Clovis Depot Model Train Museum, New Mexico
Model railroad museumHours not posted online; call (575) 762-0066 first
The Clovis Depot Model Train Museum tells the railroad story of Clovis and the Belen Cutoff through eleven operating model layouts, period railroad artifacts and a telegraph station, with real BNSF trains rolling past outside.
- Eleven operating layouts
- Most model scales represented
- Telegraph station inside
- Views of BNSF operations
Clovis Depot Model Train Museum at a glance
- Hours
- Not posted online; call (575) 762-0066
- Admission
- Not posted online; ask when you call
- Plan for
- About 1 hour
- Best for
- Model railroaders and young train fans
- Best ages
- Ages 3 and up
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Clovis Depot Model Train Museum? Bring Rally along.
In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Clovis.
Rally Takes the Train
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Model trains and the story of the Belen Cutoff
Clovis is a railroad town, and this museum at 221 W 1st St sets out to explain why. It focuses on the history of railroading in Clovis and on the Belen Cutoff, the line that links the town to the west, using eleven operating model railroad layouts built in most of the common scales to show how the railroad worked and how it shaped the area.
Alongside the layouts, the museum keeps documents and photographs from the 1950s and 1960s, a telegraph station and other railroad artifacts. Visitors also get a look at real BNSF railroad operations nearby, so the full-size trains outside are part of the experience. Hours, admission and tour details are not posted online, so call (575) 762-0066 before making the trip.
Layouts, artifacts and live trains
Expect to move from layout to layout, each running in a different scale, then spend time with the photographs, documents and telegraph station that cover the 1950s and 1960s. Keep an eye out the window or outside for BNSF trains, which the museum is known for letting visitors watch.
Don’t miss
- The eleven operating layoutsRunning layouts in most scales give a broad and detailed look at railroading around Clovis.
- The telegraph stationA reminder of how train orders and messages moved before radios and computers.
- BNSF trainsReal freight operations nearby turn a model visit into a chance to see full-size trains too.
Running trains at kid height
Model layouts that actually run are a strong draw for young train fans, and the real BNSF trains outside add to the fun. Ask when you call whether kids can push any buttons or run a train, and how best to see the layouts with small children.
Plan your visit: tips for Clovis Depot Model Train Museum
- Call (575) 762-0066 for hours and pricing before you go.
- The address is 221 W 1st St, Clovis, NM 88101.
- Leave time to watch BNSF trains outside.
Keeping the layouts running
Information on who runs the museum is not posted online. Operating eleven layouts takes steady care, so if you would like to help with volunteering or donations, ask when you call (575) 762-0066.
Rail stops across the eastern plains
The Tucumcari Railroad Museum is about 61 miles north, and across the Texas line, the Amarillo Railroad Museum is about 96 miles away. For more around the state, see New Mexico's train museums.
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
Model layouts always have a tiny conductor somewhere on the platform, and I picture kids in Clovis hunting for him. In our book, Mr. Conductor wears a blue uniform and reaches out a hand to help Rally aboard with Mom and Dad. My kids are learning to read, and that kind gesture is the page they point to. Little ones can color him on our coloring pages.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.
Get the free coloring pages
A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.
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Work or volunteer at Clovis Depot Model Train Museum?
We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.
Clovis Depot Model Train Museum: 20 questions
What is the Clovis Depot Model Train Museum?
It is a model railroad museum in Clovis, New Mexico, that explains the history of railroading in Clovis and on the Belen Cutoff. It has eleven operating layouts in most scales, documents and photos from the 1950s and 1960s, a telegraph station and views of BNSF railroad operations.
Where is the Clovis Depot Model Train Museum?
The museum is at 221 W 1st St, Clovis, New Mexico 88101. Call (575) 762-0066 for directions and to confirm the museum will be open before you drive over, since hours are not posted online.
What are the Clovis Depot Model Train Museum hours?
The museum does not post its hours online, and no official website is listed for it. Call (575) 762-0066 for current opening days and times before you visit, especially if you are driving in from out of town or planning around a weekend. The phone is the most reliable way to confirm it will be open.
How much does the Clovis Depot Model Train Museum cost?
Admission prices are not posted online. Call (575) 762-0066 to ask about current pricing, and whether there are rates for children, seniors or groups. If you are bringing a family or a school group, ask at the same time whether you should book a time, since the museum's schedule is not published.
How many model train layouts are at the Clovis Depot museum?
