Hey, Kids!

If you and your parents are ever in the Biloxi area, you'll want to check out the Model Train Museum in nearby Gulfport.  It's a real hoot.

This is a volunteer-run 501(c)3 organization, like some others you may have heard of, and there is no required admission, although they suggest a donation of $5 for adults and $3 for kids.  It's located in a fairly limited area of an industrial park, and no room to expand.

There's toy trains of all sorts, including Lego.

There's a large collection of older trains on display, but with little explanatory labeling.

Outside, there's more, with layouts of every size on display.

The place was packed with families, and everybody seemed to be having a good time.  There are several park-type trains providing rides:

Including some self-powered cars like these:

They make use of almost every available square foot of space.

It was interesting for things that we might want to include and other things we will want to avoid when IRM develops its own model railroading display.

For me, though, the highlight of the museum was this Erector Zeppelin in like-new condition.  I'd never seen one in person before, or even a good photograph.  It's a fascinating part of Gilbert history.