Visit the San Diego Model Railroad Museum

I think I got my love of model trains from my dad. He’s a big collector of model trains, mainly the Marklin brand (from Germany). Growing up, I was exposed to HO scale trains and even have a coveted Alaska Railway engine from the time we lived in Alaska. But my love has always been for the N-scale trains because I can design more track in a smaller space. When a business trip took me to southern California, I was excited to explore the San Diego Model Railroad Museum. And it didn’t disappoint.

My home doesn’t have a room dedicated to model train layouts. However, during the pandemic I built a 4’x6′ N-scale mountain layout – what else was there to do when we were stuck at home. It was my first real model layout and I learned a lot about the process of building.

The San Diego Model Railroad Museum has several rooms, all dedicated to a variety of train layouts, and all managed by local model railroading clubs.

Here’s a rundown on what you can expect to find at the museum, including a few fun ways to keep kids engaged while visiting.

Directions and Tickets to the San Diego Model Railroad Museum

There are two options when it comes to purchasing tickets: Buy them online in advance of your visit, or purchase them at the door of the San Diego Model Railroad Museum. If you purchase a ticket online, they are only available for that day – you can’t transfer it to another day and there are no refunds.

The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Note that it’s closed on Mondays. You’ll want to plan on about one hour for your visit, so you’ll want to arrive by 3 p.m. at the latest.

One of the best things about this museum is that it’s free for children under 13, making it a great family activity. Tickets for adults are $19.50 each, while seniors (age 65+) are $16.50. Students (ages 13-18) are $9 with a valid student ID and military are $9.50.

The San Diego Model Railroad Museum is located in the center of Balboa Park. There’s parking in various spots around the park, meaning that you’ll need to be prepared for a short walk from the parking area to the entrance of the museum. El Prado – the walkway between the Plaza de Panama Fountain and the Bea Evenson Fountain – is the pathway the building that houses the museum. Keep an eye out for the sign so you know which building to enter. Then take the stairs to the lower level and you’ll see the entrance.

Engage Your Kids in the Scavenger Hunt

After showing your ticket – or purchasing one in the gift shop – be sure and grab a scavenger hunt sheet so your kids (or you) can try to spot all of the “Easter Eggs” hidden among the various train layouts. The printout organizes the objects by train layout, so you can stay focused on which objects you’re trying to find while you visit each of the five layouts.

I tried to find the objects to see just how hidden they are. I also heard numerous kids and parents talking about what they’re trying to find. One child was pretty excited when they spotted the pet dinosaur in the O Scale layout. Maybe you can spot Superman in one of the photos I’ve included in this article. 😉

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As you explore the museum, you’ll see model railroaders operating their trains on the layouts. You may even see a few trains running into each other as they try to communicate with their peers in the massive layouts. You may also see a few areas under construction. In some instances, they’re adding minute details, while in other locations they’re building the landscapes.

Don’t be shy. Talk to the model railroaders. They’re happy to answer questions and talk about their passions as a model railroader. You may be able to pick up a few tips and tricks from them in your own layouts you may be doing at home.

Cabrillo Southwestern O Scale Layout and the San Diego and Arizona Eastern HO Layout

After passing through the ticket booth, you can begin by turning right and heading down the hallway with the windows on each side. Rather than looking back and forth between each of the layouts, pick one as you make your way down the hallway. You can always double back, since your museum admission lets you wander at your own pace.

O Scale Layout

I recommend starting with the O Scale train on the right side of the hallway. In case you aren’t familiar with the sizes associated with model trains, O Scale trains are 1/48 scale, so it’s on the larger end of model railroading. The layout is designed to model California around 1955 and represents roughly 13 scale miles of layout. It’s a fun way to preserve history and the era of the railroads.

HO Scale Layout

On the other side of the hall is a larger layout, though the train is a smaller scale. HO Scale trains are 1/87 scale, and were the size train most people are familiar with. It’s the scale I grew up with until a went the smaller route of N Scale.

The HO Scale layout represents 15 scale miles of track, stretching from the California-Mexico border. Looking on a map, it stretches from San Diego to El Centro, and is also built around the 1950s era design. As you make your way around the exhibit, following the track, you’ll see some pretty ornate bridgework. You’ll see the cityscapes and desert of the region.

