We announced today that we will be buying EnterTRAINment Junction, the largest indoor train display in the world (25,000 sq ft G-gauge layout), based in Cincinatti.
We plan to relocate the layout and exhibits to Chattanooga, TN and create a new transportation museum we call the “Motion Museum”, which will feature all forms of transportation, including air, ocean, rail, trucking, and space.
In case you are wondering what all the model train madness is about. Here is the rundown:
A week ago, I tweeted that I wanted to bring a transportation museum to Chattanooga.
A follower on X, replied with an article about EnterTRAINment Junction shutting down. EJT is the largest indoor train display in the world.
The owner is retiring and sold the building for more than the business was worth. He was set to close down on January 5th. There was a deal where another buyer was set to acquire all of the trains and artifacts and move it, but that deal fell apart after a few months. The seller lost a lot of time to look for alternatives (again he must be out of the building in a few weeks).
Few buyers could absorb an 80,000 sq ft museum on short notice.
All of the trains, layouts, and artifacts were going to liquidated starting on Jan 6th.
I happen to own the largest model railroading publisher (books and magazines) and also am the largest transportation media biz. Plus, I’m a transport nerd.
Last Sunday, I decided to fly up w/ my 5 year old and take a look. I fell in love.
I invited my team on Monday to discuss logistics of breaking down, moving, and rebuilding in a new home in Chattanooga.
Deal agreed to in person, that night we sent an LOI.
On Christmas, I just bought a thousand model trains and a railroad display that could fill up a Home Depot.
Now, I’m preparing to build a transportation museum in Chattanooga that spans all modes: trains, boats, trucks, airplanes, rockets…
Wish you success in the move and in the Chattanooga transportation museum!
Be sure to send David Popp and the crew to video the breakdown
Regards, Chris
Thanks for doing this! It’s a huge undertaking, and those of us who are train lover really appreciate your efforts!
This is incredible news, and the idea of a transportation museum is VERY cool! Hope the move goes smoothly for you. Best of luck!
Film the teardown and movement for YouTube plus the reconstruction. Also get into contact with a legacy media outlet on why you’re doing this for the preservation aspect
If you need help there is a great business in Dallas that does maintenence on train layouts and works to expand them they are called trainworx. I hired them to build my train layout benchwork and they did an excellent job. Two level HO layout in a bedroom with a Helix (made in Germany no less) connecting the levels. Here is their website: http://www.twtrainworx.com/
They have done work for BNSF and several museums in the past.
This is an incredible undertaking. If this doesn’t convince the naysayers who doubted your commitment, then nothing will. Congratulations and good luck with the whole project going forward, as well as your plans for the Kalmbach magazines.
Ron Ventura
Melbourne, Australia
This is great - thanks for the lead…
We didn’t get off to the best start - it almost went off the tracks early on… But we are back on and cooking with steam!
We’ve been following the whole Entertrainment saga up here for some time now. While we’re glad the layout is being saved, it’s sad that it just wasn’t in the cards for it to stay in town. The general public & others in the model railroad realm kept saying one of the local clubs should buy it to keep it open, but most of us simply do not have the manpower or finances to run a business of this magnitude. We were lucky enough to have our club’s annual banquet there the past 2 years and our members were thankful for the chance to see it one last time in November. Sadly I won’t be able to make it back for one last look before they shut everything down Sunday evening since I’m working with the holiday trains at the Cincinnati Museum Center all weekend. We’ll be keeping our ears open for updates & look forward to seeing the dismantling & move documented.
I agree that it would be ideal to stay in Cincy. I wouldn’t attempt to move it if someone else had stepped in, but with the risk of being sold off in pieces, it creates an epic opportunity.
This is awesome news!
First you saved a fantastic model railroad experience.
Second, you are moving it to Chattanooga.
As I live in Knoxville it will be very easy to go and visit.
Looking forward to all the other interesting exhibits you will be bringing!
Welcome to the forums, njeff!