How about Northlandz(.com) on Flemington? I’ve never been there, they tell me it’s nice (sorry a little Joe Walsh there) The web site look impressive.
About Trainworks: There is an admission charge ($4 adults, $1 Kids, Senoirs $3), it is attached to a retail store. But it showcases his custom built layouts, which is the core business. The retail store is the only TRAIN dedicated store in North East Florida. I “work” there on Saturdays, just to get my fix. There is also a little Thomas table where the little ones can play.
Dennis, if you get that web site, I’d love to see it.
The Foley Alabama Railroad Museum is well worth a visit, and it’s on the way to the Alabama Gulf Coast beaches! The web site given in CTT doesn’t (wasn’t) working, but you can e-mail them at foleymuseum@gulftel.com or phone (251) 943-1818 for more information (or get in touch with me – I live nearby in Fairhope, AL).
The layout was donated to the City of Foley several years ago, and members of the informal “Caboose Club” went to Montgomery, where the layout had been professionally built, and in three days dismantled the layout and moved it and all the trains back to Foley where they were put in storage. Over the next year or so Foley built a building just north of their historic L&N depot, and members of the Caboose Club designed a new layout for the building, using scenery, track, etc. from the old layout. The new layout opened to the public early in 2007. It is 22 x 60 ft., with beautiful scenery. Most rolling stock came with the layout, but members also bring some of theirs to run and/or to donate. Operation is mostly MTH DCS, but trains can also be run with TMCC or in conventionel mode. Trains are in operation each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10 to 2. It’s an all volunteer operation, and no admission is charged.
To reach the Foley Alabama Railroad Museum, take the Gulf Shores Parkway exit off I-10 or I-65 (between Mobile and Pensacola), turn south onto Alabama 59 and continue to the intersection with US 98. Turn left on 98 at the light and the museum is on the left. You can’t miss it. It’s an old restored depot with a full-sized train sitting beside it (diesel switcher, two box cars and a caboose).
For those of you in LOTS, there’s a photo of the layout on p. 5 of the February 2008 issue of the SWITCHER.
Yes still open. I haven’t been there in a few yrs. but my brother who lives in Albrightsville recently took a visiting friend, who is a rail fan, to Roadside America. He likes European style trains in particular.
I’ve been there twice and found it impressive both times. I remember three scales running. ‘HO’ (mostly), ‘O’ (Lionels primarily), and ‘G’. The back of my mind says a lmited ‘N’ layout. You’ll walk, I guess the equivilent of two stories to see all the displays. There are some toy and doll exhibits and a custom built pipe organ that the owner comes out and plays periodically during the day. The displays do require quite a bit of maintanence and I wouldn’t be surprised if it overwelms the staff to maintain.
There is an outside train ride that travels the property. I also purchased a Northlandz box car for my souvenir.
I guess I’ll mention the ones I’ve been to. Strasburg in Lancaster area of Pa. as well as the one in Allentown area, Stroudsberg Pa. There is a ‘Big Boy’ loco there. The round house in Maryland and in prev. post I’ve mentioned Northlandz in Flemingotn N.J.
Near Christmas time there seem to be many in the N.J. & Pa. where folks open there homes for a time and welcome visitors to view their own layouts.
Yep took my wife and daughter there (Roadside America) a month or so ago. Very impressive. The structures are all top notch, the trains on the other hand are in bad shape. A very very impressive model landscape that could be even so much better if the old track and trains were retired and new MTH premier engines were used.
I would agree that Roadside America needs some updating. Most of the buildings are hand made from around 1940 or so and the trains are mainly post war at best. Also my grandmother(now dead) used to know the original owner and builder’s family from somewhere in Berks County.
I want to invite everyone to our display layout in Frackville, PA. In the Schuylkill Mall just off of Interstate 81 and Route 61. We are open every Sunday from Noon-5pm. We also have worknights, generally Tuesdays, but also sometimes Wed and Thursday. The layout is Three Rail “0”. Multi-Level. The layout is based on the local Anthracite Coal industry, the Reading and PRR in the Steam Era. Size is 24 x 55’. We have 6 trains running on Track 1 automaticaly the old way, using control from an insulated rail. 2 trains running of track 2 with TMCC. 2 more on 3&4 using DCS. We run conventional, TMCC & DCS. If your on the way to or from York please stop by, or on business travel or summer vacation. There are 2 local Anthracite Coal mine tours that are very interesting, and Steamtown is about an hour away also. If you think you may want to stop by on a weeknight email me for a cell number to confirm we are there. Thanks, Dave North Schuylkill High Railers.