Wilmington Railroad Museum
Hours of Operation
Monday - Saturday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
October 1 - March 31
Monday - Saturday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Closed Sunday
Support the Museum
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
GREAT TRAIN SHOW & SALE
This annual event is our main fund raiser, and we put extra effort into making it a great value! Shop for merchandise, learn more about model railroading, see and participate in demonstrations, and view the great display and exhibits at the Museum. This is traditionally a Fall event, so watch here for news about the 2010 edition.
EXPERIENCE THE POLAR EXPRESS
For the last three years almost all shows have been sold out, so we’re excited about the 2010 schedule, coming up in December. This charming event has all the special features families have come to expect, including a reading of the story, a visit from Santa, hot chocolate and a special “first gift of Christmas.” With local actors and media personalities, the show is a big pre-holiday hit with families.
O. WINSTON LINK:
AMERICAN IMAGES
A very special traveling exhibit visits the Museum January 15 - March 15, 2010. We will display 30 works from famed photographer O. Winston Link. In the late 1950s, Link turned his lens on the last regular steam trains in service on the Norfolk & Western Railroad. Spectacular views and techniques make this more than the usual train pictures; images often show how railroads underscored the life and times of towns and villages along the roads.
JANUARY 15 - MARCH 15, 2010
During regular Museum hours: Mon-Sat, 10 am to 4 pm
"BUY A BRICK" WALK INSTALLED
Our brick walk containing over 125 dedications to supporters of the Museum
Three of the U.S. Army troops from Sunny Point that did the major work installing our new walk
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.
The Model Railroad Committee spent an evening selecting the trucks for the initial display.
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