Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Largest Model Railroad Display in the Midwest Comes to Duluth this Weekend!

The largest model train display in the Twin Ports will be set up this weekend only at the Depot in downtown Duluth.  This Saturday and Sunday model railroad enthusiasts from several states will meet in Duluth to assemble and operate a train set that will fill the entire Great Hall of the St. Louis County Heritage & Arts Center, the Depot.

The Minnesota Free-mo Modelers is an association of model railroad enthusiasts who construct, operate and display their HO scale modular railroads around the region and they’re coming to Duluth this weekend!  Each participant is “free” to build a module that conforms to standard specifications that allow each individual display to be interconnected into one HUGE layout.  In this case it will cover the entire Great Hall at the Depot.

The Lake Superior Railroad Museum is proud to present this weekend’s special event that will feature Big Trains Trackside and Model Trains upstairs in the Great Hall.  You can see the trains for free if you are a member of the Museum or they are included at no extra charge with your regular Depot Admission.

HO layouts are built to a 1:87 scale.  They are extremely realistic and the expert modelers who create them build versions for prototypical operations and feature realistic scenery.  Viewers need to closely examine each scene to catch all the different nuances of life built into each backdrop as the train goes by.  A riverbank swimming party on a hot summer’s day, a fire brigade working to extinguish a blazing building, construction workers leaning on their shovels, Friday night at the Drive In or a family picnic can all be found if you look close enough. 

It’s the biggest model display in the Midwest and it’s this weekend only.  Don’t miss this unique Free-mo HO Train Exhibit this Saturday and Sunday at the St. Louis County Heritage & Arts Center.