://www.ebay.com/usr/sdmodelrailroad
Note: As our eBay stock changes frequently, exact item shown may not be available.
Summer is just around the corner ☀️ and we are READY! Our ever-popular model railroading summer camps are back, virtually or in-person. Campers will paint, plaster, lay track and construct a mini-town, complete with buildings, trees, trains, and people!
In-person camps are limited to 12 campers, and COVID-19 safety protocol will be observed (as detailed on the registration form).
Visit https://www.sdmrm.org/summer-camps to learn more!
(Pre-pandemic photo)
Summer is just around the corner ☀️ and we are READY! Our ever-popular model railroading summer camps are back, virtually or in-person. Campers will paint, plaster, lay track and construct a mini-town, complete with buildings, trees, trains, and people!
In-person camps are limited to 12 campers, and COVID-19 safety protocol will be observed (as detailed on the registration form).
Visit https://www.sdmrm.org/summer-camps to learn more!
(Pre-pandemic photo)
#TBT to 2009, when Sir Topham Hatt paid us a visit to read Thomas stories to our guests!
📺 Find our virtual storytimes, featuring Thomas stories, on our YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/sdmodelrailroad/videos)
#throwbackthursday
#TBT to 2009, when Sir Topham Hatt paid us a visit to read Thomas stories to our guests!
📺 Find our virtual storytimes, featuring Thomas stories, on our YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/sdmodelrailroad/videos)
#throwbackthursday
On the Cabrillo Southwestern #OScale Layout, you can watch trains navigate the mountains via totally separate tracks, which often leads to moments like this!
Thank you to everyone who has visited the San Diego Model Railroad Museum since we reopened earlier this month ❤️ The last year has been difficult, but we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel!
🕚 Museum hours: Friday/Saturday/Sunday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
🎟️ https://tickets.sdmrm.org/e/san-diego-model-railroad-museum-2021
📸 La Mesa Model Railroad Club - LMMRRC, Inc.
📍 Tehachapi Pass #HOScale Layout
Thank you to everyone who has visited the San Diego Model Railroad Museum since we reopened earlier this month ❤️ The last year has been difficult, but we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel!
🕚 Museum hours: Friday/Saturday/Sunday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
🎟️ https://tickets.sdmrm.org/e/san-diego-model-railroad-museum-2021
📸 La Mesa Model Railroad Club - LMMRRC, Inc.
📍 Tehachapi Pass #HOScale Layout
The San Diego Society of N-Scale cares about the details in the Pacific Desert Lines layout…check out these moving signals!
Don’t forget – We need your help to reach our $40,000 fundraising goal, and During N-Scale Spotlight Week (April 3-10), 50% of donations to the museum will support the San Diego Society of N-Scale, an independent model railroading club. Give at https://www.sdmrm.org/donate
Want to learn more about our #NScale layout and this beautiful recreation of the Santa Fe Railroad Station San Diego? Watch our latest YouTube video, Spotlight on the Pacific Desert Lines!
➡️ https://youtu.be/mt2HxeFJM5M
#TBT to 1982 and the construction of the Pacific Desert Lines! After displaying a modular layout at the museum’s December 1981 opening, the San Diego Society of N Scale got to work building the layout you all know and love. See how it looks today, too!
Don’t forget – During N-Scale Spotlight Week (April 3-10), 50% of donations to the museum will support the San Diego Society of N-Scale, an independent model railroading club. Give at https://www.sdmrm.org/donate
#ThrowbackThursday
Let the good times RAIL! 🤣
📍Carrizo Gorge, Pacific Desert Lines N-Scale Layout
Don’t forget – We need your help to reach our $40,000 fundraising goal, and during N-Scale Spotlight Week (April 3-10), 50% of donations to the museum will support the San Diego Society of N-Scale, an independent model railroading club. Give at https://www.sdmrm.org/donate
The Pacific Desert Lines – by the numbers! The layout consists of over 1,000 feet of hand-laid track and over 75,000 individual railroad ties 🤯 #TrainFactTuesday
Don’t forget – During N-Scale Spotlight Week (April 3-10), 50% of donations to the museum will support the San Diego Society of N-Scale, an independent model railroading club. Give at https://www.sdmrm.org/donate
The Pacific Desert Lines – by the numbers! The layout consists of over 1,000 feet of hand-laid track and over 75,000 individual railroad ties 🤯 #TrainFactTuesday
Don’t forget – During N-Scale Spotlight Week (April 3-10), 50% of donations to the museum will support the San Diego Society of N-Scale, an independent model railroading club. Give at https://www.sdmrm.org/donate
The San Diegan heads south towards downtown San Diego on the Pacific Desert Lines N-Scale Layout. The San Diegan was the precursor to the Amtrak Surfliner that stops at the San Diego Santa Fe Depot today!
