The USA is one of the best places to live or travel to as a model railway enthusiast. There are so many great locations you can visit!
Here are the 5 largest model railroads in the United States and everything you need to know about them.
1 – Northlandz Flemington New Jersey
The Northlandz Model Railroad in Flemington New Jersey holds the Guinness Book of World’s Records for being the World’s Largest Model railroad. This model railway was built in 1972 and has continued to grow ever since. The railway is home to 8 miles of track with over 100 trains running on it. It is set out in a canyon setting, with many bridges spanning great lengths of “canyon”. It is a very impressive model railway, which well deservedly holds the record for longest.
Watch this video of their amazing set up.
Ticket Price: $30 per person
Website: www.northlandz.com
2 – Pasadena Model Railroad Los Angeles
The Pasadena Model Railroad in Los Angeles California is one of the largest model railroads in the United States. They have an amazing 5000 square feet of HO scale model railway for you to marvel at and explore. This railroad was founded in 1940 and has recently gone on to celebrate its 80th anniversary. You know you are getting a great day out when visiting here. It takes over an hour for a train to run from one end to the other.
Watch this video of their amazing set up.
Ticket Price: Free, but a donation of $1-5 would be nice
Website: www.pmrrm.org
3 – The San Diego Model Railroad Museum
The San Diego Model Railroad Museum is located in San Diego, California. The railroad covers a huge amount of land with the claim that they have such a sprawling world of model trains there that it covers 27,000 square feet of land. This is a ginormous model railway, one you won’t regret visiting. The museum offers various outdoor and indoor exhibits, and it is especially welcoming for children, offering them plenty of things to do.
Watch this video of their amazing set up.
Ticket Price: $12.50
Website: www.sdmrm.org
4 – Jingle Rails Indianapolis
The Jingle Rails Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis, Indiana, is quite a unique model railway experience. This a Christmas holiday season-themed model railway for you to enjoy. The track boasts a large number of trestles, tunnels, and bridges. This track aims to replicate real-world monuments, so keep an eye out for Mount Rushmore, Hoover Dam, and the Grand Canyon. This museum has more to offer than just this railway though, including exhibitions on Western and Native American art and cultures. So be sure to check it out.
Watch this video of their amazing set up.
Ticket Price: $45
Website: eiteljorg.org
5 – Wilmington Railroad Museum
Wilmington Railroad Museum is based in Wilmington, North Carolina. The model railroad is home to over 20 trains, of 4 different scales. There is even a life-size steam train (over 100 years old!) that you will be able to step inside. This is a great one to bring the family to especially around Christmas time, as the whole railway becomes illuminated by a thousand Christmas lights. It is a great way to kick off the holiday season.
Watch this video of their amazing set up.
Ticket Price: $9.50
Website: www.wrrm.org
Let’s travel now!
No matter which side of the country you are on, you are sure to find something great when it comes to model railways. The whole of the United States is full of great museums of model railroads and thematic exhibitions for you to visit. These are just 5 of the largest. There is certainly one in your area, so be sure to let us know some details about it in the comments section below.
If you feel like travelling internationally, here are 10 of the largest model railroads in the world!
