Making Tracks
January 2026

Happy New Year! The beginning of the year has been super successful for the Museum. We have had more visitors than ever. I hope you have been one of them.

We had another recent STEAM class with Solstice Hybrid Academy. The kids created their own dioramas with the theme "Winter Wonderland." Using their own creativity and imagination, they were able to develop some really nice scenes with a curved track running through a snow-covered tunnel with trees, logs, buildings, rocks, and even snowmen incorporated into the landscaping. They really did a great job! They also had great fun with the scavenger hunt and the wooden trains.

STEM Class- January 2026

We welcome school groups of all kinds as well as Scouts and 4H Clubs. Our goal is to promote the hobby to younger folks to replace us older relics to help move the hobby into the future. Based on the number of train shows available to visit in Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Maryland and other nearby states, and also based on the number of people who visit our Museum, I can attest that model railroading is alive and well at this point. The rumors of its demise are way premature.

More Museum Photos

trestle bridge
Canyon
Museum
Museum-2
Museum-3
Museum-5
Museum-6
Museum-7
Museum-8

Train Song of the Month

Guitar-tracks

By Frank Reed

Trains and Winter Rains
Enya  (2008)

https://youtu.be/cuDDPF6vE6Y?si=deQbiaRNwAGAvmCP

“Trains and Winter Rains" is a single by Irish musician Enya, the first to be released from her 2008 studio album And Winter Came …

Enya began her musical career in 1980 playing alongside her family's
Irish folk band, Clannad.  She left Clannad in 1982 to pursue a solo career, working with the former Clannad manager and producer, Nicky Ryan, and his wife Roma, as their lyricists.

Happy New Year!

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

New N Scale Project

We are adding on an extension to the N Scale Layout in the far left corner of the Museum. This has been somewhat challenging due to the fact that it drops down significantly from the main layout. The advantage is that smaller children will be able to see the trains better there. The disadvantage is the difficulty in raising the track to be able to connect the lower level to the upper level mainline. This extension also has a reversing section which makes the wiring a little more difficult, so we will be using a combination of Digitrax AR1 and AR2 circuits to get the job done.

We wanted to develop this and even work on it while visitors are coming in so they can see how the construction is done in various stages. First was building the benchwork for it. Then came the foam sheet construction. And now we have the wiring project going on.

N project-1
N-project-2

Museum Store

We have a small physical store in the Museum where we sell train sets, train shirts, t-shirts, hats, tracks, books and other model train-related items. We share this space with our partner, an online store, called the BYMRR (Building Your Model Railroad) Train Store for lack of a fancier title. Through the BYMRR store (https://BYMRR.Store), we can order almost anything our customers wish and have it delivered right to their door.

Another partnering website is a very comprehensive informational, tutorial site that teaches everything there is to know about how to build a model railroad layout, starting from basic design for the beginner up to advanced automation, lighting, sound and electronics (https://BYMRR.com).

Between the two of those websites we've got you covered, one sells the products you need and the other shows you how to use them!

Blast from the Past

It doesn't say what year this was printed, but it must be in the 50s or 60s. It's a blurry picture, but you will be amazed if you can see some of the prices. The locomotives at the top of the page went for anywhere from $10 - $25! Now the prices are usually between $150 and $400.

Prices of model trains in the past

Videos of the Month

Thanks for reading our newsletter. I hope you will have time to come by the Museum. We love having visitors and showing them around. Don't hesitate to ask questions. We're happy to talk to you. Our hours remain 12-6 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Links

You may be interested in the following links to learn more about model railroading...

tracks
Museum-logo-reverse
VIFL-logo

Share this site on your favorite Social Media page!

Recent Articles

RSS

  1. Making-Tracks-January-2026

    Jan 18, 26 06:45 PM

    STEM Class- January 2026
    Official newsletter of the Model Railroad Museum of Hampton roads

    Read More

  2. Making-Tracks-December-2025

    Dec 14, 25 06:23 AM

    Christmas-train-station
    The official newsletter for the Model Railroad Museum of Hampton Roads

    Read More

  3. Making-Tracks-November-2025

    Dec 12, 25 12:15 PM

    Train-pumpkins
    The official newsletter of the Model Railroad Museum of Hampton Roads

    Read More

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!

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... 

PayPal Giving Fund:

No Credit Card Fees

DONATE

OR...

Charitable Donations through PayPal,  Credit or Debit cards:

(Opt in or out of paying credit card fees)

Get Updates and Special Offers in 
the MRMHR Newsletter:
Making Tracks 
Sign Up Here...

The official newsletter for the Model Railroad Museum of Hampton Roads