Hours of Operation

April 1 - September 30
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
 
HOLIDAY CLOSURES
Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, Easter
 
Hours subject to change - please call 910-763-2634 for latest information.

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!

 

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/.

More photographs of our model railroad layout can be seen on "flickr".  Click on this URL to have a look -http://www.flickr.com/photos/47241512@N06/show/

In the Children's Area 

You will find our 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.

In the Model Hall

You will find the largest museum model train display in Southeastern North Carolina


A view of the new HO operating layout 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 and passenger terminal area and surrounding buildings as they were in the 1950s

·         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 18,000 hours total and over 15,000 hours on the model 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 twelve operating trains, and many 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



The new HO layout in September, 2007

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


Wilmington's Union Station with the Roundhouse in the background

The church at Third & Red Cross Streets in 1950 (now a gas station)

In late 2008 the addition of a rock quarry and  stone crusher

By mid 2009 a view of 3rd Street bridge over the freight rail cut

In late 2009 ACL building B was added across Front Street from the Union Station

A tobacco farm adjacent to the coal fired power plant

Three bridges crossing the river just below the N-scale farm

And the current project in early 2010 - the pine forest to supply the lumber industry