Museum is Now Temporarily Closed

As expected, the Model Railroad Museum is now temporarily closed. We are required to remove all of our layouts and other equipment by June 27th. Since we do not yet have a new location, everything will be moved into storage until we can find a place in which to re-establish. We are actively looking for a suitable place within the Tidewater area. We are hoping to find something around 6,000 to 12,000 sq. ft. with temperature control and that would be available within the next few months. It would be nice to be able to get set up again before the Holidays so we could provide another Holiday Show, our third, but that certainly cannot be guaranteed at this point. In the meantime we will be planning to come back with a spectacular new beginning even better than before.

We intend to continue with a small store selling model railroad items of all gauges over the summer and beyond. And we will continue to accept train donations that the community has been so gracious to provide since we originally opened. Many of these items will be used for display on the layouts. Some will be sold in the store. Revenue from these funds will be kept in escrow until we can get started again when they will be used exclusively for operation of the museum.

Monetary donations are also humbly accepted with immense gratitude. All of these donations are and have been life-savers for the museum. All are tax deductible as charitable gifts since we are registered with the IRS as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

Some of you may wish to consider volunteering with us. We definitely will need more people-power in the new location in order to stay open more hours than we have been previously. If you are interested, please sign up on the Volunteer Page on the website, or call 757-816-8399.

Some folks have requested that we purchase their used train items. Unfortunately, we currently do this only in very rare or under special circumstances. There are other companies who DO buy used trains and parts, but we are not able to do that at this time. 

Train Song of the Month

By Frank Reed

Railroad Blues

by Cow Cow Davenport

https://youtu.be/i5lIgsOUVTs?si=pzqREFbXlfWpEq5q

Cow Cow Davenport recorded Railroad Blues in 1938 which was released as a 78 rpm record by Decca Records (backed with I Ain’t No Ice Man).
He had accompanied Dora Carr on a similar version called Cow Cow Blues in 1925 for OKeh records and a piano only version (also titled Cow Cow Blues) under his name in 1928 for Vocalion records.

Charles Edward "Cow Cow" Davenport (April 23, 1894 – December 3, 1955) was an American boogie-woogie and blues piano player as well as a vaudeville entertainer. He also played the organ and sang.  His business card claimed he was “The Man that Gave America Boogie Woogie.”
The nickname “Cow Cow” reportedly is derived from the cow catcher on a locomotive.

The route mentioned in the lyrics corresponds to the Queen and Crescent Limited, a named passenger train operated by the Southern Railway. It was operated over a historic route that had been established in the late 1800s called the Queen and Crescent route which referred to Cincinnati as the "Queen City" and New Orleans as the "Crescent City".

The train began service in 1926 and it was never a financial success. The Southern Railway operated the Queen and Crescent Limited from Cincinnati, Ohio to New Orleans, Louisiana via Lexington Kentucky,  Chattanooga Tennessee, Birmingham Alabama, and Meridian Mississippi.  The new train carried both coaches and Pullman-sleepers and a dining car. Its road numbers on the Southern Railway were #43 (southbound) and #44 (northbound).

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

The Art of Model Railroading

Is Model Railroading a Form of Art?

Model railroading can be considered a form of art because it combines creativity, craftsmanship, and personal expression. While it is often viewed as a hobby focused on trains and engineering, many model railroaders go beyond technical construction to create detailed miniature worlds that reflect their imagination and artistic vision.

Like painters or sculptors, model railroaders make decisions about composition, color, perspective, and storytelling. They design landscapes, buildings, and scenes that evoke particular places, historical periods, or moods. A well-crafted layout can capture the beauty of nature, the character of a town, or the excitement of a busy railway, creating an emotional response in viewers.

In addition, model railroading requires a high level of skill and attention to detail. Techniques such as weathering, scenery building, and custom structure design are similar to methods used in other visual arts. The finished layout is often a unique creation that reflects the personality and interests of its builder.

However, some people argue that model railroading is primarily a technical hobby because it involves engineering, electronics, and mechanical operation. While these elements are important, they do not exclude artistic value. Many recognized art forms, including architecture and industrial design, also combine technical and artistic aspects.

So, model railroading is more than a pastime or engineering project. Through creativity, visual design, and personal expression, it can be regarded as a genuine form of art.

Choo Choo Vision

One of the great ways to enjoy model railroading is through video photography. The best video camera that I know of to use for this is sold through a company called Choo Choo Vision. The kit consists of a small camera with a rechargeable battery that you can mount on the front or the top of a locomotive and capture the engineer's view from the cab as your train is riding along through your layout. The image is projected through the internet to whatever device you want to use. It could be projected to a computer, an iphone or ipad (IOS or Android) 3000 miles away as long as you have a good internet system. You can also record the video for replay later with family, friends or with your club members.

You can use it just to show off your scenery and impeccable trackwork, or you can use it to find flaws or things you need to fix. 

You could also hide the camera in one of your buildings at trackside to catch the action at a particularly busy junction or switching yard. Another great place to use it is as a monitor for your hidden staging yard.

Check out the website to get more ideas for how you can use this little miracle.

https://www.choochoovision.com/

Train Shows

If you will be traveling this summer, you might want to check to see if there are any train shows in the area where you're headed, or along the way. Take enough time during your traveling to be able to spend a few hours shopping around. Trust me, this will enhance your trip 10 fold. Here is a Train Show Calendar you can use for a reference...

https://trainshows.net/calendar/

Also check out the page on this site listing Local and Regional Train Destinations.

Volunteer

We are proud to be members of the following organizations:

The Virginia Association of Museums

The Train Collectors Association

Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce

Hobby Manufacturers Association

National Railroad Historical Society

(Endorsed advertisement)

Welcome to

New Tracks Modeling!

New Tracks Modeling is an exciting digital opportunity to obtain mentoring to help you improve your modeling.  You will meet talented modelers and manufacturers from all over the world who will share their model building expertise and artistic advice.  New Tracks Modeling is open to all modelers of all skill levels in any scale or gauge.

Our Shows are live every Wednesday evening at 7pm Eastern/4pm Western on Zoom and YouTube. By subscribing to our website newtracksmodeling.com you’ll receive email notices containing links to both the Zoom and YouTube presentations.

New Tracks Modeling Mentoring Scholarship

Your donation will help to provide scholarships for model railroaders who are HS graduates and continuing their education in a STEAM field.Your generosity is greatly appreciated!

To donate click on this link.

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/038439bf-a552-44e2-9b46-ef54aaa0e274

We Are Open for Group Tours

If you have a school group, senior group, church group, assisted living residents, 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.

Model Railroader's Guide to Steam Engines

🚂 Model Railroader's Guide: “Modeling 1940s–1950s Steam: HO & N Scale Guide”

If you want to recreate the golden age of steam on your layout, here’s how to match locomotive types to HO and N scale models—with practical tips.

🚛 Freight Locomotives:

Mikado (2-8-2)

Berkshire (2-8-4)

Santa Fe (2-10-2)

🚆 Passenger Locomotives:

Pacific (4-6-2)

Hudson (4-6-4) ⛰️

Heavy Power: Articulated (2-6-6-2, 2-8-8-2, etc.)

🏭 Yard Operations:

Switchers (0-6-0, 0-8-0)

🧩 Layout Planning Tips:

🎯 Beginner Setup Recommendation:

If starting fresh:

• 1 Mikado (freight)
• 1 Pacific (passenger)
• 1 switcher (yard)

👉 This gives you a complete, realistic operating railroad.

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The Birth of Virginia Beach

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... 

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