EveryMuseum.com - Dresden Junction Toy Train Museum And Railroad Artifacts

Come and see an extensive collection of "O" Gauge trains and a 10' X 20' display that can run up to four trains at once. There are over 120 engines and countless train cars, plus a small sampling of my "HO" Gauge collection. However, that's not all to experience at the museum. There are working railroad block signals and crossing lights. Over 40 railroad lanterns, tools and antique furniture along with old photographs, railroad memorabilia and much, much more to enjoy.

I began my collecting of model trains 39 years ago back in 1967. My first purchase was an "HO" scale train set made by TYCO. I was in the Military at the time, U.S. Army, living in California. Throughout my military career I continued collecting "HO" Scale and have acquired many road names such as: P.R.R., B & O, New York Central, Union Pacific, Conrail and CSX just to name a few. In my "HO" collection I have over four hundred (400) engines and in rolling stock I have 1,500 - 2,000 cars. I have over one hundred (100) "HO" train cars still in their original boxes that are not assembled. I stopped collecting "HO" scale in the late 1980's early 1990's.

My attention then turned to "O" and "O-27" gauge trains and their manufactures like: Lionel, Marx, MTH-Rail King and K-Line. My "O" gauge collection currently consists of over (140) engines on display, this does not include what I have in boxes not out running. As far as my "O" scale rolling stock there are just too many to count. The oldest train in my collection is a cast iron train from the late 1800's. I also have a 1905 Ives, and the oldest "O" gauge train I have was made in 1913.

I built my train layout in what was my garage. The layout is 10' X 20' and stand about four and a half (4 1/2) foot high. When I constructed the display I added casters so I could move the layout when I need to do any maintenance work or have derailments. I used all Lionel standard high rail track and the layout has two (2) wye's on the main line to turn trains completely around. Also a wye in the engine facility to turn engines around in the engine facility. There are thirty (30) switches in total on the display and I added six (6) ties for every ten (10) inches of track. I am able to run four (4) trains at once or I can take three (3) trains off of the layout and run one (1) train over the entire layout. The layout has all hand made trees, the rock formations are all hand carved, painted and highlighted. All the fences are hand made and the buildings are Lionel, Rail King, American Flyer, Scratch Built and Kit-Bashed buildings. There are cattle moving and a rooster that crows when the train goes through the farm area. The crossing lights flash, the traffic lights blink and I added headlights and taillights to some of the vehicles on the display and there's a working water fountain in the park.

The power behind it all comes from a control panel that I designed using two (2) Z4000's which powers the main tracks on the layout. My yard is controlled from on of the Z4000's or a separate Z750 transformer. I have it wired so that I can control anyone of the four (4) main lines with any of the two (2) Z 4000 transformers. Plus I have five (5) other transformers mounted under the display for various applications such as street lights, buildings and more. I operated the trains using a hand held walk around remote control.

Around the time I started collecting "O" and "O-27" gauge trains I also began collecting railroad memorabilia and actual railroad artifacts. These railroad items include lanterns, tools, furniture, locks, oilcans and quite a few different signs and signals and switch stands and much more. I have two (2) working railroad crossing signals and four (4) working block signals in my yard around the house.

As I have stated and you know collecting takes time. During this time not only was I working, but I was raising a family. I have been married to a patient and understanding woman since 1966 and have two children, a son and a daughter, needless to say in the early years they cam first and collecting was a slow going. Since I have retired form the U.S. Army in 1982. and my children graduated school in 1985 and 1988, this is when my collecting really took off. My children are all gown up and I have two grandsons, they both have some Lionel trains and someday they might have a lot more. My wife and I still go antiquing and she will even bring railroad items to my attention. Even being retired it seems like I'm busier now with the museum and collecting that I've ever been. My train display is nearing completion, however, like they say a display and collecting is never finished.

In my spare time I also repair the older Lionel, Marx, American Flyer and some K-Line trains.