Wilmington Railroad Museum
Hours of Operation
Closed Sunday
May 1 through May 24
Sunday: 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Support the Museum
WITH MUCH GRATITUDE!
The Museum recently received two grants to support additional development in programs and facilities.
~ FROM LANDFALL FOUNDATION: $4000 to establish a "Train Camp" for the summer of 2012. We'll be organizing several one-week sessions to stimulate creativity and imagination within the context of railroading and model railroad pastimes. Geared for grade-shoolers, these sessions will be part education, part activity, and part skill-building, based on an age-appropriate curriculum and adult mentoring.
~ FROM CAPE FEAR GARDEN CLUB: $2984 to beautify Railroad Heritage Square with planters and shrubbery. Now that area construction is complete, we installed touches that soften the industrial aspect of Warehouse B and are consistent with surrounding streetscape improvements. Improvements include columnar greenery around the 1855 station bell, and planters near the end of the wheel lathe and access ramp.
Special Notice - Many local businesses are supporting the great work of the Museum as it enters a new era of service. Click on "a business" below to see who is helping!
Click Here to find out about how you can add your support:
as an individual/family
as a business!
Events
SPECIAL NOTICES & CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR THE WILMINGTON RAILROAD MUSEUM
NATIONAL TRAIN DAY
SATURDAY MAY 12
Join us for some extra features and attractions!
ON DISPLAY
Vintage maintenance cars from
Red Springs & Northern Railroad Foundation
Modern Hy-Rail maintenance truck from CSX
Equipment demonstrations
Find out how GOOD tracks
keep trains rolling
HEAR THE BIG WHISTLE BLOW!
FREE WHISTLES FOR KIDS!
TRAIN CAMP IS COMING THIS SUMMER
Three five-day sessions are planned, with age-tailored fun and activities in each. Under adult supervision and expert instruction, campers will learn how to build model train cars, buildings and layouts, tour historic rail sites, and run trains. Note dates and ages below (all days run from 10 am to 3 pm)
LIMITED ENROLLMENT - MUST REGISTER
Age 9-10 June 16-20
Age 11-12 July 16-20
Age 13-15 August 13-17
Fee includes all materials, personal tool kit, meals and transportation for tours.
Thanks to the Landfall Foundation we can reduce the fee to only $85 ($100 savings!)
LIMITED ENROLLMENT -CALL THE MUSEUM AT 910-763-2634 FOR MORE INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION
STORY TIME
1st & 3rd Mondays
10:30 a.m.
DESIGNED FOR YOUNG VISITORS. HEAR A STORY OR TWO, HAVE A LITTLE SNACK, GET "CREATIVE" IN THE CHILDREN'S HALL. ONLY $4 PER FAMILY, FREE FOR MEMBERS.
IT’S OFFICIAL – A NEW RECORD
STORY TIME
1st & 3rd Mondays
10:30 a.m.
DESIGNED FOR YOUNG VISITORS. HEAR A STORY OR TWO, HAVE A LITTLE SNACK, GET "CREATIVE" IN THE CHILDREN'S HALL. ONLY $4 PER FAMILY, FREE FOR MEMBERS.
- Longest Model Train -
IT'S OFFICIAL!! Model railroaders from the Museum broke the record for the world's longest model train at Wilmington's new Convention Center, as certified by Guinness World Records (TM)!!
A train consisting of 31 locomotives and 1563 cars was placed on 1000 feet of track in the Convention Center's main exhibit hall. At about 925.55 feet long, this train traveled continuously for 750 feet to surpass the record set by Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg, Germany in 2008. The World Record Run was witnessed and documented in order to be included among other achievements listed by Guinness World Records.
A special feature of this event allowed individuals and businesses to sponsor a limited edition locomotive, custom decorated boxcar, or segment of track and to become a part of this history-making event. Our thanks go out to all sponsors who made this event one for the record books!
The model railroaders invested about 5000 hours of volunteer time for research, material acquisition, assembly, testing and calibration, layout fabrication, transportation and setup, monitoring and adjusting the train, and power design and distribution.
GREAT TRAIN SHOW & SALE
This annual event is our main fund raiser, and we put extra effort into making it a great value! Hundreds of visitors met to shop for merchandise, learn more about model railroading, see and participate in demonstrations. We're looking forward to the 2012 Show, so stay posted here as the exciting details are worked out.
EXPERIENCE THE POLAR EXPRESS
The 2011 series of shows was enjoyed by hundreds of families and wwas a charming prelude to the holidays. With the help of media partner WWAY-TV, children were treated to a reading of the story, a visit from Santa, and a special "first gift" of Christmas, and more! Look here for details about the 2012 series.
"BUY A BRICK" WALK - A PATHWAY TO PROGRESS
Our brick walk containing over 175 dedications to supporters of the Museum. Each is custom inscribed with donor's message and is part of the effort to improve the Museum's programs and services. Now leading to the caboose, our aim is to extend the walk to the 1855 station bell, one of the oldest artifacts in the Museum's collection.
Three of the U.S. Army troops from Sunny Point Military Ocean Terminal that did major work installing the walk. Their enthusiasm for trains and support for the Museum help energize our mission to promote railroad history and heritage.
Pete Chamberlin Truck Collection Donated to the Museum
Pete and Aggie Chamberlin with the Museum display in the Model Railroad Room. Pete donated his 35-year collection of over 1260 scale model trucks and vehicles to the Museum. One hundred and eleven are on display now. The remaining trucks will be rotated on display from time to time. Also, many will be placed on the operating train layouts when the streets and roads are completed.
A few of the 46 boxes holding the collection are delivered.
Stained Glass Locomotive
Thanks to the artistry of volunteer Mary Lou Bryden, the Museum now has a picture of Locomotive #250 rendered in stained glass. This beautiful piece hangs over the door to
Boy Scout Railroading Merit Badge
The Museum recently hosted a group of Boy Scouts working on Railroading Merit Badge. Here volunteer Roger Wilkie explains some of the fine points of life on the caboose.
Now Would Be the Perfect Time to Become a Volunteer for the Wilmington Railroad Museum!
With exciting changes in new quarters and great visitor reviews, we're putting out a call for volunteers to greet visitors, introduce them to the Museum, and help make sure that their visit is pleasant and memorable.
All help is welcome, with particular emphasis on the following areas:
· Greeting guests and issuing tickets.
· Gift shop operations.
· Opening and closing activities.
· Docents and guides.
· Children's activities and group parties.
· Developing new artifact displays.
Training and orientation is provided to acquaint volunteers with the history of the Museum, displays and layouts, operations and procedures, and programs. It's helpful, but not required, to have experience in retail, hospitality, education, libraries, railroads, or cultural activities.
For more information about opportunities in the exciting future of the Museum, contact the Wilmington Railroad Museum at (910) 763-2634.
Model Railroad Committee
Every Tuesday evening at 7 PM the Wilmington Railroad Museum Model Railroad Committee meets around the large HO train layout under construction at the Museum. All are welcome to join this committee. Our duties include:
· Constructing and maintaining the three operating layouts
· Adding detail to each layout
· Planning for the annual Model Railroad Show
· Conducting how-to classes in model railroading