The museum has eleven operating layouts, built in most of the common model railroad scales. Together they give both a broad overview and a detailed look at railroading around Clovis and the Belen Cutoff, from the trains that served the town to the industries along the line. Model railroaders can compare scales side by side.
Can you see real trains at the Clovis Depot Model Train Museum?
Yes. Visitors get good views of BNSF railroad operations near the museum, so you can watch full-size freight trains as well as the models. Plan a few extra minutes outside to catch one going by.
What is the Belen Cutoff?
The Belen Cutoff is the rail line that connects Clovis toward Belen to the west. Its history is a main theme of the museum, which uses its layouts and artifacts to show how the line shaped railroading and life in the Clovis area.
Is there a telegraph station at the Clovis museum?
Yes. The museum includes a telegraph station among its artifacts, along with documents and photographs from the 1950s and 1960s. It shows how railroaders sent messages and train orders in that era, before radios and computers took over, and it is a good thing to point out to kids who have never seen a telegraph key.
Is the Clovis Depot Model Train Museum good for kids?
Running model trains are a natural draw for kids, and real BNSF trains outside add to the excitement. Younger children usually enjoy spotting details on the layouts. Call (575) 762-0066 to ask whether there are any hands-on layouts or buttons children can use, and whether strollers fit easily between the displays.
How long should I spend at the Clovis Depot Model Train Museum?
About an hour lets you see all eleven layouts and the artifacts at an easy pace. Serious model railroaders may want longer to study the different scales and scenes, and waiting outside to watch BNSF trains can stretch the visit. Call ahead so you know the closing time before you plan the rest of your day.
Are Clovis Depot Model Train Museum reviews good?
Only a handful of reviews appear on directory sites. Visitors tend to mention the number of running layouts and the chance to see live BNSF trains. Because hours are not posted, the most useful tip is to call ahead.
Is there parking at the Clovis Depot Model Train Museum?
Parking details are not posted online. The museum is at 221 W 1st St in Clovis, and the best plan is to ask about parking when you call (575) 762-0066 to confirm hours. If you are arriving with a group or a larger vehicle, mention that on the call so staff can suggest the easiest spot.
Is the Clovis Depot Model Train Museum wheelchair accessible?
Accessibility information is not posted online. Call (575) 762-0066 before your visit to ask about entrances, steps and how easy it is to view the layouts from a wheelchair or stroller. Layout heights vary at many model railroad museums, so it is worth asking which ones can be seen comfortably from a seated position.
Can groups or schools tour the Clovis Depot Model Train Museum?
A group tour program is not posted online. Teachers, scout leaders and tour organizers should call (575) 762-0066 to ask about arranging a visit, any group pricing and how many people the space can hold at once. The museum's focus on the Belen Cutoff and 1950s railroading can fit well with local history lessons.
Does the Clovis Depot Model Train Museum host birthday parties?
A birthday party package is not listed online. With eleven running layouts and real trains nearby, it is worth asking about, so call (575) 762-0066 to see whether the museum can host a small party or a group visit, and what dates and times might work for your family.
Does the Clovis museum have a Christmas event?
Holiday events are not posted online. Model railroad museums sometimes run special displays or extra hours in December, so call (575) 762-0066 in late fall to ask whether anything is planned this year. If nothing is scheduled, a regular visit to see the running layouts still makes a fun winter outing.
What era does the Clovis Depot museum cover?
Its documents and photographs focus mainly on the 1950s and 1960s, while the layouts and exhibits cover the broader railroad history of Clovis and the Belen Cutoff. Visitors can then step outside and see the BNSF trains running today, which links the museum's history directly to the railroad that still serves the town.
How can I volunteer at the Clovis Depot Model Train Museum?
Volunteer information is not posted online. Keeping eleven layouts running takes ongoing work on track, wiring and scenery, so model railroaders who want to help should call (575) 762-0066 and ask how to get involved. Donations of time or materials may also be welcome, and the same call is the way to ask.
Does the Clovis Depot Model Train Museum have a website?
No official website is listed for the museum, and it does not appear to post hours or prices online. The phone number, (575) 762-0066, is the most reliable way to get hours, prices and directions. The street address is 221 W 1st St, Clovis, New Mexico 88101.
What train museums are near Clovis, New Mexico?
The Tucumcari Railroad Museum is about 61 miles north, and the Amarillo Railroad Museum in Texas is about 96 miles away. Together with Clovis they make a good eastern plains rail road trip, and each one shows a different side of railroading on the high plains, so call ahead to line up open days.
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