Making Tracks 
August 2025

STEAM Program

Our STEAM Program is well under way! There were nine participants in the STEAM session held on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, which was described as a "roaring success." Part 1 of the session included placing two roads, the roadbed and 18" of HO track. Then the kids selected structures for their module. Next month they will secure their structures and add any additional roads, scenic materials, trees, rocks and other accessories. The session ended with about 30 minutes of playing time with Brio wooden trains. The kids enjoyed seeing all the different track arrangements they could make! Photos were taken and will be available later. It was a great learning session and lot of fun for all, including the instructors.

We plan to have the modules completed and on display in September.

Train Song of the Month
Presented by Frank Reed

Love in Vain
Robert Johnson (1937)

https://youtu.be/07T3h0b93Rg?si=vbaoJaNO7ssiyz8X

Other notable versions:
Rolling Stones (1969); also on the live album Stripped in (1995)
Eric Clapton  (2004) on the CD Me and Mr. Johnson

"Love in Vain" (originally "Love in Vain Blues") is a blues song written by American musician Robert Johnson. He recorded the song in 1937 during his last recording session and in 1939 it was issued as the last of his original 78 RPM records.

Robert Leroy Johnson (May 8, 1911 – August 16, 1938) was an American blues musician and songwriter born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi .  His singing, guitar playing and songwriting on his landmark 1936 and 1937 recordings have influenced later generations of musicians.  41 songs were recorded in two sessions in Dallas and San Antonio, Texas for the American Record Company (ARC) during 1936 and 1937. The Complete Recordings , released August 28, 1990, by Columbia Records, contains every recording Johnson is known to have made, except an alternate take of "Traveling Riverside Blues".

For more “train songs” check out the “Train Songs for Model Railroad ” YouTube playlist at

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL07n2-n5FoRHYzhKfA--soywuLOFvEv1l&si=IODFaTIeOe7OBQ7G

MacArthur Center

It appears that our Museum will have to move at the end of this year or shortly thereafter. The City has other plans for the Mall. Rest assured however that we will still be somewhere close by. With any luck, we might be able to move into the MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) at that time, but there are no guarantees of that. If you would like to see us  continue our work in that building please call or send a letter to your Councilman or Councilwoman and let them know.  Thank you for your support!

We Are Open for Group Tours

If you have a school group, senior group, church group, assisted living patients, etc. that you would like to get out to explore the world of model trains, let us know. We'd be happy to schedule a group tour for you anytime at no cost. To make the arrangements, call 757-816-8399, or 757-904-1379.

The Birth of Virginia Beach

Hist-VB

We have created and published a new historical document on the Birth of Virginia Beach. This has been written by our historian Warren Leister after researching the era and the people involved for several years. Excepts have been published here in our newsletter previously, but the information is now available all together in a 99 page document that you can purchase in our store. It factually explores the events, the dedicated people and the interesting culture in which they lived. Pick up your copy today!

Trains on Vacation

I had the opportunity to go on a Viking river cruise on the Danube recently. A train show was not on their recommended list for excursions when we stopped in Prague. However, I researched the area online and luckily found a very large 37,000 sq.ft. model railroad museum there, touted to be the largest in Central Europe. I asked the concierge service at the hotel where we were staying to arrange for transportation there which was only about 20 minutes away. Upon arrival, I was amazed at the size and depth of the landscaping, not to mention the number of details and original scenes. The majority of the layouts were in HO and N scale. The structures were architectural marvels simulating the building style in the area and included many lighted castles, cathedrals, bridges, and thousands of village houses. Multiple trains ran flawlessly the entire 2-3 hours that I was there. The roads contained actual moving cars and trucks with working headlights and taillights. Streetlights were everywhere. The name of the place was Railway Kingdom, which I thought was very appropriate. Here are a few pictures. If you are ever in the area, make sure you pay a visit. Wherever you may travel, consider researching the area as I did and perhaps you will find something of interest related to model railroads.

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Videos of the Month: How to Lay Tracks and Turnouts for your Model Railroad

Thank you!

Thanks for reading our newsletter and for visiting our website. If you haven't seen our Museum yet, please stop by from 12-6 on any Friday, Saturday or Sunday to see what we're working on. We love seeing and talking to our visitors. We're on the second floor of MacArthur Mall in Norfolk, VA. If you have any questions, call 757-816-8399. Hope to see you soon.

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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.

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