Model Railroad Museum | Balboa Park

The San Diego Model Railroad Museum features interactive toy trains, Lionel-style electric trains and a 20-scale mile long rail crossing of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Plus, this museum is the only accredited railroad museum in the entire United States. It is the largest permanent operating model railroad exhibit in North America with 27,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space.

Always expanding and always under construction are new exhibits that are created by local railroad clubs. Currently you can watch the construction of the Tehachapi Loop model by the La Mesa Model Railroad Club.

Also fascinating is the Toy Train Gallery, which is home to an impressive exhibit of an imaginary town with multiple train lines. The town changes with the seasons; look for autumn colors in the fall and Christmas lights in the Balboa Park 195 winter. Kids can even operate some of the trains with the push of a button!

Make sure not to miss a visit to the gift shop, which is filled with a fabulous array of railroad memorabilia for the railroad lover in your life. Their selection of vintage railroad posters is especially noteworthy. And if you are a history buff, their Erwin Welsch Research Library is a must.

The museum and gift shop are open Tues.–Fri., 11 a.m.–4 p.m. and Sat.–Sun. till 5 p.m. Admission is ($7) for adults, ($6) for seniors 65 and older, ($3) for students with ID, ($2.50) for active military with ID, and free for children 15 years and under. Admission includes access to their railroad history library.

Big attractions here are their themed birthday parties and special events for kids of all ages. Contact Ana Parra (619-696 -0199).

San Diego & Arizona Eastern	Tehachapi Pass	Cabrillo & Southwestern