You are here: Track2 RailNet Home Page > Public Displays

Public Displays
Scope: This page is a PARTIAL list of the following two types of attractions within the state of PA: Operating Model Railroad Displays In PA, that are open to the public Restaurants With Operating Model Railroads.

* Track2 RailNet *   a Entry Page b Archive 2, RailNet Old Home c About   NC PA CLUBS d Clubs e Directions  Loose Ties All Ga. Susquehanna S Ga   OTHER CONTACTS f Layout Photos (Trainweb.org/pa) g Vendors h Show Archive i Pub. Displays . . (outdated)   YAHOO GROUP (LISTSERVER) Subscribing Help Email Archives . Deleted by Verizon   ANNOUNCERS Posting Tips Test LstSrv   MISC j DCC Contacts k DCC L Computer-Control . (S ga) m Archives   OTHER n Autocontrols.org . (G scale) (20I29)

Contents This Page A. INDEX-1: Alphabetical List Of Displays On This Page (below) B. INDEX-2: Alphabetical List Of Restaurants On This Page (below) C. INDEX-3: Geographical List Of Displays On This Page (below) Same list as above, but organized geographically from west to east D. The Actual INFORMATION (below) Addresses, phones, layout descriptions, etc.

Notes

• Accuracy -- Confirming hours & layout is operating before driving any distance is recommended.
• AAA Designations -- The designation "(AAA)" after the name of a display, means it is included in the AAA (American Automobile Club) book.
• Club Layouts -- Note that many of the model railroad clubs listed on the RailNet "Layout1-Club Contacts" page, have operating layouts, but generally they are open to the public only on special occasions.
• Full Size Tourist Railroads -- This page lists model railroads only. For a list of tourist railroads and full size museums, use the Tourist Railway Industry Association at www.train.org (use the 'Train Members' button at the bottom of the home page). It lists all of the Tourist Railways across the U.S., both with and without websites.

Larger map

Dividing The State This page only -- uses the Pennsylvania Magazine format of dividing the state into 3 Regions. Western PA Region Central PA Region Eastern PA Region Map used w/permission of Pennsylvania Magazine -- for a free sample issue call 800-537-2624

C. INDEX-3: Geographical List Of Displays & Restaurants On This Page NOTE--These locations are organized as best as possible--from WEST TO EAST then north to south, within the 3 regions. Western PA Region: 1. Pittsburgh Area (below) Displays== 1a. Pittsburgh -- Carnegie Museum, Miniature Railroad & Village Central PA Region: 2. Altoona Area (below) 2a. Altoona -- Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum 2b. Gallitzin -- Horseshoe Curve O Gauge Model Railroad Display 3. Williamsport Area (below) Displays== 3a. Montoursville -- English Model Railroad Supply Operating Display 3b. Roaring Branch -- Collector's Den 3c. Williamsport -- Lycoming County Historical Museum Restaurants== 3d. Hughesville -- McDonald's Restaurant 3e. Montoursville -- Family Afare Restaurant 3f. Williamsport -- Hotel Kast - Peterson Train Display 3g. WIlliamsport -- Peg & Bill's Diner 3h. Williamsport -- Tiffany's Restaurant 4. Lewisburg-Milton Area (below) Restaurants== 4a. Lewisburg -- Silver Moon Restaurant 4b. Milton -- McDonald's Restaurant 5. Lancaster-Strasburg Area (below) Displays== 5a. Strasburg -- Choo Choo Barn 5b. Strasburg -- National Toy Train Museum (TCA/Train Collectors Association Museum) 5c. Strasburg -- Railroad Museum Of Pennsylvania Eastern PA Region: 6. Montrose Area (below) Restaurants== 6a. Montrose -- McDonald's Restaurant 7. Scranton Area (below) Displays== 7a. Dunmore -- Miniature Memories HO Display 7b. Steamtown -- HO Historical Display Restaurants== 7c. Pittston -- Cooper's Seafood House Waterfront 7d. Scranton -- Cooper's Seafood House 8. Stroudsburg Area (below) Restaurants== 8a. East Stroudsburg -- Dansbury Depot 9. Jim Thorpe Area (below) Displays== 9a. Jim Thorpe -- HO Scale Model Train Display 10. Hamburg-Reading Area (below) Displays== 10a. Shartlesville - Roadside America 11. Philadelphia Area (below) Displays== 11a. Philadelphia -- Franklin Institute Science Museum 11b. Philadelphia -- Morris Arboretum Garden Railway Display (6/16/01 to 10/8/01)

1. Pittsburgh Area

1a. Pittsburgh -- Carnegie Museum, Miniature Railroad & Village (AAA discount)

