The Twin City Model Railroad Museum is a railroad museum in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States, which has a large display of model railroads. The museum has had a home in Saint Paul since 1934, where it first started as a club. In later years the museum established a home in the Saint Paul Union Depot, and later in Bandana Square. On October 16, 2015, the museum announced that it was looking for a new home. The museum subsequently announced it would be moving to a new location in spring of 2016. The museum reopened on May 17, 2016, in their new location at 668 Transfer Road, Suite 8. The new location is just south of the former Amtrak Midway Depot along the Minnesota Commercial railyard.The Twin City Model Railroad Museum, founded in 1934, is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) Minnesota non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring and educating guests while preserving the history, art, and technological legacy of toy trains and model railroading, emphasizing the regional importance of railroads. Though having moved several times in its history, it has always been housed in St. Paul (Ramsey County), MN, since its inception. Its current location is 668 Transfer Road in Saint Paul and on the web at tcmrm.org.The Museum consists of over 11,000 square feet of interactive layouts and displays including a 30’ x 50’ world-class O-scale model train layout of the Twin City area. In addition, there is a a 30’ x 16’ professionally-built toy train layout of the Twin City area as well as other layouts depicting various scales, manufacturers, historical eras, and modeling methodologies. In addition to the layouts, the Museum houses railroad artwork, artifacts, and equipment collected from the local railroads that once operated in the area. Exhibits are designed for interaction with guests of all ages, from toddlers to the “more experienced.” One of the most important assets of the Museum is its corps of volunteers dedicated to preserving, propagating, and improving the hobby of toy and model trains. From on-site “Train Doctors” that can assist and diagnose maintenance, restoration, and repair issues for guests to current and former railroad employees, the museum volunteers are there to answer questions, provide model railroading advice, and listen to (and tell) stories related to railroading and the model railroad hobby. The Museum’s major seasonal event is ‘Night Trains.’ Every Saturday night, from November through February, the house lights are dimmed and the layouts come alive in their own magical way. Layout buildings and streetlights glow warmly, setting the scene for specially-lighted models of vintage model and toy trains. On the scale-layout, the town of Mattlin is buried in a blizzard. All the exhibits are accented with miniature Christmas lights and decorations. Returning each year is the spectacular Christmas Model Train. The engine and cars are each covered in hundreds of lights wishing everyone the happiest of holidays. It is something that should not be missed. The Museum also hosts a Hobby Show & Sale at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds every April and September. Throughout the year, additional special events focus on seasonal holiday and railroad related themes such as Circus Trains, Halloween Trains, Military Trains, and local railroad roadname (e.g., Great Northern) days.
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Google map-https://goo.gl/maps/WcmdL4QuW9V69J5KA
Address: 120 South 6th Street, Suite 1600, Minneapolis, MN 55402
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