...

The exhibit entrance features two large panels; one is an enlarged photo of John Allen’s Gorre & Daphetid—and many John Allen artifacts are in the exhibit—and the second compares trestles in large scale and Z scale.

...

After entering, the visitor encounters the Timeline, a long display of artifacts tracing the history of model railroading from 1847 to the present. Items are grouped into major eras or movements and each is explained. See Bob’s “Robert’s Ramblings” article for an overview.

Closeup of part of the Timeline, to give a sense of the number of objects:

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Opposite the Timeline is a series of superb layouts, on static display, in exhibit cases. These include “Smuggler’s Cove,” an On30 Maine coastal theme layout; Chama, New Mexico, in Sn3; the scratch built, intricate ore dock scene from Irv Schultz’s HO scale St. Clair Northern; the late Jim Vail’s sawmill complex and Santa Cruz lime kilns scene; Malcolm Furlow’s San Juan Central, complete; the late Boone Morrison’s O scale Occidental, California; Mike Blumensaadt, MMR’s N scale diorama depicting a Civil War scene, matched to the historic photo that inspired it.

...

The second half of the exhibit features a mock modeler’s workbench with a series of contemporary product displays showing visitors how to enter the model railroading hobby, different categories of products that they will find in stores, and information about how to choose items. This area also features a 4 x 12 operating “layout under construction” built by Blumensaadt and Frank Markovich, MMR of Pacific Coast Region. Push the red button and a train runs. There are many mini-displays of important models, not shown in these photos.

...

And there’s a massive “Wall of Trains” featuring complete prototypical consists. I believe the City of Los Angeles, in HO scale and duplicating a transition-era consist, is about 30 actual feet long. There’s a complete, prototypical-length modern freight train that’s 40 feet long. Each consist is described in detail and most were contributed by local modelers.

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I hope this mini-tour has been helpful. Make plans to visit Sacramento and the CSRM when your time allows. This exhibit, committed for display for about five years, will be well worth your time. As a reminder, the Flickr album is here.

Magic of Scale Model Railroading Exhibit - Sneak Preview Photos of 3 March 2021

What about the Library?

As I understood the relationship between the NMRA and the Museum, the Museum is supposed to host to NMRA Kalmbach Memorial Library that used to be in Chattanooga,TN?  With the opening of the exhibit, does this mean the Library will be opening soon?  Does anyone know?

Ken L

Yes

To my knowledge--I am speaking as a member and not as an official--the exhibit and the library are separate projects for purposes of operations and administration. The library transferred to CSRM control quite some time ago and all NMRA members have access upon request. Whether the collections are fully indexed, searchable, etc. is a different issue and up to CSRM, so you would have to contact CSRM with a specific request. CSRM reopens to the public on April 6, 2021, so theoretically, the library is accessible after then also, but I have not seen details about any limitations on access or staffing; as the past year has been disruptive, limitations should be expected for a while and flexibility and continued patience will be important.

Open to the public?

This question might be out of scope, but reopening info wasn't on the CSRM website... I know that theme parks, like Disneyland, are reopening, but are limited to only California residents until further notice. 

Do you know if the CSRM is under the same restriction? 

Thanks!

Yes

The limited information that I've received is that the museum reopens April 1, but for staff and docents only, and public admission will start April 6 with a maximum of 25% capacity. Local health order of March 16, 2021, here:

Sacramento County Health Order for Red Tier

Nice

Did I read correctly that the model railroad displays are static meaning they don't have trains running anywhere?  

That's nicely done

I've never had much use for the NMRA but that looks nicely done and it reminds me that I was going to give the "Trial Pass" membership a shot. It will be too bad if there aren't actually running trains there. What happened to the Malcolm Furlow layout? Where is it?

A Train Will Be Running

@Dave-  The lower photo in the fifth post shows the layout where a train will run around a loop if a visitor presses a button.  The end of the layout you see shows the construction while the other end is fully completed with scenery.  The inside loop is not operational.  The idea is to show the progress of building a layout.

Lou in California

Quote:

"John Olsen’s San Juan Central, complete;"

I believe you mean Malcolm Furlow's San Juan Central.

Malcolm was the creator of the San Juan Central. John Olsen created his "Mescal Lines".

Andre

John<-->Malcolm corrected

Malcolm Furlow is correct and I regret the error. Post has been edited.

This looks great

Some day, maybe the border will reopen.

"Some day, maybe the border

"Some day, maybe the border will reopen."

It already is -- on the other end of the state.

That was my confusion

I knew that the NMRA had acquired Malcolm's layout but I understand the error, it's an easy mistake to make. Both are great narrow gauge layouts.

The pictures are great and it's really cool to see the work of Irv Schultz preserved. He was another one of the masters. Just a shame that no significant piece of the G&D was salvageable after the fire. Such a double whammy loss to the hobby with that happening so soon after John Allen's death. I was only eleven when it all happened but he was already my hero, even then.

I did sign up for the trial pass membership, I had meant to and it slipped my mind and this post reminded me of it.

@Michael T. ...

Thank you for the support represented by your Rail Pass membership. If you need assistance with any benefits, connection to local division or region leaders, or questions, please send email to me through the MRH system, or post in the NMRA Facebook group if you use FB. A useful summary of benefits is at:  PDF Summary of Member Benefits

Chris 

Is the CTC Machine from the AM on Display?

I know it was donated to the NMRA, and I thought it was to be put on display in this exhibit.  

Ken L. 

Now I have another reason to visit again

I visited the museum for the second time just last year, it was a quiet place and I thought it was well done.  My first visit was just after it opened in '84(?), they had way more loco's in the 'shed' back then and they were all a bit scrappy looking.  Much more curated now and well worth the price of admission.  I bought a mug and it chipped the next day, so there is one excuse to go back... and now I have another!

CTC machine - Yes

Yes, the CTC machine is in the exhibit. Seth Neumann of Model Railroad Control Systems wrote software to animate it. Press a button, and lights and indicators operate to indicate the progress of a train moving from left to right along the track diagram at the top. You can see some lit up in the image below.

On the day I made a sneak preview visit, it was difficult to photograph the machine due to reflectance from other exhibit elements such as the brightly lit "wall of trains," so the image here isn't great, but it looks fine in person. You can see the CTC board relatively well on the left side of the image; the right side has reflectance from the "under construction" layout and "wall of trains", which are directly behind the photographer in this image.

I visited the Museum in

I visited the Museum in Sacramento in 1991 when they had a big steam event.  I do hope to get out there in the next couple years again.

the railroad scene?

The Sac museum seems very tourist  oriented to me. Everything is too pristine and curated to capture the feel of the railroad scene. I much prefer the Feather River museum at Portola, it is in a real railyard/engine shop setting with visitors free to roam the grounds and climb on the equipment. No glass cases full of what were once common everyday accessible objects. I hate to think of the cost/results ratios and how they would compare?...DaveB