Model Railroad Museum
of Hampton Roads

Holiday Train Show at MacArthur Center Opening on Nov. 23, 2024!!

🎉 Exciting Announcement: Holiday Train Show at MacArthur Center ! 🚂✨

Get ready to kick off the holiday season with our enchanting Holiday Train Show at MacArthur Center, opening on November 23, 2024!

Join us for a magical experience featuring intricately designed train displays, festive decorations, and seasonal cheer for the whole family. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the holidays as you explore our spectacular showcase!

📅 Opening Date: November 23, 2024 through December 31, 2024

Closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Hours: 10-8 on Friday; 10-8 on Saturday; 12-6 on Sunday.

📍 Location: MacArthur Center, 2nd Floor, near the central glass elevators. 300 Monticello Ave., Norfolk. VA.

Don’t miss out on this beloved holiday tradition! We can’t wait to celebrate the season with you. Stay tuned for more details and special events!

Happy Holidays! 🎄🚂

Come one, come all! Celebrate the Holidays with us. We will have multiple model railroads set up  including Christmas Trains and all the usual Holiday decor. Bring your family. Kids can run trains. Admission Free. Wheelchair accessible. 

Our Mission: Community, Education, Service, Entertainment, Fun

The Model Railroad Museum of Hampton Roads is a non-profit organization [501(c)(3)] born out of a group of highly dedicated model railroaders who wish to display their art and science to the public and provide education regarding the hobby and the history of railroads in the Hampton Roads area and beyond. This will be a charitable and educational organization for the enjoyment and benefit of local residents as well as for tourists who are visiting the area.

Railtown, USA on the Blue Ridge & Southern Model Railroad in Virginia Beach.

Model Railroad Museum: Concept

The basic idea is to have a central location in the Hampton Roads area where multiple model railroads of all common scales will be built, maintained and displayed by volunteer local model railroaders. Some of the railroads will be available to be run and operated by visitors and some will be for display only. We will invite all local model railroad groups to participate in the project. In addition, the invitation will extend to local high schools and colleges for student groups who may wish to join and build their own railroad(s).

Deiter Steinhoff's Fantastic G Scale RR in Virginia Beach.

Education in the Model Railroad Museum

In addition to the model railroad museum displays, we intend to have a library dedicated to railroading, including books, magazines, computers, a video room and at least two clinic rooms where educational lectures can be offered regarding railroad history, along with the art and science of model railroading. Free school tours will be provided every Wednesday. Scouts are welcome. All children will require adult supervision.

The education provided will follow the S.T.E.A.M. concept which uses the various disciplines involved in model railroading to teach Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics. 

• Science includes learning about concepts in physics, architecture, electricity, photography, chemistry, 3D printing, laser cutting, computer science, and more.
• Technology in model railroading is an ever-expanding discipline, especially in the area of electronics, automation, creating circuit boards, Arduino projects, using relay switches, capacitors, lighting, wiring, soldering, interfacing computer programming with train control, touch controls, wireless technology, communication devices, etc.
• Engineering - This includes civil, electrical, architectural engineering concepts, building sound architectural structures and bridges from scratch, creating electrical circuitry, woodworking, metal working, etc.
• Art - Blending science and art is the hallmark of model railroading and includes sculpting, creating beautiful three dimensional landscapes, simulating natural scenes of forests, trees, cityscapes, painting backdrops, learning to use an airbrush, learning how to create something out of almost nothing, learning the art of photography, creating scenes and structures from pieces of plastic or wood.
• Mathematics - Calculations are required to determine elevations and inclines, physics and electronic formulas, mixing of chemicals, dilutions, manipulating spreadsheets, keeping track of finances, scale calculations, calculating the proper weights for railcars, and so on.

Lots of other educational benefits include learning about history, industry, how businesses operate, how railroads operate, production and transportation of goods and services along with supply-and-demand economics.

Deiter's RR

Other Benefits to the Community

The Model Railroad Museum will provide multiple other benefits to the community including, but not limited to, the following:

• Family fun and enjoyment
• Programs for disabled veterans
• Programs for children with special needs
• Traveling exhibits - Taking trains on the road to visit libraries, schools, churches, nursing facilities and other locations
• Hosting multiple train shows every year
• Holiday displays
• Tourist attraction for the city
• Improve traffic to local businesses
• All volunteer staff - model railroaders giving their time and effort to support the community and their neighbors.

Plan and Implementation

The plans for this all-volunteer, non-profit 501(c)(3) model railroad museum have been three years in the making, and have been carefully drafted, completed and approved by the Founding Committee. The Model Railroad Museum of Hampton Roads is now incorporated in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Currently, we are in the early stages of implementation and are actively seeking a location.

If you have any questions or interest in this project, please send an email to secretary@mrmhr.org, or call 757-816-8399.

Deiter's RR

All images are depicting samples of other model railroads, but this type of modeling is what you can expect when the museum opens. The Model Railroad Museum is not yet open. Once we find a suitable location, we will post it in this newsletter. Come back to this site often to look for updates.

As a totally non-profit 501(c)3 organization, we really need the support of the community to make this work. Please consider the fun and family entertainment of having a Museum like this in our community, not to mention the educational benefits. With all the difficulties we all face in the world every day, we need fun things to do. We owe it to ourselves to develop these opportunities especially for our children, who will remember these experiences forever. 

This site was last updated on November 28, 2024.

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The Model Railroad Museum of Hampton Roads will be a fantastic community center based on running, operating and even building your own model railroads! There's something for every age here.

Learn about the real history of this area and how important it was in the building of America. Watch how railroads were built, the people involved, where America's roots were formed. 

As they build their own railroads, students will be learning about science, electronics,  architecture, technology, engineering, mathematics, and the art of 3 dimensional model landscaping. They can earn rewards for completing projects and winning contests.

Try to solve yardmaster problems on a switching layout like getting the lumber from the forest to the furniture store, by way of the saw mill and the lumber yard.

Run your train around blockades and other trains to get to the station on time without speeding or crashing.

Play railroad monopoly using model railroads. Winner is the one who can collect the most cars into his yard within an hour.

There will be programs for autistic and special needs kids, disabled adults and veterans.

School tours. Holiday Shows. Library and video rooms. Scouts are welcome. Even youngsters will have their own wooden models to enjoy. Classrooms and hands-on clinics for adults. Learn how to get started in the hobby. Or just enjoy the fun.

Everybody loves trains and this will prove it!  Just click on the either the blue or the yellow DONATE button below to make it happen... 

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Blue Ridge & Southern Model RR

BR&S Model RR

BR&S Model RR

John Fallon's Model Railroad

Deiter's RR

BR&S Model Railroad