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Planes and Trains Model Railroad ShowUnited States Air Force Museum of Aviation |
Nov 2019 / RWH
Now in its second decade, the Planes and Trains Model Railroad Show is an annual event held in the Century of Flight hanger at the United States Air Force Museum of Aviation in Warner Robbins, Georgia. Surrounded by numerous retired Air Force aircraft on display in the hanger, the annual railroad show features several model railroad layouts in different scales, displays from various railroad organizations such as the Southeastern Railway Museum, and vendors selling a variety of model railroad items and railroadiana. The centerpiece of the show is a large modular HO scale layout belonging to the Middle Georgia Railroad Club. Admission to the museum and the show is free to the public.
Click to see the Air Force Museum of Aviation plotted on a Google Maps page
Nov 2019 / RWH
Nov 2019 / RWH
Article
Planes and Trains Exhibit Chugs Along Back to the Museum of Aviation
November 22, 2019
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. — People from the Middle Georgia Model Railroad Club put in hours of hard work to get ready for the Planes and Trains exhibit in the Century of Flight Hangar at the Museum of Aviation.
"We started at 8:00, hoping by about 2 or 3, we can be running trains," Arthur Curtis, member of the MGMRC said.
The long hours and meticulous work creates extravagant displays that will stretch along four miles worth of track.
James Blackburn has been participating in the Planes and Trains event for about four years now. His circus-themed setup features about 1,500 figurines, every single one glued by hand. Every figure has a different story.
"I got a pickpocket here, the police are watching him," Blackburn described, pointing to one of his figures.
"Here's an orange grove, the giraffe got lost in there and is eating the oranges," Blackburn said pointing to one of his many giraffes on his display.
But they're not the only one with stories. Their conductors' tracks take you back to their childhood.
"When I was a child, we had a train around the tree," Paul Hutcheson Corporate Secretary of the Middle Georgia Model Railroad Club said.
"I grew up between Ashland and Richmond and the trains would switch in that area," Curtis.
Now, it's full steam ahead as the crew prepares for a huge crowd. "We're hoping to get 7,000 people -- we had 7,000 last year and we are hoping to do better this year," Hutcheson said.
The exhibit kicks off Saturday, November 23rd at 9 a.m. Planes and Trains will be open to the public every day except Thanksgiving through December 1st from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event is free to the public.
HO Scale
The Middle Georgia Model Railroad Club Incorporated provides public exhibits of model railroading throughout the local area. We've demonstrated our hobby at the Museum of Aviation; Georgia National Fair; Georgia State Fair; Cherry Blossom Festival; Rock Ranch; Bryon Railroad Depot; Hampton Railroad Depot; Lyon's Club Fair; Dunham Farms; and the Historical McDonough 1990 Camp Train Wreck Memorial.
MGMRC Locomotive
The Club exhibits G, O, HO, N & Z Scale layouts. In 2008, the club was invited to the Robins Air Force Base, Museum of Aviation to put a train around the Christmas tree in the Eagle Building. In 2009, the Museum of Aviation Planes & Trains Exhibit became the largest model train exhibit in Middle Georgia. Join us for Planes & Trains during Thanksgiving Week. In 2017, Planes and Trains had more than 7000 attendees.
Warner Robins, GA / Nov 2019 / RWH
Warner Robins, GA / Nov 2019 / RWH
Warner Robins, GA / Nov 2019 / RWH
Both in real life, trackside, and on model railroad layouts no less, I'm always on the lookout for equipment lettered for favorite shortlines I love. In the world of ubiquitous Class 1 lettering and paint schemes, spotting a lone car with familiar beloved initials like CAGY, BAYL, ATL, CIRR, MSE, etc. is always a treat. So how tickled was I, surveying the Middle Georgia Railroad Club's massive HO modular, to spot a shorty Winchester & Western Railroad hopper tucked into a long mainline drag. The WW is definitely a favorite shortline, with a singular mission of hauling out sand across an interesting route and with a wonderful stable of first gen power. Given that their sand goes everywhere, it has become something of a mission to look for WW hoppers in passing freights and in far-flung interchanges. Who knew I'd spot those unmistakable maroon letters on a familiar length sand car ... in an aircraft hanger.
See also our complete Winchester & Western Railroad scrapbook in Shortlines
Warner Robins, GA / Nov 2019 / RWH
N Scale
Warner Robins, GA / Nov 2019 / RWH
Warner Robins, GA / Nov 2019 / RWH
Displays
RWH
Warner Robins, GA / Nov 2019 / RWH
Warner Robins, GA / Nov 2019 / RWH
Aircraft
Warner Robins, GA / Nov 2019 / RWH