Chicago museum of science & industry new 3,500 sq ft HO layout. http://www.msichicago.org/exhibit/great_train_story/index.html
Thanks for the post. I remember seeing the O scale layout back in 1971, when we made a field trip from Joliet to the Museum. It was impressive! BTW, the Pioneer Zephyr is also on display there, and now it's out of the open and (if I remember the press release) literally in the basement. Should make it easier to see this pioneer streamliner. Wonder if it'll be featured in the railfan press, or Tracks Ahead? One can only hope! [ 20. December 2002, 00:21: Message edited by: friscobob ]
I remember that old layout from when, as a kid, I lived in Chicago. It was a "must-see" on every visit to the museum. Their web site presentation of the new layout is excellent.
Certainly is, I do like how the layout is set up to explain the significance of rail, and why it is still important after all these years, with it being designed to show what things the railroad handles, and how it handles them. I like the idea of modelling the complete system, and illustrating all the processes involved. I like how they have also tried to keep it modern, to keep the display relevant to what folks might see moving around out in the real world. I think an awful lot of museums do a great job of explaining why and how things used to be, but some don't convert that heritage well into explaining why rail is still important today, and that can give an impression that it is an out-of-date and dying industry... So full marks to these guys! It looks great, and it's on my "must see" list for when I get a chance to re-visit Chicago.
One thing for sure, Walthers really must of made a killing on this layout. I seen a Walthers kit in just about every picture!!
Wow! What a great layout! Thanks for sharing, loco2. I've always wanted to go to Chicago, now I have another reason! That's a great website too, gives you a lot of the behind the scenes action. They really scratchbuilt a ton of that stuff! I'm surprised they used so few Walthers and other kits. I'm really impressed with what a great team effort it was to pull off such an enormous project. How cool! Andy, you must have missed the picture with the 2 tons of Woodland Scenic ground foam containers in it! I think they made much more than Walthers did on the deal. I hope both companies made a killing. They deserve it. So many companies provide us with awesome pruducts, if they can make a buck, that will insure we keep getting newer and greater things. Of course, they probably donated the stuff. Let's hope they made some money instead!
I have a friend that is head of membership services at the museum. it was a big deal when they decided to update the layout. The old O-scale road which was built by the pioneers of this hobby was run in its last years by a fully computerized CTC mockup. It was Santa Fe in the Mid-eighties. It was also shortened in the 90s when the museum had a complete 727 airplane suspended from the ceiling about the layout. Interestingly, I have been told that many of the engines dating back to the first construction are gathering dust in the museum basement. When I am in town over christmas, I'm going ot have to check on the disposition of those engines again. This is perhaps the most famous model railroad in the country and if you're ever in chicago you should take the time to check it out. Oh, and the Zepher is actually in the underground parking garage right at the main entrance to the museum. The also have the New York Central 999 on display.
Hey Pete, I did see the cart full of ground foam and ballast. Also the picture where they are assembling the cars and engines, a whole lot of Athearns going on there!!
Hey folks... How far from the train station is this museum? We are taking Amtrak from Dallas to Harrisburg, PA in May and have a nice layover in Chicago on the return trip. I saw this post and I just have to see this layout. Anyone who can help it would be a great help...
The Museum is about a 15-minute taxi ride from Union Station (approx $25 one –way) depending on traffic and the ever-present road construction. My wife and I went out there with a few friends one day that we all had off of work and were bumming around the city. We got to the museum around 2:45 and found out they close at 4:00. After seeing the delay at the ticket counter, we looked at the Zephyr in the entrance then turned around, back out side for another $25 ride. Instead of getting to see the new layout, we decided to finish the day off with drinks at Union Station before hopping on to our respective trains back out of the city.
You ould theoretically hop on the south shore/Metra line and get off near the museum at the UofC campus, but some of the NEighborhood you have to go through is less then exciting. Chicago really needs to put in some sort of trolley that runs from at least the loop area past the Museum campus, down to MSI. ideally it would also run north to Lincoln park.
Hi all, I saw the layout yesterday and all I can say is WOW!!!. We got there when they opened up at 9:30. Unfortunately, so did all of the school groups. It was a noisy zoo until 12:30. Then it was peaceful. The layout is immense. Being from Chicago, I appreciate big buildings. The downtown buildings on the layout are BIG. Pictures don't do them justice. I am no rivet-counter, so the detail on the buildings and the layout in general were OK by me. There were a couple of quirks though. We watched as one trains' locomotive derailed while moving, jerked the train to a stop and another train plowed into it's backend. Couldn't get the video camera started fast enuf. Some of the trains were hurtling down the tracks at supersonic speeds. We came across a locomotive laying on its side on the scenery, no one around, no train in sight. There were a number of guys walking inside the crowd control fence rerailing cars and answering questions. Must still be getting the bugs out. I was a big fan of the old layout but I like this one much better. Sure, it's a rolling advertisement for the BNSF, but so what. I enjoyed it. I now have to watch the video I shot to see what I missed. KEN
Hello HOers! Just was looking in on you guys when I saw this topic. I too have seen the old O scale layout twice in my life. It was AMAZING! Now we have this new HO layout. We had an artical in the local Paper in Lincoln, IL. about the new layout. I must say it looks great. Know I'll have to find time to go to Chi-Town again just to see it and go to The Bergoeff to eat some fine German food! Everytime I've been to Chicago, I've been on foot or taken the EL. Never stopped me from getting around. TAXI's... BAAH! Trains are the ONLY way to get around Chicago, I guess that's why it's the Rail Capital of the U.S.!
WOOHOO!!! I did not even know they were changing the Train Layout.. I live in the suburbs of Chicago and I think the last time I was at the museum was in 1999.. I loved looking at the O scale layout but it was getting rather dated.. Now I have a good reason to go down there and take my video camera this time!! I think I have been to that museum at least a dozen or more times and the first place I head is the Tarin layout. The Zepher is in the basement entrance, like someone mentioned, but you are not allow in it, just around it.. I do know that at the Illinois railway museum in Union Il, They run the zepher they own.. in fact you can buy tikcets for a dinner and ride on the Zepher... I still have yet to do that. I cannot wait to go to the museum again.. It will give me some incentive to work on my layout in the basement of my house
getting to MS&I from Union or the Metra (old Northwestern) stations--walk east to State St, about six blocks and look for southbound stop for the number 10 bus (CTA). Fare is $1.50. exact change. Takes you to the door of the museum. Takes about half an hour and the bus runs on a 20-30 minute schedule. After the stops in the downtown area, it is express (non-stop) the rest of the way. Return to downtown is the reverse. This info current for our visit 7-30-03.
