The 26th Annual Model Train Festival begins on December 16 at the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma.
This wintertime tradition brings railroad clubs from around Puget Sound to share their room-sized layouts through the museum. Every floor comes alive with trains, from the Kitsap Live Steamers 7.5-inch gauge railroad engines to the Mount Rainier N-Scale layout featuring miniature scenery of Western Washington, along with many more.
While this special exhibition runs through January 1, 2023, the largest permanent model train layout in Washington is always on display at the museum on the fifth floor, operated by Puget Sound Railroad Engineers. Train operators will be on hand for questions and conversations.
You can take a break from the live layouts to enjoy trains on the big screen in the museum’s auditorium, where you can watch footage from I Love Toy Trains and I Love Big Trains, from filmmaker Tom McComas, accompanied by songs by James Coffey. You will learn about freight train signals, railroad history and what it’s like to be an engineer.
Collectible train buttons are available at the Admissions desk.
- The exhibition runs December 16 through January 1, 2023 at the Washington State History Museum, 1911 Pacific Avenue in Tacoma
- For more information, visit WashingtonHistory.org
