San Diego Model Railroad Museum

Open since 1982, the San Diego Model Railroad Museum is the world's largest operating museum of its kind and the only accredited railroad-themed museum in the United States.

The museum has four large scale Southwest railroad layouts on display. Each layout is constructed by a team of club members who volunteer their time to create these works of art—each club team has more than 300 members. There is also a toy train gallery for children to explore. The museum operates with a mission to preserve the heritage of railroading and educating the public by sharing miniature representations of California railroads.

The Tehachapi Pass display reflects the 70 miles of railroad between Bakersfield and the Mojave Desert. The La Mesa Model Railroad Club has built an impressive HO scale model complete with a Southern Pacific Santa Fe line at 1/87th the actual size. The mountain scenery and sharp curves of this track reflect a realistic rugged terrain that depicts impeccable accuracy to the real railroad.

In contrast, the San Diego and Arizona Eastern display offers a glimpse of a southern California and desert region track—complete with a 10-foot-high model of the Carriso Gorge and the Goat canyon trestle. Then, the Pacific Desert Lines display features an N scale 1/160th model of the east San Diego railroad. This display includes a model of San Diego’s Sante Fe depot, Carlsbad power plant and a beach scene complete with surfers. The attention to details, no matter how small is amazing. If you look closely, you’ll see building with complete interior décor right down to the napkin dispensers and placemats in the corner café.

In the Toy Train Gallery, you’ll find a collection of rare Lionel and American Flyer cars from the 1920s through the 1950s. The display of realistic scenery, engine sounds, horns, lights and smoke are a thrill for children to see. There is a coal mine and coal train that children can operate by pushing trigger buttons.  For even more kid friendly fun, sign them up for summer camp at the Model Railroad Museum. There, kids ages 1-8 grade can explore the museum and have fun with arts, crafts and stories of railroad heroes. Campers will also get a chance to build models of the first steel rails across the Sierra Nevada’s.

No visit to the San Diego Model Railroad Museum would be complete without a visit to the gift shop where you’ll find many railroad themed gifts including toys, books, clothing, jewelry, art and collectibles. If you have a little railroad fan in the family, celebrate his birthday in the special railroad themed room.

HelloSanDiego Tip: The San Diego Model Railroad Museum is located in Balboa Park—a large cultural events park near downtown San Diego. Other fun attractions in that area include the San Diego Zoo, The Old Globe Theatre and the San Diego Museum of Man.

- by Jennifer Pruett, San Diego Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Jennifer Pruett

A self proclaimed “queen of everything," Jennifer is a writer, planner and passionate lover of making exciting events extra special. As a creative mother of two she loves art, music, family, friends, exotic cuisine and exploring new areas of self improvement. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in liberal studies from the University of Oklahoma and has been writing restaurant and attraction reviews in the Phoenix Metro area since January, 2009.