• Address -- One Allegheny Ave, next to Three Rivers Stadium
• Cost -- Adults $6, kids 3-18 & seniors over 65 $4. (Many other attractions in addition to railroad.)
• Display -- "This 2,300 square-foot display is filled with hundreds of different scenes, more than 2,000 hand painted characters, and nearly 100 lifelike animations." 3-rail O gauge trains .
• Hours -- Mon thru Fri , Sun 10-5. Sat 10-9. Closed Jan 1, Thanksgiving, & Dec 25.
• Phone -- 412-237-3400
• Website -- http://csc.clpgh.org/Exhibits/MRRV/
• Other Information -- (4/99 AAA book)

Central PA Region

2. Altoona Area

2a. Altoona -- Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum (AAA discount)

• Address -- 1822 Union Ave, Altoona PA 16601
• Cost -- Adult $8.50, kids 3-12 $5, seniors over 62 $7.75
• Display -- 3
• Hours -- April 5 thru October 25 -- Daily 10-6, closed holidays.
• Jan thru April 4, October 26 thru Dec -- Mon closed. Tue thru Sun 10-5.
• Phone -- 814-946-0834 or 888-425-8666
• Website -- http://railroadcity.com
• Other Information -- (from 4/98 AAA book)  

2b. Gallitzin -- Horseshoe Curve O Gauge Model Railroad Display

• Address -- Near Gallitzin Tunnel entrance
• Cost -- about $2.50
• Display -- Approx 10 loops of 3-rail O gauge.
• Hours --
• Phone --
• Other Information -- (6/1/99 J Ingram)  

3. Williamsport Area

3a. Montoursville -- English Model Railroad Supply

• Address -- 21 Howard Street, Montoursville PA 17754
• Cost -- None.
• Display -- This is a hobby shop, but it also has a 10' x 20' operating display, 3 loops O gauge, 1 loop S gauge. Separate 8'x16' 3-loop G scale operating display.
• Hours -- Mon thru Thur 9-5, Fri 9-7, Sat 9-5, Sun closed. Closed major holidays.
• Phone -- 570-368-2516
• Website -- http://bowser-trains.com  
• Other Information -- Also home of Bowser Manufacturing (6/1/99 J Ingram)

3b. Roaring Branch -- Collector's Den, Toy Train Museum

• Address -- 4306 Ellington Mt. Road, Roaring Branch PA 17765
• Cost -- None.
• Display -- Large operating O gauge layout.
• Hours -- by appointment
• Phone -- 570-673-8734
• Website -- www.toytrainrepair.net  
• Other Information -- (8/2003 J Ingram)

3c. Williamsport -- Lycoming County Historical Museum (AAA discount)

• Address -- 858 West Fourth Street, Williamsport PA 17701
• Cost -- Adults $3.50, kids 1-12 $1.50, seniors over 65 $3 (free to all 3rd Sun each month)
• Display -- 3-loop operating O gauge layout, and separate 3-loop operating HO gauge layout, activiated by push buttons. Also has the static Shempp Toy Train collection.
• Hours --
  • May thru Oct -- Mon closed. Tue thru Fri 9:30-4. Sat 11-4. Sun 1-4. Closed major holidays.
  • Nov thru April -- Mon closed. Tue thru Fri 9:30-4. Sat 11-4. Sun closed.
• Phone -- 570-326-3326
• Website -- Museum website at http://www.lycoming.org/LCHSMuseum/museum.html, but not much info on trains.
• Other Information -- (from 4/98 AAA book)  

Restaurants

3d. Hughesville -- McDonalds Restaurant

• Address -- Rt 405, Hughesville
• Display -- 1 loop of G scale around ceiling in main room, 2nd loop of G scale around ceiling in adjacent room.
• Hours -- -
• Phone -- -
• Other Information -- (6/1/99 J Ingram)

3e. Montoursville -- Family Afare Restaurant

• Address -- 1009 Broad Street, Montoursville PA 17754
• Display -- 1 loop of G scale around ceiling.
• Hours -- -
• Phone -- 570-368-1181
• Other Information -- (6/1/99 J Ingram)  

3f. Williamsport -- Hotel Kast - Peterson Train Display

• Address -- Hotel Kast, 723 Arch Street, Williamsport PA 17701
• Display -- 1-loop of G scale railroad running above the bar.
• Hours -- -
• Phone -- 570-323-5866
• Other Information -- There is also a downstairs display, primarily O gauge, shown by appointment. Also special Xmas display. (6/1/99 J Ingram)

3g. Williamsport -- Peg & Bill's Diner

• Address -- 312 West Fourth Street, Williamsport PA 17701
• Display -- 2 loops of Lionel O-27 in 4 x 8 display in front window.
• Hours -- ___
• Phone -- 570-326-1059
• Other Information -- (6/1/99 J Ingram)  

