Membership Meeting - 7pm - Tuesday, September 9, 2025
- By Zoom

Please note in your calendars that a new membership meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday evening at 7:00pm on September 9. This meeting is for members and volunteers and anyone who would like to become a member or volunteer.

It's that time of year again where we need to plan for our Holiday Show. So think about that ahead of time and come to the meeting with new and fresh ideas that will make our Museum unique and stand out from the rest. Please click on the Zoom link below to join the meeting:

Topic: Museum Zoom Meeting
Time: Sep 9, 2025 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7161954603?omn=83671897536

(A Board Meeting will be held immediately after the main meeting)

Train Song of the Month
Presented by Frank Reed

Mystery Train
Junior Parker (1953)

https://youtu.be/7KbjWK6kTQg?si=YUSSE3sdPze7kmjI

Other notable versions:

Elvis Presley (1955)
The Band w/ Paul Butterfield  (1976) as part of the Last Waltz concert.

https://youtu.be/iDYXgX9qMsc
"Mystery Train " is a song written and recorded by American blues musician Junior Parker in 1953. Originally performed in the style of a Memphis blues or rhythm and blues tune, it was inspired by earlier songs and later became a popular rockabilly song, as first covered by Elvis Presley, then numerous others.  It was the first recording to make Elvis Presley a nationally known county music star.

Herman "Junior" Parker (March 27, 1932 – November 18, 1971), also known as Little Junior Parker, was an American blues singer and harmonica player. He is best remembered for his voice which has been described as "honeyed" and "velvet-smooth.

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 now that we will be able to maintain our space in MacArthur Mall at least until June of 2026. That gives us an extra six months to plan for our future. Our proposal for the Museum of Contemporary Art remains active. The Virginia Beach City Council hasn't acted on it yet. So we will continue our work in the space we have now at the Mall. We have another whole year to make our Museum better before we have to move, unless something changes before then. Stay tuned!      

New Science Projects at the Museum

One thing about the Museum: It is constantly changing. 

We now have a volcano / test-track layout with smoke and red firelight spewing from the top. This is not just a display. It also contains several ovals of track in O scale, HO scale and N scale to use as test tracks. If a customer wants to purchase a used locomotive or railcar, we can put it on the test track to be sure it runs well before they take it home.

We are currently working on an auto race track that should be completed soon. We have to put up some netting on each end of the display to prevent the cars from flying off the track onto the floor.

In another area we are racing trains which are activated by manually hand-cranked generators requiring no external power source. 

Our Museum Store is beginning to take shape and now includes locomotives - both DC and DCC, railcars, tracks, books and magazines, train sets, puzzles and other items. You'll have to stop by and see what we have. Remember that a percentage of every purchase beyond expenses goes back into the museum. We also have an online store at https://www.museum-store.org that has a much larger inventory including gifts for your favorite model railroaders. If the store doesn't have what you're looking for, we can order it for you.

Other science projects in the Museum include the construction of two large miniature ferris wheels, one that is six feet tall, a flying chair ride made with Connectix, and an airline flight control center and merry-go-round made with erector sets. https://youtu.be/RgI8TxkJ1z0

Our S.T.E.A.M. educational program is in full swing teaching children from K through 12 about how to use science and technology to build artistic model railroads and dioramas. Sign up here.

So if you think you've see everything at the Museum, think again and pay us another visit. And don't forget to buy a t-shirt.

Videos of the Month

How a Steam Locomotive Works (using Big Boy as an example)

Why Rails No Longer Need Expansion Joints

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.

Volunteer

STORE

(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 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.

What's Happening with MOCA?

In case you haven't heard, the Museum of Contemporary Art at 2200 Parks Avenue near the beach is moving to a new building at Virginia Wesleyan. It will become vacant within the next few months. So, we at the Model Railroad Museum of Hampton Roads are putting in a serious proposal to the City of Virginia Beach to develop a space for model railroading and other cultural arts within the building. We're in the very early stages of this right now, but we're excited about the possibility and are hoping for the best. Wish us luck!

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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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