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Posted on 1/22/2011, 2:30:00 PM by Las Vegas Dave
The year 2011 may be remembered as the beginning of what could become a major tourist attraction for the city of Mentor.
The Western Reserve Model Railroad Museum is up and running in its new home, the former Tow Motor Plant on Justin Way.
They claim to have the largest model train display in the entire world. There are literally thousands of miniature train cars representing every size imaginable from tiny “Z” gauge to the giant “G” gauge Garden Scale. The trains circle, start and stop on a layout that covers over 19,000 square feet. And admission is free. According to the curator Rick Montgomery, the trains are just the tip of the iceberg. The museum also owns real, full-size railroad cars, including one that was once used by former U. S. President Dwight Eisenhower. “We also have 80 acres adjacent to the museum,” Montgomery said. “That’s plenty of room to grow even larger.”
The hope is to eventually raise the funds to bring all of the museum’s rolling stock to the sprawling property that was once the Tow Motor Plant along U. S. Route 2. In the meantime, more and more rail fans are discovering the miniature train collection. Immediate plans are to increase the model rail displays, enlarge the cafe and gift shop, and include a faux cobblestone street through the museum with storefronts that represent some of the major contributors and sponsors.
The Western Reserve Model Railroad Museum is an all-volunteer organization that continues to operate with grants, gifts and donations. It began operations six years ago in a 4,000 square-foot area in another nearby former industrial setting. The museum steadily grew in size and moved to the larger empty Tow Motor location last year.
Montgomery admits that it is still a work in progress, but right now visitors can see hundreds of model trains, including a single coal train pulling more than 100 coal cars whistling and rolling through a working amusement park, steel plants, and replicas of small railroad towns. This is all in Lilliputian-scale with mountains and rivers. There is also a kiddy train large enough for both kids and adults to ride.
In addition there is a 30,000 square-foot convention center in the complex operated by the Model Train Museum, which attracts various trade shows throughout the year.
The museum is open Saturday through Thursday. It’s located at 7230 Justin Way in Mentor and can be reached at (440) 251-0350. Visit www.wrmrrm.org. Admission to the museum is free but they do accept donations.
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And 0bama could become a patriotic American.
So Mentor now has another tourist attraction. I visited Mentor last August to see President James Garfield’s home.
Here’s a link to their website for some enlargeable high-res pics of the layouts.
That’s not terribly far from where Willie lives.
Yeppir, I’m pretty sure the venture capitalists are going to jump on this opportunity. It’s a vanity business that even if fully capitalized, would have a lot of trouble even recovering daily operational costs.
OTOH, it’s a local article, and the goal is to give free advertising to spur local businesses and boost tourism, so it’s not going to say, “guy with too much spare time builds big model railroad; expects other people to pay to watch him play with it.”
Bookmark
It doesn’t look as large as Flemington NJ
Why aren’t there any railroad ping lists?
Please add me to your railroad ping list!
Lots of people, young and old, love model trains. If it makes them and their kids happy to visit this place and see these incredible layouts, who cares about all that other stuff about his alleged personal motives.
Every ten year old boy’s dream basement.
Are those Hot Wheel cars in that last photo?
Are those Hot Wheel cars in that last photo?
You are correct, no railroad ping list that I can see.
PING LIST MASTER: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1811878/posts?page=306#306
Monday evening at 6PM EST on http://www.rfdtv.com/ (I watch on DISH), Trains and Locomotives. It a neat show with few commercials.
For this Monday 1/24,2011
6:00 PM Trains & Locomotives
“The Magnificent GG-1: The World’s Most Famous Electric Locomotive.”
I wish them luck but for me “Roadside America” in Shartlesville Pa. will always be the King of model railroads.
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