Twin City Model Railroad Museum in St. Paul, Minnesota

Written By Kelsey Cecil

St. Paul, Minnesota · Updated October 19, 2026 · 13 min read

Model railroad museumOpen Friday to Monday; Night Trains on Saturday evenings in winter

The Twin City Model Railroad Museum is an all-volunteer St. Paul nonprofit, founded in 1934, whose O-scale and toy train layouts recreate the railroads of the Twin Cities in loving detail and invite even toddlers to press the buttons that make them run.

  • Founded as a club in 1934
  • All-volunteer nonprofit
  • 30 by 50 foot O-scale layout
  • Night Trains since 1996
  • Free parking, accessible building
  • Kids 4 and under free

Twin City Model Railroad Museum at a glance

Hours
Mon and Fri 10 am to 3 pm, Sun 10 am to 5 pm; Sat 10 am to 2 pm plus Night Trains 3 to 7 pm (late Oct to Feb), 10 am to 5 pm in other months
Admission
Daytime $10 (ages 5+); Night Trains $15; 4 and under free
Seasonal events
Night Trains, Spooky Trains, Christmas Model Train, Hobby Show and Sale, Circus Trains, Military Trains, Railroad name days
Plan for
About 1 to 2 hours
Best for
Toddlers, preschoolers and model railroaders
Best ages
Toddlers to age 10, plus grown-up hobbyists
Parking
Free lot with room for cars and buses
Accessibility
The Transfer Road facility is handicap accessible, with restrooms.

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Twin City Model Railroad 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 St. Paul.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

Ninety years of building the Twin Cities in miniature

The museum started in 1934 as a club of model railroaders, and it has called St. Paul home ever since, even as it moved several times. For years it operated inside the Saint Paul Union Depot, staying until the depot shut down on September 26, 1978. Its next home was Bandana Square, a former Northern Pacific railcar repair shop being turned into a mall, where members began building a new O-scale layout. In 2009 volunteers opened a Toy Train Division in the neighboring Chimneys Building.

In October 2015 the museum announced it needed a new home, and on May 17, 2016 it reopened at 668 Transfer Road, just south of the former Amtrak Midway Depot along the Minnesota Commercial railyard. During the pandemic, volunteers expanded again, adding a party room, the "Mini-Sota" gallery of layouts, a workshop and space for the crew. The museum marked its 90th anniversary in 2024 with a special logo that nods to the Bandana Square years.

Through all of it, the museum has stayed an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) dedicated to preserving the history, art and technology of toy trains and model railroading, with an eye on how much railroads mattered to this region. Its volunteers include current and former railroad employees, and they are as happy to swap stories as to run trains.

Every scale from Z to G, and a Twin Cities you can stand over

The centerpiece is the 30 by 50 foot O-scale layout of the Twin City area, which the museum calls its World Famous O-Scale Exhibit. Nearby, a 30 by 16 foot professionally built toy train layout shows the Twin Cities again in a more playful style. Around them are layouts in many scales, makers and eras: a Prewar Toy Train layout, the Golden Age of Toy Trains, a Milwaukee Road Hi-Rail layout, FAO Schwarz Märklin trains, the Sogn Valley, the Twin City Missabe Terminal Railway, the Waupaca and Mosinee Railroad, an Amusement Park layout, the G-Whiz Gang, LEGO train layouts and Thomas the Tank Engine.

Between the layouts you will find railroad artwork, artifacts and equipment from the local railroads that once ran through the area. Exhibits are built to be interactive, so expect push buttons and kid-height train tables. Volunteers on the floor answer questions, and the museum's Train Doctors can help with repairs and advice on your own trains. A gift and hobby shop sits on site.

Don’t miss

  1. The World Famous O-Scale ExhibitA 30 by 50 foot model of the Twin City area, the layout members began building at Bandana Square and the heart of the museum.
  2. Twin Cities toy train layoutA 30 by 16 foot professionally built layout that tells the same local story with classic toy trains.
  3. The town of Mattlin in a blizzardDuring Night Trains the house lights go down and this scale-layout town is buried in snow while streetlights and windows glow.
  4. The Christmas Model TrainAn engine and cars covered in hundreds of tiny lights, brought out each holiday season.
  5. Junior Engineers LEGO Train LayoutA LEGO layout aimed at young builders, a favorite stop for kids who like to look closely.
  6. Ask the Train DoctorVolunteer Train Doctors diagnose maintenance and repair problems, so bring questions about that old set from the attic.

Buttons to push and train tables at toddler height

This is one of the easiest train outings for very young kids. Visitors often mention the number of buttons that set trains moving and the toddler-sized train tables, and children 4 and under get in free. Thomas the Tank Engine, LEGO trains and an amusement park layout keep preschoolers busy, while older kids can study the detail on the big O-scale model. Because it is all indoors, it is a good choice for a cold or rainy day.

The museum also hosts birthday parties in a dedicated room added during its recent expansion, and its website offers a free coloring page, a Union Depot activity book and links to live train cams for the ride home.

Plan your visit: tips for Twin City Model Railroad Museum

  • Buy tickets ahead on the museum's Eventbrite page, especially for Night Trains.
  • Groups of 10 or more paying admissions in one transaction pay $8 each (not during Night Trains).
  • Metro Transit Bus 16 stops at University Avenue and Transfer Road.
  • The museum is closed Easter, the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
  • Small donations of model trains can be dropped off during open hours.

