Model Trains for the Win

Can a model train exhibition ever fail as an idea for an institution?

Nope.

Not that I know of anyway.

Some institutions pull theirs out every winter holiday — but I know of year-round ones that seem to work like a charm too.

And what’s not to love about these intricate, moving, nostalgic, multigenerational, hypnotizing, wholesome, beloved, irresistible, selfie-bait, upcharge-ticket-selling, donation-enhancing attractions?

Especially if we build in clever details, local landmarks and history, or little elements that relate to our unique mission for our visitors to discover. 

That said, there is one little unique catch.

Building and maintaining complex train sets takes specialized labor, often in the form of — er, how shall I say this — male hobbyists of an advanced age? Ensuring a supply of that dwindling resource could very well be critical. (Actually not joking.)

Here’s the thing:

Yeah, sure, a model train isn’t the newest idea. But maybe a little bit of tried-and-true wouldn’t hurt once in a dang while?

So if we study up, get site-specific with some delightful details, and navigate that one little unique labor issue, our model train exhibition might just stay … [ok, fine, I’m saying it] … on track.

Warmly,
Jonathan

P.S. Have stories about your experience with a model train exhibition? (Especially ones that, er, didn’t work?) Hit reply and let me know, I’d love to hear!

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MtM Word of the Day:

Foam core. A common model-making material in exhibition design. Also even used in some exhibitions. A board made of two sheets of paper with a layer of rigid foam between them. Comes in various sizes and thicknesses. Monsanto invented it in 1957 as Fome-Cor, and still makes their own version under that name. (Which means that all Fome-Cor is foam core, but not all foam core is Fome-Cor.)