Model Railroad Museum
of Hampton Roads

What's Happening at the Museum?

The Museum is actively under development. We are working hard to create an exciting experience in model railroading for you.

Hours of Operation
We will remain open to the public on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, from 12-6 PM, so you can watch while the Museum is being developed. We will continue to have trains running on several different layouts. Admission is free.

Museum Store
The Museum Store is now open. We currently have brand items like T-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, mugs and water bottles. We are current stocking shelves with pre-owned N scale railcars and locomotives, which we can test before you buy. A book written by our own historian Warren Leister on The Birth of Virginia Beach is also for sale. We are slowly adding more items. We can order almost any model railroad gear, scenery or train set in any gauge that you want. All proceeds over expenses go back into the Museum. So every purchase you make helps to support our mission to bring model railroading to the public where it can be enjoyed by everyone.

S.T.E.A.M.
Our S.T.E.A.M. Program will be starting soon. We will be contacting all those who have signed up for it to begin attending classes in the near future.

More pictures of the Museum:

Carl Lunde's water feature on his layout at the Museum. The water is real and the mill wheel spins!

Greg Warth's N scale layout - 40 feet long

Don’t miss out on observing the changes in the Model Railroad Museum. We can’t wait to show you. Something new and different every week. Stay tuned for more details and special events! Bring your family.

Making Progress! Come by and watch while we build layouts!

Our Mission: Community, Education, Service, Entertainment, Fun

The Model Railroad Museum of Hampton Roads is a non-profit organization [501(c)(3)] born out of a group of highly dedicated model railroaders who wish to display their art and science to the public and provide education regarding the hobby and the history of railroads in the Hampton Roads area and beyond. This will be a charitable and educational organization for the enjoyment and benefit of local residents as well as for tourists who are visiting the area.

Railtown, USA on the Blue Ridge & Southern Model Railroad in Virginia Beach.

Model Railroad Museum: Concept

The basic idea in the beginning was to have a central location in the Hampton Roads area where multiple model railroads of all common scales will be built, maintained and displayed by volunteer local model railroaders. We created a nonprofit organization registered as tax-exempt by the State Corporation Commission and the IRS. It took three years of planning, but finally our persistence and determination paid off. Donors began to step up, one in particular, to provide enough funds for us to get started. We are grateful to all of those people who provided both cash and "trains from the attic" to help us out. MacArthur Mall provided us with the space and advertising at a considerable discount. The wife of the late Jim MacLemore donated all of her husband's fantastic O scale models, which he lovingly created out of sticks, plaster and pieces of plastic.

Some of the railroads are available to be run and operated by visitors and some will be for display only. We have invited all local model railroad groups to participate in the project. In addition, the invitation will be extended to local high schools and colleges for student groups who may wish to join and build their own railroad(s).

Dieter Steinhoff's Fantastic G Scale RR in Virginia Beach.

Education in the Model Railroad Museum

In addition to the model railroad museum displays, we have a library dedicated to railroading, including books, magazines, and DVDs. We have a large classroom dedicated to teaching where students can build their own model railroads, supervised by one or more of our instructors. This includes a video area where people can watch educational displays and even train movies. Free school tours are provided every Wednesday. All children under 18 will require adult supervision.

The education provided will follow the S.T.E.A.M. concept which uses the various disciplines involved in model railroading to teach Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics. We are following the program developed at the University of Illinois with their permission.

• Science includes learning about concepts in physics, architecture, electricity, photography, chemistry, 3D printing, laser cutting, computer science, and more.
• Technology in model railroading is an ever-expanding discipline, especially in the area of electronics, automation, creating circuit boards, Arduino projects, using relay switches, capacitors, lighting, wiring, soldering, interfacing computer programming with train control, touch controls, wireless technology, communication devices, etc.
• Engineering - This includes civil, electrical, architectural engineering concepts, building sound architectural structures and bridges from scratch, creating electrical circuitry, woodworking, metal working, etc.
• Art - Blending science and art is the hallmark of model railroading and includes sculpting, creating beautiful three dimensional landscapes, simulating natural scenes of forests, trees, cityscapes, painting backdrops, learning to use an airbrush, learning how to create something out of almost nothing, learning the art of photography, creating scenes and structures from pieces of plastic or wood.
• Mathematics - Calculations are required to determine elevations and inclines, physics and electronic formulas, mixing of chemicals, dilutions, manipulating spreadsheets, keeping track of finances, scale calculations, calculating the proper weights for railcars, and so on.

