Wilmington Railroad Museum

• Childrens Area
• Model Railroads
• Museum Displays
• Outdoor Rolling Stock
• Steam Engine Renovation

• A Brief History
• Historic Photographs
• The Legend of Joe Baldwin
• Architect Powell
• Excerpts From Early Newspapers

The Model Railroad Committee Maintains Three Operating Layouts

In the following series of pictures you will see some of the many aspects of the Museum's model railroads.  If these inspire you to investigate model railroading further we recommend a visit to the web site maintained by the National Model Railroad Association.  Their introduction to model railroading information page can be found at www.nmra.org/beginner/.

In the Children's Area there is a Lionel/O-Scale layout with five operating trains, including Thomas the Tank Engine

Thomas making his rounds.

An overview of the O Scale layout as it nears completion.

Several of our smaller visitors enjoying the Children's Play Area.
 

A view of the new HO operating layout  now under construction in the Model Hall, June 2007.

Work steadily progresses on the spectacular HO and N layout in our Model Hall.  With 1500 sq. ft. of floor space, the modelers are doing a great job building scenery and realistic structures.  Here are a few details about the layout, along with conversions to real-size equivalents, where applicable.

·         Layout area: 750 sq. ft.

·         Scenic highlight: Re-creation of ACL Wilmington freight terminal area and surrounding buildings

·         Length of dual mainline: 286 ft. (4.72 scale miles)

·         Total installed track: 1200 ft. (19.80 scale miles)

·         Viewing perimeter: 198 ft.

·         Volunteer time so far: over 8000 hours total and over 5500 hours on the moder railroads.

With countless details as buildings and scenery are developed, the layout is gradually taking shape (after all, we have several scale square miles to finish).   However, there already are six operating trains, and scenic features are well under way.

The start of the model of the Wilmington Train Station in 1950.

Modelers at work on the new HO layout

The engine service yard takes shape

At work on the control electronics in the Model Railroad Workroom.

The "Wilson" area of the HO layout in December, 2007.

Another view of the Wilson area as our modelers discuss where buildings should be placed.

A view of the branch line industries of the HO layout in December 2007.

The Smith Creek Yards on the HO layout in December 2007.

The start of the installation of Plexiglas shields in the yard area December 2007.

A view of the Wilmington Roundhouse and Turntable on the new HO Layout, January 2008