The Great Northern Station

Great Northern Station

During the 64 years that the Great Northern Station stood at the foot of the Hennepin Avenue bridge, it was one of six passenger depots which once operated simultaneously in downtown Minneapolis, and at its peak, 125 trains used it each day. Built in 1914 at a cost of two million dollars, it was approximately 300’ x 155’ and the concourse spanned 12 tracks below. It was demolished in 1978 and all passenger business was transferred to the Amtrak station in St. Paul, but during its many years of service, nearly 3 million passenger trains passed beneath its concourse. The depot was … [Read more...]

New Book Chronicles 75 Year History of the Twin City Model Railroad Museum

The Twin City Model Railroad Club/Museum 1934-2009

The storied history of the Twin City Model Railroad Museum is chronicled in a new book titled The Twin City Model Railroad Club/Museum 1934-2009.  The book is now available in the Museum’s gift shop at Bandana Square, Suite 222, 1021 Bandana Blvd. East, St. Paul MN, 55108; cost is $20 including tax.  On Saturday nights in February, the book’s authors will sign copies of the book as a part the TCMRM’s special Night Trains exhibition from 6 to 9 pm.  Night Trains is a special attraction at the Museum each holiday season beginning on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and runs … [Read more...]

Night Trains Event at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum

Christmas Train

Saturday, November 28th was the start of the 2009 - 2010 Night Trains season at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Every year beginning on the first Saturday after Thanksgiving and running through the last Saturday in February, the Museum hosts it's annual Night Trains event. The event starts at 6 pm and lasts until 9 pm. For more information about Night Trains, visit the Twin City Model Railroad Museum's Night Trains page on their website. This was my first year at Night Trains and I made sure I was there to take pictures and videos. Unfortunately, I didn't … [Read more...]

Pictures from “The Circus Moves by Rail” show at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum

Circus-Trains-01-533x400

Last month, I told you about the “The Circus Moves by Rail” show at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum scheduled for October 10th and 11th and said that I would follow up by posting pictures of the event. Here are the pictures I took at the event! Also, check out the videos I posted earlier for this event . The event was held at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum's home turf at Bandana Square in Saint Paul and was attended by other groups, including C & R Circus, a group that specializes in HO and O scale circus modeling. I hope you enjoy these pictures: … [Read more...]

Videos from “The Circus Moves by Rail” show at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum

Off loading the elephants

Last month, I told you about the “The Circus Moves by Rail” show at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum scheduled for October 10th and 11th and said that I would follow up by posting pictures of the event. Well, I’m posting videos I took at the event! I'll post pictures in another post. The event was held at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum's home turf at Bandana Square in Saint Paul and was attended by other groups, including C & R Circus, a group that specializes in HO and O scale circus modeling. I hope you enjoy these videos. Circus train passing by one … [Read more...]

Twin City Model Railroad Museum on Saint Paul Community TV

I found a great video created in October 2007 by a Saint Paul Community Television channel. This video tells some of the history of the Twin City Model Railroad Museum much better than I can. Enjoy! … [Read more...]

“The Circus Moves by Rail” show at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum

The Circus Moves By Rail

If you're anywhere near the Twin Cities this weekend, take some time to drop by the Twin City Model Railroad Museum to see The Circus Moves by Rail show Saturday, October 10th, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm and Sunday, October 11th, 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm. From the Circus Trains page of the Twin City Model Railroad Museum: The Twin Cities Model Railroad Museum will be host to the Circus Moves by Rail show on October 10 and 11, 2009. Zellmar Bros Ring 80 of Circus Model Builders, Inc. and circus modelers from a 10 state area will display their circus modeling skills in several scales and circus trains … [Read more...]

Freight Yard Disaster

I get a call Friday asking if I could come in Saturday to cover for another volunteer that can't make it in. Normally, I volunteer at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum on Tuesdays, but I didn't have any plans for Saturday so I said yes. Coming in on a Saturday would give me a chance to work with some folks I normally don't get to work with, so I figured it would be a good opportunity to learn something new. I did learn some new stuff but I also re-learned something I already knew; or so I thought. It was time to pull one of the freight trains off the main line into the Midland Yard and … [Read more...]

Uncouple Tip

Uncouple Tip

One of the things I've learned while volunteering at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum (TCMRM) is how quickly and easily uncouple cars without lifting them off the track with your hand. A simple plastic stir stick, available at most fast food restaurants that serve coffee, can be used as shown in the pictures at right to uncouple two cars. Simply insert the pointed end of the stir stick into the coupler and rotate clockwise until the coupler arms release each other. The cars shown in the pictures are O Scale cars with Kadee couplers. I haven't tested this on smaller scale … [Read more...]

Twin City Model Railroad Museum

On June 10th, I paid a visit to the Twin City Model Railroad Museum in St. Paul, Minnesota to take some pictures for an article I was working on for the Model Train Tips Newsletter. I also just wanted to check out the trains; I hadn't been to the museum in several months and this seemed like the perfect excuse. The centerpiece is a large O-gauge model railroad on display for the public. Each of the four main lines are 220' long which translates into two scale miles of track! In addition to the four main lines there are several yard lines, some of which can be seen in the photo at … [Read more...]