Lots of other educational benefits include learning about history, industry, how businesses operate, how railroads operate, production and transportation of goods and services along with supply-and-demand economics.

Dieter's RR

Other Benefits to the Community

The Model Railroad Museum provides multiple other benefits to the community including, but not limited to, the following:

• Family fun and enjoyment
• Programs for disabled veterans
• Programs for children with special needs
• Traveling exhibits - Taking trains on the road to visit libraries, schools, churches, nursing facilities and other locations
• Hosting multiple train shows every year
• Holiday displays
• Tourist attraction for the city
• Improve traffic to local and neighboring businesses
• All volunteer staff - model railroaders giving their time and effort to support the community and their neighbors.

Plan and Implementation

The plans for this all-volunteer, non-profit 501(c)(3) model railroad museum have been three years in the making, and have been carefully drafted, completed and approved by the Founding Committee. The Model Railroad Museum of Hampton Roads is now incorporated in the Commonwealth of Virginia. We are located in the MacArthur Center in Norfolk on the second floor, Suite #231, right below the Regal Cinema.

If you have any questions or interest in this project, please send an email to secretary@mrmhr.org, or call 757-816-8399.

Dieter's RR

Some images on these pages have been taken at the Museum. Others are depicting samples of other model railroads, but this type of modeling is what you can expect to see at the Museum. We are constantly working on it. Things are changing almost every day.

As a totally non-profit 501(c)3 organization, we really need the support of the community to make this work. Please consider the fun and family entertainment of having a Museum like this in our community, not to mention the educational benefits. With all the difficulties we all face in the world every day, we need fun things to do. We owe it to ourselves to develop these opportunities especially for our children, who will remember these experiences forever. 

This site was last updated on June 14, 2025.

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Recent Articles

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1. Making-Tracks-July-2025

   Jul 08, 25 09:50 AM

   
   Making Tracks is the official newsletter for the Model Railroad Museum of Hampton Roads bringing you the latest updates and photos from the Museum.

   Read More

2. Model Railroad Museum of Hampton Roads Photo Gallery

   Jun 17, 25 08:49 AM

   
   Enjoy the gallery of photos submitted by the model railroaders of the Model Railroad Museum of Hampton Roads.

   Read More

3. Making Tracks June 2025

   Jun 13, 25 11:49 AM

   The official newsletter for the Model Railroad Museum of Hampton Roads.

   Read More

The Model Railroad Museum of Hampton Roads is a fantastic community center based on running, operating and even building your own model railroads! There's something for every age here.

Learn about the real history of this area and how important it was in the building of America. Watch how railroads were built, the people involved, where America's roots were formed. 

As they build their own railroads, students will be learning about science, electronics,  architecture, technology, engineering, mathematics, and the art of 3 dimensional model landscaping. They can earn rewards for completing projects and winning contests.

Try to solve yardmaster problems on a switching layout like getting the lumber from the forest to the furniture store, by way of the saw mill and the lumber yard.

Run your train around blockades and other trains to get to the station on time without speeding or crashing.

Play railroad monopoly using model railroads. Winner is the one who can collect the most cars into his yard within an hour.

There will be programs for autistic and special needs kids, disabled adults and veterans.

School tours. Holiday Shows. Library and video rooms.  Even youngsters will have their own wooden models to enjoy. There are classes and hands-on clinics for adults. Learn how to get started in the hobby. Or just enjoy the fun.

Everybody loves trains and this will prove it!  Just click on the either the blue DONATE button below to make it happen... 

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Blue Ridge & Southern Model RR

BR&S Model RR

BR&S Model RR

John Fallon's Model Railroad

Dieter's RR

BR&S Model Railroad