Don’t forget – We need your help to reach our $40,000 fundraising goal, and during N-Scale Spotlight Week (April 3-10), 50% of donations made will support the San Diego Society of N-Scale, an independent model railroading club. Give at https://www.sdmrm.org/donate
This week, we’re all about N-Scale! Our social media will focus entirely on the Pacific Desert Lines layout and the San Diego Society of N-Scale, the club that created it.
Four independent model railroading clubs maintain & operate the layouts you know and love at the museum. Each club will have its own Spotlight Week to showcase its contributions to SDMRM. During these Spotlight Weeks, the museum is asking you to help reach its $40,000 goal – remember, we’re already halfway there! 50% of donations made to the museum during N-Scale Spotlight Week (April 3-10) will support the San Diego Society of N-Scale. Give at https://www.sdmrm.org/donate
The Pacific Desert Lines is in N-Scale, so 1 inch of the model is equal to 160 real-life inches. It’s partially historically accurate (called prototypical) and partially created from the modelers’ imaginations (called freestyle). It depicts deserts east of San Diego, downtown San Diego, and famous coastal landmarks.
Keep your 👀 on our social media to learn more about this fascinating layout!
This week, we’re all about N-Scale! Our social media will focus entirely on the Pacific Desert Lines layout and the San Diego Society of N-Scale, the club that created it.
Four independent model railroading clubs maintain & operate the layouts you know and love at the museum. Each club will have its own Spotlight Week to showcase its contributions to SDMRM. During these Spotlight Weeks, the museum is asking you to help reach its $40,000 goal – remember, we’re already halfway there! 50% of donations made to the museum during N-Scale Spotlight Week (April 3-10) will support the San Diego Society of N-Scale. Give at https://www.sdmrm.org/donate
The Pacific Desert Lines is in N-Scale, so 1 inch of the model is equal to 160 real-life inches. It’s partially historically accurate (called prototypical) and partially created from the modelers’ imaginations (called freestyle). It depicts deserts east of San Diego, downtown San Diego, and famous coastal landmarks.
Keep your 👀 on our social media to learn more about this fascinating layout!
As we reopen our doors, we want to give a special thank-you to our museum members, whose support has allowed us to continue our mission despite closure. Members, keep your eyes on your inbox in the coming weeks for updates regarding your membership expiration, as we have extended your membership to account for closure.
If you'd like to become a museum member and receive discounts, free admission, and more, visit https://www.sdmrm.org/become-a-member
All of us at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum – including our friend Thomas! – are very excited to see you for our Grand Reopening tomorrow at 11 a.m. 💙 We've missed you!
🎟️Buy admission tickets at https://tickets.sdmrm.org/e/san-diego-model-railroad-museum-2021
This #TrainFactTuesday, we finish off Women's History Month by celebrating Mary Jane Colter, an architect who designed 21 hotels along the famous Atchinson, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad! Colter aimed to integrate her work with the natural & cultural landscape around it, often using local materials. This distinctive approach to architecture helped create most Americans' typical idea of the American Southwest. #WomensHistoryMonth
📍 La Posada Hotel, Winslow AZ (which still operates today!)
“In one way or another, I have always loved trains.” – Walt Disney 🚂
SDMRM is excited to share that “The Carolwood Pacific: Walt's Magical Railroad” exhibition will be on view at the museum for visitors to see! Walt Disney’s Carolwood Barn, located in Los Angeles’ Griffith Park, tells the story of Walt’s love of the railroad and how this lifelong fascination influenced his creativity. See a variety of historical artifacts on loan from the Carolwood Foundation - some of which were personally owned by Walt himself.
We are honored to present this exhibit in partnership with Walt Disney's Carolwood Barn.
Today is #WorldTheatreDay! From The Music Man using a steam train's noises as the beat of a song, to the rollerskating steampunk locomotives of Starlight Express, trains have made their mark onstage. What's YOUR favorite scene or musical number featuring a train?
📸 Warner Bros., Ruhr Tourismus
We're finally open! Our hours this weekend are 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. today, Saturday, and Sunday 😄 See you soon!
➡️ During this soft opening weekend, there may be fewer trains running as operators perform important maintenance on our layouts.
📸 Vic Yoder, YouTube
📍Tehachapi Pass #HOScale Layout
#thingstodoinsandiego
We proudly stand with Balboa Park Cultural Partnership in condemning acts of racism, violence, and hatred.
#StopAsianHate
The Balboa Park Cultural Partnership is deeply saddened by the acts of violence being committed against the Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in San Diego and elsewhere, and we stand unified with those who denounce these senseless and unjust crimes. We will continue to demand support for racial equality, in all areas of society.