3h. Williamsport -- Tiffany's Industrial Deli

• Address -- 2868 Reach Road, Williamsport 17701
• Display -- 1 loop of G scale around ceiling.
• Hours -- -
• Phone -- 570-323-3549
• Other Information -- (6/1/99 J Ingram)  

4. Lewisburg-Milton Area

Restaurants

4a. Lewisburg -- Silver Moon Restaurant

• Address -- Rt. 15 at the Flea Market, Lewisburg PA
• Display -- 1 loop of G scale around ceiling (about 20' x 30').
• Hours -- -
• Phone -- -
• Other Information -- (6/1/99 J Ingram)

4b. Milton -- McDonalds Restaurant

• Address -- 35 Bound Ave, Milton PA
• Display -- 1 loop of G scale around ceiling (about 20' x 30').
• Hours -- Mon thru Sun, 6 am-midnight
• Phone -- 570-742-4420
• Other Information -- (6/1/99 J Ingram)

5. Lancaster-Strasburg Area

5a. Strasburg -- Choo Choo Barn, Traintown USA (AAA)

• Address -- about 1.5 mi. e. of Strasburg on SR 741
• Cost -- Adult $4, kids 5-12 $2
• Display -- 1700 sq. ft. miniature display, trains are 3-rail O gauge. Many animations.
• Hours --
  • April thru May, & Labor Day thru Dec 31-- Daily 10-4:30. Closed Thanksgiving & Dec 25.
  • June 1 thru day before Labor Day -- Daily 10-5:30 (what about Jan thru Mar?)
• Phone -- 717-687-7911
• Website -- http://choochoobarn.com/choochoo.html
• ----------
• Other Information -- (from4/99 AAA book)  

5b. Strasburg -- National Toy Train Museum (TCA) (AAA discount)

• Address -- 300 Paradise Lane, Strasburg PA (1.5 mi. e. of Strasburg on SR 741, then 0.2 miles n. on Paradise Lane).
• Cost -- Adult $4, kids 5-12 $2
• Display -- HO, S, O. & Standard gauge layouts
• Hours --
  • Jan thru April, Nov & Dec -- Mon thru Fri closed. Sat and Sun 10-5.
  • May thru Oct -- Daily 10-5
• Phone -- 717-687-8976
• Website -- http://traincollectors.org/toytrain.html
• Other Information -- (6/99 TCA website) ( website contradicts AAA book)  

5c. Strasburg-- Railroad Museum Of Pennsylvania (AAA discount)

• Address -- about 1 mi. e. of Strasburg on SR 741
• Cost -- Adult $6, kids 5-12 $4, seniors over 60 $5.50, family rate $16.
• Display -- HO & G gauge layouts that kids can operate
• Hours --
  • Jan thru March, Nov, Dec -- Mon closed. Tue thru Sat 9-5. Sun noon - 5.
  • April thru Oct -- Mon thru Sat 9-5. Sun noon - 5.
  • Closed Jan 1, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
• Phone -- 717-687-8628
• Website -- http://rrhistorical-2.com/frm/education/handson.htm
• Other Information -- (from 4/99 AAA book)  

Eastern PA Region

6. Montrose Area

6a. Montrose -- McDonalds Restaurant

• Address -- -
• Display -- 1 loop of G scale around ceiling in main room
• Hours -- -
• Phone -- -
• Other Information -- (6/1/99 J Ingram)

7. Scranton Area

7a. Dunmore (Scranton) -- Miniature Memories HO Train Display

• Address -- 1325 East Drinker Street, Dunmore PA (located in Gertrude Hawk Chocolates building)
• Cost -- no charge for display--donations appreciated
• Display -- Two loops of HO scale in 30' x 40' miniature version of the Lackawanna Valley
• Hours -- Mon closed. Tue thru Sun, noon - 5. (Call for special tours and holiday hours.)
• Phone -- 570-346-2829
• Website -- none
• Other Information -- -- Flyer (6/1/99 J Ingram)  

7b. Scranton -- Steamtown HO Historical Display

• Display -- Automated HO display with video and audio accompanyment, shows operation in railroad yard.
• Website -- http://nps.gov/stea -- no specific info about model display

  Restaurants

7c. Pittston -- Coopers's Seafood House Waterfront

• Address -- 304 Kennedy Boulevard, Pittston, PA 18640
• Display -- LGB train runs on about a 400 foot loop through several different dining rooms and bar.
• Hours -- -
• Phone -- 570-346-6883
• Website -- http://coopers-seafood.com -- no specific info about train
• Other Information--

7d. Scranton -- Coopers's Seafood House

• Address -- 701 North Washington Avenue, Scranton, PA 18509
• Display -- LGB train runs on about a 400 foot loop through 3 different dining rooms, then returns to timed station top over top of bar.
• Hours -- -
• Phone -- 570-346-6883
• Website -- http://coopers-seafood.com -- no specific info about train
• Other Information-- Building also has many historical photographs lining the hallsways. (5/6/01 J Ingram)

