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 our move to our new building. Click on "a business" below to see who is helping!
Click Here to find out about how you can support this museum:
as an individual/family
as a business!
Events
SPECIAL NOTICES & CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR THE WILMINGTON RAILROAD MUSEUM
The 2008 Model Railroad Show & Sale
NOVEMBER 22nd (10 AM till 5 PM)
NOVEMBER 23rd (10 AM till 4 PM)
The 2008 Model Railroad Show and Sale will be held at the Coastline Convention Center and at the Wilmington Railroad Museum. These buildings are located together, one being across the parking lot from the other. Plans are under way to include all the activities you have come to love about this annual event while featuring the many model railroading items our vendors will make available for sale. We will have our new HO model railroad in full opperation allowing visitors to view many of the latest modeling inovations.
More details will be added as they become available.
PLANNED ACTIVITIES AT THIS SHOW
- There will be operating "N", "HO", "O", and "G" Scale layouts.
- Free Clinics each day demonstrating the latest modeling and scenicing.
- Numerous Vendor Tables.
- Our Interactive Switching Layout to challange your railroading skills.
- A Children's Area and numerous Door Prizes
- Full access to the new Museum
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 Tuesday evening selecting the trucks for the initial display.
Railroad Art at WHQR Radio
Railroad heritage found an unusual host when art and photos from the Museum’s collection visited the WHQR Gallery at the radio station. With most items also for sale, proceeds from this show are used to support the Museum and our great local public radio. We thank all those who attended and especially those that purchased some of the railroad art.
The 2007 Great Train Show & Sale
Vendors provided a huge variety of merchandise to show and select from. We had 18 vendors this year, and their 40 tables of goods were ample evidence that trains continue to fascinate and attract people of all ages.
See above for information about the 2008 Show & Sale.
New 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 recentlly 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 a busy tourist season, we’re putting out call for volunteers to greet visitors, introduce them to the new museum facilities, and help make sure that their visit is pleasant and memorable.
“The Museum is now open in its new home at 505 Nutt Street,” he said. “That means that we have great improvements for the enjoyment of visitors and members.”
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 new 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 new 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