Unlike a few other well-known collectors who profit from their collection by breaking it all up and selling, Thomas W. Sefton decided to put it all in a museum and help finance it.
the Gipper was so impressed, he signed legislation helping the museum.
pg54 CTT may05
I agree, David, but I can’t help but lament that the museum has not made the collection available. Only a “fraction” of it is on display (and, to judge by the article, displayed poorly). I realize that the collection rather overwhlems the museum, but I certainly hope that the facilities are created which will allow the whole collection to be displayed.
palallin,
agree!
While I’m not into Gauge 1, the charm of those colorful enamel trains and the well-done setting is simply irresistible.
I understand the whole “rotation” type display. It’s almost always due to lack of space…but there’s always at least a part that is marketing. People aren’t as likely to come back to see the same thing over and over. Same idea as having a “special exhibit” on loan from another museum. Something I’d like to see in a situation like the Sefton collection in addition to the display is a nice photo display of the rest of the collection. That way visitors would know what else is going to be on display in the future. Kind of like a commercila for “next week’s exciting episode” !!!
underworld
[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]
Underworld,
Interesting you brought this up. may rate another post. The Smithsonian has rotating exhibits. also, some exhibits appear from town to town. Back in the 1980s, they had a China exhibit from china. later, king tut traveled around (yes, the old man still has spunk).
Toy train rotating or mobile exhibits would add some umph and zing to intro’ing the toy train world to the public!
Very astute observation
Dave Now I’m wondering about talking to some museum folks. The Toledo Museum of Art has visiting displays constantly. They just had one based on their own vault collection. Many items hadn’t been seen by the public in over 20 years. I think they are a bit too snobbi***o realize toy trains as art. Then there is the museum at the Toledo Zoo, small but very diverse. They do have a few train displays during the Christmas season. HO and O from one of the local clubs. I know someone at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. You’re probably thinking “natural history”??? But they did have motorcycle display a few years ago. Even if they wouldn’t go for it just south of there is the Museum of Science and Industry…and they’ve already got real trains there. I think I’ll put up a post to see how many people might be willing to put up some pieces for loan. Do you know anyone at the Smithsonian or any other of your area museums???
underworld
[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]
This may be best put in another topic, but here it goes…
Hey, let’s not wait until we’re dead and buried!
I joined the TCA because I thought it would give me chance to meet other members who would be glad to show their collections and layouts. Haven’t been able to get to any of the conventions so i haven’t seen many. Marty Visnick was kind enought to show me his world-class collection-very impressive! And I’ve got a close friend who has a wonderful prewar collection. But that’s pretty much it.
Anybody out there in the Massachusetts area want to make plans for some collection/layout visits?
underworld,
no connections w/Smithsonian but always admired the very large model train in the basement near the old Southern steam locomotive.
The traveling display idea is sure cool tho
I finally got around to reading the Sefton article. If I ever get out to California, I HAVE to see that place! Kudos to Roger Carp for another masterpiece of an article!
Hello All: A freind of mine has been to the museum he said it was well worth it. I have to agree Roger did a fine job with the article. I almost felt he was struggling because there was so much to write about, He could probably write about it for the next three issues. Kind Regards Steve
You’ve got mail, Tim.
The thing that really intrigued me about the Sefton display layout was that there were no switches to complicate things. Yeah, there were a few near the roundhouse, but it looked to me like that all connected to a very short line that terminated in a tunnel. Each featured train ran on its own separate loop. Very simplistic, yet quite well done.
Jim
Jim, as a museum exhibit. switches would only complicate things. Yes that roundhouse section is connected to a line that goes nowhere, so it’s for display purposes only.
I think dedicating one line without switches is a good idea when building a lyaout, particularly if you’ll be running prewar, some early postwar, Marx, etc. I’ve got one outer loop on my layout I’ve built without switches.
I’ve got a friend who only runs prewar and Marx, and he refuses to put any switches on the layout. Has 3 lines, and when they’re all going there’s plenty to look at.
Tim
I share your friend’s sentiment. I also plan to have 3 lines and feel that when the trains are all running, there will be plenty to see and enjoy!
Jim
It was an interesting article - the museum folk obviously took a lot of thought about this collection - all 1,600 boxes of it! I would enjoy seeing those large engines. I’ve never seen a real Standard Gauge model. They did well to run new reproductions rather than the older units. My personal preference when button-pressing is to make things move instead of turning lights on, but I could see their point. They used the same builders as the Museum of Science and Industry used to build their huge new HO layout that replaced their famous O layout a few years ago. See http://www.msichicago.org/exhibit/great_train_story/index.html
I’m conflicted about collections - there’s a local historical society with some toy trains - but they don’t really know what to do with them. On the other hand, some enthusiasts have built a layout in an old depot in Dixon (Reagan’s old home town) that both highlights the depot as a historical site and shows off the trains - too bad it’s in HO though 
I was just thrilled with the list of toy train layouts open to the public in the magazine - not just model railroading layouts but toy train ones. Have to plot out visiting 'em.