8. Stroudsburg Area

Restaurants

8a. East Stroudsbourg -- Dansbury Depot

• Address -- 50 Crystal Street, East Stroudsburg (Located in the former DL&W East Stroudsburg station)
• Display -- Operating G gauge trains (LGB) running throughout the premises
• Hours --
• Phone -- 570-476-0541
• Website -- http://dansburydepot.com --click on "Dansbury Depot" image to proceed to menu
• Other Information -- Customer comments. (2/2/01 S Price)

9. Jim Thorpe Area

9a. Jim Thorpe -- HO Scale Model Train Display (AAA)

• Address -- 41 Susquehanna St (SR 209) (on the 2nd floor of old Hooven Mercantile Co.)
• Cost -- Adult $3, kids 3-12 $1, seniors over 64 $2
• Display -- HO scale, about 13 loops of track plus moving automobiles
• Hours --
  • Jan thru June, Nov, Dec -- Mon thru Fri closed. Sat and Sun, noon - 5.
  • July thru Oct -- Mon thru Fri, noon - 5; Sat and Sun 10-5. Closed major holidays.
• Phone -- 570-386-2297
• Website -- none
• Other Information -- (from 4/99 AAA book)  

9b. Lehighton -- Lehighton Model Train Display (AAA) Closed

• Address --
• Cost -- Adult $4, kids 5-12 $1, seniors over 60 $3
• Display -- O scale (2 rail, not 3 rail) 16 trains, extensive scenery, lake with rain storm
• Hours -- Jan thru May -- Mon thru Thur closed. Fri thru Sun, 10-5.

  June 1 thru Labor Day -- Mon, Wed thru Sun 10-5 . Tue closed.

  Day after Labor Day thru Dec -- Mon, Wed thru Sun noon - 5 . Tue closed.

• Closed Jan 1, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Dec 25.
• Phone -- 570-386-3117

10. Hamburg-Reading Area

10a. Shartlesville -- Roadside America (AAA)

• Address -- Via Shartlesville exit from I-78, exit 8.
• Cost -- Adult $4, kids 6-11 $1.50
• Display -- 8000 sq. ft. display, trains are 3-rail O gauge, buildings are about 1:32 scale. Many animations.
• Hours --
  • Jan thru June, day after Labor day thru Dec -- Mon thru Fri 8-5; Sat and Sun 10-6.
  • July - Labor Day -- Daily 9-6:30. Closed Dec 25.
• Phone -- 610-488-6241
• Website -- They have no website of their own, but there is further information at the following websites:
  • http://roadsideamerica.com/attract/PASHAroad.html (not related to the attraction)
  • http://fieldtrip.com/pa/04886241.htm
• Other Information -- One of the country's largest, most impressive indoor miniature villages.   (updated 6/1/99 J Ingram)

11. Philadelphia Area

11a. Philadelphia -- Franklin Institute Science Museum

• Address -- 220 North 20th St (20th Street & Benjamin Franklin Parkway), Philadelphia PA 19103-1194
• Cost -- Adult $9.75, kids 4-11 and seniors over 62 $8.50
• Display -- ". . .The Science Center: . . . Railroad Hall is a Victorian railway station complete with a 350-ton Baldwin locomotive. A 40-foot long G-gauge train can be operated, its course viewed through a video camera mounted on the engine." per fieldtrip.com mentioned below.
• Hours -- Daily 9:30 - 5. Closed major holidays and Dec 24-25.
• Phone -- 215-448-1200 or 215-448-1208
• Website -- http://sln.fi.edu/tfi/welcome.html, but I cannot find any mention of the train layout.
  • Train layout mentioned at http://fieldtrip.com/pa/54481208.htm
• Other Information -- (6/1/99 J Ingram)  

11b. Philadelphia -- Morris Arboretum Garden Railway Display (6/16/01 to 10/8/01)

• Address -- 100 Northwestern Ave. between Germantown & Stenton Aves.
• Cost -- Adults-$6; Seniors (65+) - $5; Students-$4; under 6 free
• Display -- Six trains represent various railroads throughout history, including freight and passenger models. Three trolley car lines are also in operation. Both trains and trolleys weave through an area of 50 x 25 yards.
• Hours -- June 17 through October 8th, 2001 and is handicapped accessible. Hours are 10 am to 4 pm weekdays, 10 am to 5 pm weekends, until 8pm on Thursday.
• Phone -- 215-247-5777
• Website -- http://upenn.edu/morris/events.htm has both photos and information on the display.
• Other Information -- (5/6/01 from website)