To our Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander friends, colleagues, and family – you are important to us. Not only do we share in your sadness, we give our voice to you in calling for systemic change against hate and racism.
The Cultural Partnership believes all cultural organizations should work together to create a positive future, where opportunity is accessible to all. Upholding the values of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility are important - we will continue to listen and work together to create an experience that is safe and welcoming for everyone, always.
Hate is never a solution.
To report hate incidents, visit: https://stopaapihate.org/
For resources, visit: https://pacarts.org/sdapicoalition/api-resources/
All Aboard! 🚆 Starting tomorrow at 11 a.m. the San Diego Model Railroad Museum will be open to the public Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11-4. We can't wait to see our guests and run some trains!
📸 Instagrammer, vanmateo559
📍San Diego & Arizona Eastern #HOScale Layout
A few reminders before you leave the station and steam over to SDMRM for our reopening...
😷 CDC-recommended styles of masks/coverings are required for guests 2 years old and older
↔️ Please remain 6+ feet away from anyone not in your party.
👐 Use hand sanitizer – we'll have some available!
See you soon!
📸 Instagrammer, kid.friendly.fun
#familyfun
In case you missed it - The San Diego Model Railroad Museum is reopening! 🥳 Our soft opening is THIS WEEKEND, Fri/Sat/Sun 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. During soft opening weekend, there may be fewer trains running as operators perform important maintenance on our layouts to prepare for our GRAND REOPENING on Friday, April 2.
🎟️ Buy tickets & find more info at https://www.sdmrm.org/yourvisit
📍Cabrillo Southwestern #OScale Layout
#museum
A look 👀 through the hills...
📸 Instagrammer, bominx_photo
📍Tehachapi Pass #HOScale Layout
#california
Rolling through the weekend 😎
📸 Richard Carreon, YouTube
📍Toy Train Gallery
#modeltrain
We missed you! The museum will resume operations with a soft opening on Friday, March 26 at 11 a.m. and a Grand Reopening on Friday, April 2 at 11 a.m. Admission is available at the door, but online tickets are available and encouraged (https://tickets.sdmrm.org/e/san-diego-model-railroad-museum-2021). A variety of measures, including face covering requirements, physical distancing, and hand sanitizer stations, are in place to ensure guest safety.
➡️ The museum will be open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
➡️ During soft opening weekend, there may be fewer trains running as operators perform important maintenance on our layouts
Support from our donors has made a quick and safe reopening possible, but we’re still in need of donations to close the gap from revenue lost in the last year. Visit https://www.sdmrm.org/donate to help us thrive as we reopen!
We'll reopen soon! 😄 As of March 16, 2021, San Diego County museums were cleared to reopen. Stay tuned for more details!
It's #TrainFactTuesday! We're honoring another groundbreaking woman on the railroad this March – Ramona Dockter became the first female freight engineer in the United States in 1976, at the age of 19!
While she often ran freight trains 100+ cars long, her favorite trains to run were Amtrak passenger trains, which could "go up to 70 miles an hour in the blink of an eye."
📸 The Bismarck Tribune
📍Cabrillo Southwestern #OScale Layout
#WomensHistoryMonth
Layout vs Life: San Diego Santa Fe Depot edition!
This is an #NScale recreation of a breezeway in San Diego's historical train depot, which still stands & operates today! When's the last time you caught a 🚆 here?
One year ago, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to temporarily close. Nearly everything about this last year has been unpredictable, but the love and support we've received from all of you has been an assuring constant through the uncertainty ❤️
While we are still closed, the museum is missing out on vital operating revenue. Donations to our 40th Anniversary Capital Campaign will help us reopen quickly and safely and get our operators and staff back in the museum. Please give at https://www.sdmrm.org/donate or share this post with your friends & family, to help us reach our $40,000 goal!
📸 Vic Yoder, YouTube
📍 Tehachapi Pass #HOScale Layout
#throwbackthursday to when the San Diego & Arizona Eastern #HOScale layout was some platforms, a sign, and a dream!
📸 Don Mitchell
We've all heard of a bird's-eye view, but what about an engine's-eye view?
📸 David Lancaster, YouTube
📍 San Diego & Arizona Eastern #HOScale Layout
Happy #InternationalWomensDay ♀️ from all of us at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum! Women have played key roles in the history of the railroad, from nurses to engineers and everything in between. We'd like to give a special thank- you to the iron women on our staff 👩💻 Board of Directors 👩💼 and coalition of volunteers 👩🔧 who help make the museum what it is today.
Pictured: Bonnie Leake, the first female locomotive engineer on the Union Pacific Railroad. She passed away on January 13 of this year after nearly 40 years with UP.
📸 Union Pacific Railroad
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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La Mesa Model Railroad Club - LMMRRC, Inc.
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