Fans of transportation heritage and Rochester history will love visiting the Edgerton Model Railroad. Each of the four season-themed layouts tells a different story of life on the move in the 1950s, with operating model trains touring throughout each scene.
Explore the details of each display during the open house layout tours, which are held on the last Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., plus additional holiday-season open house dates on December 6, 14, 21, and 28, 2024.
Four Seasons, Four Displays
Winter in the Mountains
The Winter Scene features Santa’s mountain home, a starry sky, and holiday lights synchronized to music. Highlights include a snowman-building contest, photos with Santa, a lively Main Street parade, and Christmas tree sales. Interactive buttons bring the display to life, creating a festive atmosphere.
Spring in the Countryside
The spring scene brings us to a railroad junction in rural America. The valley is complete with mountains, farmhouses, and an arch bridge.
Summer in the City
The summer scene depicts Rochester in the 1950s. Rochester’s skyline is made up of familiar landmarks, such as Kodak, Sibley Tower, Powers Building, the University of Rochester, and the Genesee River and Lake Ontario.
Fall in Letchworth State Park
The fall scene is a mash-up of the Henrietta area around Jefferson and West Henrietta Roads, plus the Penfield Road underpass and a small town near Letchworth, with a gas station and drive-in movie theater. There are even hot air balloons floating over the falls.
More information about the Edgerton Model Railroad
Passionate Edgerton Model Railroad Club volunteers steward this historic community treasure, originally known as the Police Athletic League (PAL) Model Railroad Heaven. As they say, it’s landmark preservation in miniature! Visit their website to learn more about this Club and how you can get involved.
You can take a free tour on the last Saturday of every month between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., with expanded open house hours during December. Edgerton Model Railroad Club is in the Edgerton Community Center at 41 Backus Street.
History of the Model Train Room
From the City of Rochester website:
“The Edgerton Model Railroad Room was launched on October 27, 1950, when Governor Thomas E. Dewey officially opened the “Model Railroad Heaven” with a ceremony that included his driving a miniature “golden spike” into the exhibit’s track!
“The Model Railroad Room was created at the tail end of Rochester and America’s bustling train travel era. Although trains aren’t as commonplace in Rochester as they were back then, the magic and mystique of trains persists.”
From the Edgerton Model Railroad Club website:
“These four layouts in O scale were started in 1950 by the City of Rochester and the Police Athletic (PAL) with assistance from the Lionel Corporation. These layouts depict the four seasons, and the Rochester Art Club painted the backdrops.
“The Lionel Corporation donated $5,000 worth of trains, tracks, and other accessories. The City of Rochester supplied a crew of carpenters who built the train room.
“In 1991, Lionel again donated a large amount of stock and accessories. In 2004, a significant contribution of locomotives, rolling stock, and accessories was received by donations from many O Gauge manufacturers with the help of the Train Collectors Association (TCA).
“In 2010, the Eastern Division of the TCA donated money for these layouts. Throughout the years many other individuals and companies have made donations to these layouts.”
The Edgerton Model Railroad Room was featured in a music video! The video was recorded at a vintage train station in New York. The videographer contacted Lee Wood, the Edgerton Model Train Room curator, to film and incorporate the model trains as part of the video. Learn More
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Have you been to the Edgerton Model Railroad Room?
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