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Everything is magical in miniature displays.
Here are 11 model train and miniature displays to visit this holiday season around Pittsburgh.
Western Pennsylvania Model Railroad Museum
This display is among the nation’s oldest, dating to 1938.
With about 4,000 square feet and 6,500 feet of track, this display features Pittsburgh to Cumberland, Maryland, in 1952.
Among the 100 steam locomotives and 250 diesel engines, look for some regional landmarks: Fallingwater, J&L Steel and Cox’s Department Store.
There are buttons with interactive displays for children of all ages.
The display is located at 5507 Lakeside Drive in Richland Township, Allegheny County (Gibsonia). It is open on select days from Nov. 11 through Jan. 14. Cost is $5 for children under 12 and $10 for adults. For more information, visit the website.
Ohio Valley Lines
This display in Ambridge in celebrating 40 years. The display features “two fantastic, highly-detailed model railroad displays.”
The show is open select days from Nov. 25 through Jan. 7. Cost is $6 for adults and $2 for children 3 to 12. For more information, visit the website.
Beaver County Model Railroad and Historical Society
Visitors can see several locomotive power and rolling stock, plus a variety of displays, and can check out the rest of the building and library.
Admission is free, and donations are accepted. The show runs select days from Nov. 25 through Dec. 31. Find more details here.
Pennsylvania Trolley Museum
Check out the Trolleys and Toy Trains exhibit at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum. Be sure to see the Victorian-style village and the Lego layout. For costs and dates, visit the website.
Kennywood’s Model Train Display
Carefully crafted by the Pittsburgh Independent Hi-Railers, the model train display at Kennywood Park’s Holiday Lights features 14 scale miles, a quarter mile of real track and hundreds of scenes and locations. Read more here.
Admission is included with a Holiday Lights general admission ticket. For tickets and dates, visit Kennywood’s website.
Spirit of Christmas Express at Robinson Town Centre
Free and open to the public, The Spirit of Christmas Express is making its inaugural appearance at Robinson Town Centre. Built by Nicholas Archacki and Brandon Salvati, this display features operating trains, snow village, amusement park, along with a local history display of Pittsburgh’s street cars and other railroad items.
The display opens Nov. 27 and continues through Dec. 30. It’s located to the right of TJ Maxx.
Rochester Area Heritage Society and Model Railroad Museum
This display features five different model railroad displays in five different scales.
Display is open select days Nov. 25 through Dec. 30. Admission is $7 and free for children 12 and younger. For more information, visit the group’s Facebook page or call 724-777-7697.
Miniature Railroad & Village at the Carnegie Science Center
This display dates to 1919 and features some of Western Pennsylvania’s landmarks — Mister Rogers’ house, Kaufmann’s Department Store, Fallingwater and new this year is the Allegheny County Airport.
Cost to view the display comes with general admission for the science center. For more information, visit the science center website.
Phipps Conservatory Garden Railroad: Pennsylvania Through the Four Seasons
Visit Phipps and celebrate Pennsylvania’s four seasons with the Garden Railroad display. Guests will see the miniature world of trains, buildings and landscapes that showcase the four seasons as experienced in distinctive Pennsylvania fashion, with a beach, a county fair and a bike trail among many other whimsical and interactive features.
Admission is part of the general admission for Phipps. For more information, visit the Phipps website.
Ridings Family Train Display
Visit the Ridings family train display at the McCarl Industrial & Agricultural Museum in Darlington. Weekends from the weekend after Thanksgiving through Dec. 31. More details here.
Train Gang of Washington County
The Train Gang of Washington County is located in the Washington Crown Center Mall (1500 W Chestnut St, Washington, PA 15301), close to I-70. Open Wednesdays through Sundays from Nov. 24 through Dec. 30. Check the group’s Facebook page for specific hours. Admission is free; donations are welcome and are shared with local charities. More details here.
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