As you approach the far end of the track, you’ll see a vintage drive-in movie theater playing Looney Tunes. You can listen to the audio on the portable speaker that we used to hang in our car window when we visited a drive in movie theater back in the day. I saw many kids enjoying some laughs around the cartoons playing on the movie screen in the HO Scale layout. (check out the photo of that area near the end of this article)

Southern Pacific-Santa Fe Tehachapi Pass Layout

If you’re not familiar with the Tehachapi Pass, it’s quite an engineering accomplishment. I learned about it during my visit and enjoy the simple solution the engineers used “in real life” to build a track up a steep slope. Essentially, the path up the hill was too steep for trains. So rather than going straight up the slope, they made a massive circle, allowing the slope to increase more gradually over the span of the circle.

You can see the Tehachapi loop in the photo above to help you understand how that works. When the model railroaders were designing this section, they went to the actual site of the Tehachapi loop near Keene, California, so they could attempt to capture even the most minute details in their scale model. I’ve never visited it in person, but maybe I’ll have to add it to a list for the next time I’m north of Los Angeles.

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As you’ll note from the photo above, there’s a double track, accommodating trains going opposite direction. I was able to catch a rather long HO Scale train making its way through the loop on its way down the mountain. They had the train going rather slowly, but there was also landscape design and construction taking place a little further down the mountain. 😉

The Tehachapi Loop is found in an upper level of the museum, but the track continues down to the other floor and through the mountain passes. Once you see a train in motion, spend a moment to follow it around as it makes its way through the hills and small towns of southern California.

Pacific Desert Lines Layout

If you’re like me, N Scale is more your model size for layouts. The main reason I like N Scale is because I can fit more of a layout into a smaller area. In fact, this summer I plan to purchase a Z Scale train, which is even smaller. I could build an entire layout inside of a briefcase.

But I digress – the N Scale layout at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum is quite large. Similar to the initial HO Scale layout I wrote about earlier, this N Scale layout has a curved wooden trestle – as seen in the photo above. I can only imagine how long it would’ve taken to build that intricate model bridge, let alone the one in real life that spans a large canyon.

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As you make your way around the exhibit, take your time to look at all the extra details the builders added. For example, I spotted a car than had run off the road and was being pulled back up the embankment by a tow truck. The local police had blocked off the road with their patrol cars while the towing took place.

You may also find a shark swimming in a pool near an old house. It’s one of the items on the scavenger hunt, you’ll want to take a moment to find it.

I think only one train was running on this track during my visit, so I wasn’t able to see a lot train action on this particular layout. But I was thoroughly impressed with the details included in this small-sized layout.

Toy Train Layout in the Toy Train Gallery

Kids – and those young at heart – will love exploring the Toy Train Gallery. There are so many things going on in that room that your visual senses may be overloaded. But it’s perfect for young kids. There are several trains of all different sizes speed around the tracks.

If you’re a fan of Thomas the Tank Engine, then find the button that allows YOU to set the train in motion. A single push of the button will take Thomas on one loop of the track. I bought this exact same train set for my young son when we visited Thomas at a stop in Heber Valley, Utah. He was a major fan and loved playing with the train.

I saw lots of children pointing and smiling at various things in the gallery. I encourage you to let your kids explore the area and see the various trains zooming around the room.

The Centennial Railway Garden Layout

During my visit, the Centennial Railway Garden Layout was closed. It’s on the outside walkways of the San Diego Model Railroad Museum and commemorates the 100th anniversary of Balboa Park. The layout features a G Scale model train, which is built to a scale of 1/32.

The area is undergoing renovations and I didn’t see a date of when it’s expected to reopen. But when it does, head outside to see the garden layout and all the details they’ll incorporate into the layout.

The Details

Address: 1649 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101 (Balboa Park)

How long to spend: 1-2 hours

Cost: Adults (12+) tickets are $19.50. Seniors (65+) are $16.50. Military (with ID) are $9.50 and students (with ID) are $9. Children under 12 are free.

Hours: Daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed on Mondays.

Website: https://www.sdmrm.org/

Phone: (619) 696-0199

DISCLOSURE: I received one complimentary admission ticket for the San Diego Model Railroad Museum for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own.

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