Mar 15, 2023

Model Railroad Museum of Hampton Roads Newsletter

This is the official newsletter of the Model Railroad Museum of Hampton Roads to provide news and updates for our visitors, and any other interested parties.

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Mar 14, 2023

Model Railroad Scales

This page describes the most common model railroad scales and how they compare to each other.

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Feb 28, 2023

CSX in Virginia

This is a brief history of the CSX Railroad in Virginia and Hampton Roads specifically.

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Feb 19, 2023

Railroads on the Eastern Shore

This page describes the history of railroads on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

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Feb 19, 2023

Railroad History in Hampton Roads

Here is a description of the history of railroads in the Hampton Roads area.

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Feb 19, 2023

Railroads in Virginia

Here is a summary of the railroads currently operating in Virginia.

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Feb 19, 2023

History of Railroads in Virginia

Here is a brief history of railroads in Virginia.

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Feb 09, 2023

Benefits of Having a Model Railroad Museum in Your Community

Having a model railroad museum in a community can provide a number of benefits for both the community and its residents. Here are some of the key benefits:

Educational: Model railroad museums can serve as educational resources for both adults and children, teaching them about trains, railroading, and history. Exhibits can showcase the evolution of trains, different types of rolling stock, and the various roles trains have played in different cultures and communities.

Cultural: Model railroad museums can also provide a sense of cultural enrichment, showcasing the art and creativity that goes into model railroading. By highlighting the work of local model railroaders, museums can help to celebrate the unique character and history of a community.

Economic: Model railroad museums can also have a positive impact on the local economy. By attracting tourists and visitors to the community, museums can support local businesses and create job opportunities.

Social: Model railroad museums can also serve as a social hub for the community, providing a place for people to gather and connect with each other. Whether it's a group of model railroaders or a family looking for a fun and educational outing, museums can help to build a sense of community and bring people together.

Preservation: Finally, model railroad museums can help to preserve the history and heritage of trains and railroading. By collecting and displaying artifacts, equipment, and models, museums can help to ensure that this important aspect of our history is not lost to future generations.

In conclusion, having a model railroad museum in a community can provide numerous benefits, from education and cultural enrichment to economic and social benefits. By showcasing the art, creativity, and history of trains and railroading, museums can play an important role in helping to build and sustain vibrant communities.

Feb 04, 2023

History of Model Railroading

A brief history of the hobby of model railroading

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Feb 03, 2023

Finding a Location

We are continuing to work hard on locating a suitable building. Our main criteria include:

Space: 15 - 30,000 square feet so we will have plenty of room for a lobby, 2-3 classrooms, a video room, and 8-10 layouts in different scales.

Area: Close to Interstate. Any well-populated area in Southside Hampton Roads.

Reasonable rental rates and/or owner gets a percentage of ticket sales.

Let us know if you see a place that might be a good fit.

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Feb 03, 2023

Why is Model Railroading So Popular in America?

Model railroading has been a popular hobby in America for over a century. There are several reasons why it continues to captivate so many people and remains popular today.

Nostalgia: Model railroading often brings back memories of childhood for many people. The hobby can evoke feelings of nostalgia for a simpler time and a connection to a loved one who may have shared the hobby.

Attention to detail: Model railroading allows enthusiasts to focus on the small details and bring their own vision of a railway to life. From choosing the perfect locomotives and rolling stock to designing and building a layout, model railroading allows for creativity and attention to detail.

Sense of community: Model railroading is a social hobby, with many enthusiasts belonging to clubs or groups where they can share their love of the hobby with others. These communities provide a supportive environment for hobbyists to exchange ideas, learn new techniques, and share their layouts and collections.

Relaxation: For many people, model railroading is a relaxing and meditative hobby. It provides an escape from the demands of daily life and allows them to focus on something creative and fulfilling.

Versatility: Model railroading is a versatile hobby that can be tailored to the interests and abilities of the individual. From large, elaborate layouts to small tabletop setups, model railroading can be adapted to suit any space or budget.

In conclusion, model railroading is a popular hobby in America because of its connection to nostalgia, attention to detail, sense of community, relaxation, and versatility. Whether it's for fun, relaxation, or to fulfill a lifelong dream, model railroading offers something for everyone.

Jan 03, 2023

Happy New Year!

To All Who Relish the Art, Science and History of Railroads:

Happy New Year to all of our friends and supporters!

We have worked hard over the past two years and succeeded in bringing our new organization along nearly to the point of implementation.Our accomplishments to date include:

1. We have a completed business plan and bylaws.

2. We have obtained non-profit 501(c)3 status as a charitable, educational corporation in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

3. We have developed connections with the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce and with several of the cities in the South Hampton Roads area, all of whom have been interested in our project.

4. Our financial structure has been created including our proposed budget over the next three years.

5. We have set up a building and development donation fund through our website at the following link:

Donations

What's Next?

Our next steps this year will involve:

1. Marketing.

2. Further discussions with local model railroading groups.

3. Applications for available grants, sponsorships and other potential funding organizations.

4. Acquisition of a location.Once we acquire adequate capital funding, the location and the layout building will begin.

Depending on the level of funding we receive, the size and space of our location may be limited at first. We intend to expand over time to as much as 40-50 thousand square feet dedicated to the art and science of model railroading.

We will be strongly focused on using STEAM educational goals (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) that will be helpful to students of all ages (6-100). History will also be a major focus of our efforts using a variety of museum displays, artifacts, and videos.

Some of the layouts will be build by expert model railroad hobbyists and engineers. At least one or more of the layouts will be built by high school or college students who wish to participate in the projects. We will also have elementary school tours. At least one exhibit will allow children to run trains themselves.

So, as you can see, this is a very exciting project. Once we get the location and start building layouts, we will be open to the public so you can see how these displays will be developed. We can start some of the educational classes and clinics almost right away.The current projection for the grand opening of the Museum is in the summer of 2024, but that may change depending on funding and financing issues.

If you are interested in being a volunteer for the Museum or providing a donation, please let us know at mrmhr@mrmhr.org.

Thank you for reading our newsletter. We will continue to provide more information and updates as time goes on.

Best wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year to you and your family!

Nov 24, 2022

Happy Thanksgiving!

THANK YOU for following our progress as we continue to move forward in our endeavor to create a new, exciting and entertaining venue for learning about science and history in Hampton Roads and Virginia. We are exploring several potential locations and will let you know when we have one. In the meantime, enjoy the Holiday and look forward to the day when we can open the door to a new world of trains in our area!

Nov 02, 2022

Cooperation and Advocacy

We are now working with the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce to find a suitable location within the Southside Hampton roads area. We have also been involved in direct discussions with the Mayors of Chesapeake and Virginia Beach both of whom have expressed interest in our project. In addition, we have been communicating with the Public Works Departments of each of the Southside cities, commercial real estate agencies as well as all the various model railroad clubs in the area. We will continue to provide updates as we move forward.

Sep 04, 2022

Model Railroad Museum of Hampton Road Services

This page describes the services provided by the Model Railroad Museum of Hampton Roads.

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