The busiest season starts with Spooky Trains on late October Saturday evenings, when the layouts get Halloween decorations, costumes are welcome and treats are handed out. Then Night Trains runs on Saturday evenings from November into late February, with the town of Mattlin in a blizzard, the lighted Christmas Model Train, Santa visits and live music on some nights. See our roundups of Halloween train outings in Minnesota and Minnesota Christmas trains for more.

An all-volunteer crew since 1934

No one is paid to run this museum: it is an all-volunteer nonprofit, and its volunteers build the layouts, staff the floor and answer questions. You can help by becoming a member, volunteering, donating online or by mail, or giving model railroad equipment and memorabilia. Shopping the gift and hobby shop and visiting the Hobby Show and Sale at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds each April and September also support the work.

Real trains a few miles away

After the miniatures, see full-size equipment at the Minnesota Transportation Museum and its Jackson Street Roundhouse, about 4 miles away. The Minnesota Streetcar Museum is about 7 miles off for a trolley ride, and the Gopher State Railway Museum in New Prague is about 33 miles south. Our page on train museums across Minnesota lists the rest.

Every train museum in Minnesota

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi dreaming about his toy turtle, green bone and yellow ball
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

In our book, Rally packs his own suitcase before the trip: his turtle toy, his green bone and his yellow ball. Every kid I know has a version of that bag, and at a museum full of tiny trains I can picture plenty of little backpacks with a favorite engine tucked inside. My kids are learning to read now, and the packing page is the one they read to me. If you want more train stories for little ones, here is our list of train books for toddlers.

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
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

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.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Twin City Model Railroad 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.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Twin City Model Railroad Museum: 20 questions families ask

Where is the Twin City Model Railroad Museum on Transfer Road in St. Paul, MN?

The museum is at 668 Transfer Road, Suite 8, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55114, between downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul. From I-94, take the Cretin/Vandalia exit north three blocks, turn right on University Avenue for one block, then left on Transfer Road. The entrance is just past the railroad tracks on the right.

What are the Twin City Model Railroad Museum hours?

As of October 2026, the museum is open Mondays and Fridays 10 am to 3 pm and Sundays 10 am to 5 pm. Saturdays run 10 am to 5 pm from March to mid-October, then 10 am to 2 pm plus Night Trains from 3 to 7 pm from late October through February. Hours can change, so check tcmrm.org.

How much are Twin City Model Railroad Museum tickets?

As of October 2026, daytime admission is $10 for everyone 5 and older, and children 4 and under are free. Night Trains evenings are $15 per guest, with kids 4 and under still free. Spooky Trains nights in late October are $10. Tickets can be bought ahead through the museum's Eventbrite page.

What upcoming events does the Twin City Model Railroad Museum have?

As of October 2026, Spooky Trains runs October 24 and 31 from 3 to 7 pm, and the 2026 to 2027 Night Trains season runs Saturday evenings from November 7 through February 27. Through the year the museum also holds Circus Trains, Military Trains, railroad name days and a Hobby Show and Sale each April and September.

What is Night Trains at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum?

Night Trains is the museum's signature winter event, started in 1996. On Saturday evenings the house lights are dimmed, buildings and streetlights glow, and specially lit vintage trains run. The town of Mattlin sits in a blizzard and the lighted Christmas Model Train returns. Some nights add Santa visits or live music. Admission is $15 as of October 2026.

Is the Twin City Model Railroad Museum good for toddlers?

Yes. Exhibits are designed for all ages, starting with toddlers, and visitors often mention the many buttons that make trains run and the toddler-height train tables. Children 4 and under get in free. Layouts like Thomas the Tank Engine, LEGO trains and the amusement park are especially popular with preschoolers.

Is the Twin City Model Railroad Museum a good place to go in bad weather?

Yes. Everything is indoors, so it works on cold, snowy or rainy days, and many families use it as a winter outing. The museum does not post weather closure rules online, so if a storm is moving in, call (651) 647-9628 or check its Facebook page before you drive over.

Who owns the Twin City Model Railroad Museum?

The museum is not privately owned. It is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) Minnesota nonprofit, governed by a board of directors listed on its website. It began as a club of model railroad fans in 1934 and has been run by volunteers ever since.

How big is the Twin City Model Railroad Museum?

The museum describes more than 11,000 square feet of interactive layouts and displays, and its expansion during the pandemic brought display space to nearly 14,000 square feet. The largest single exhibit is the 30 by 50 foot O-scale model of the Twin Cities, alongside a 30 by 16 foot toy train layout and many smaller layouts.

What layouts can you see at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum?

Featured exhibits include the World Famous O-Scale Exhibit, a Twin Cities toy train layout, a Milwaukee Road Hi-Rail layout, FAO Schwarz Märklin trains, the Prewar Toy Train and Golden Age of Toy Trains layouts, the Sogn Valley, the Twin City Missabe Terminal Railway, LEGO trains and Thomas the Tank Engine. Scales range from Z to G.

Is there parking at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum?

Yes. Parking is free, with plenty of room for cars and buses. The museum is also on Metro Transit Bus 16, which stops at University Avenue and Transfer Road, a short walk from the entrance.

Is the Twin City Model Railroad Museum wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The museum says its Transfer Road facility is handicap accessible, and restrooms are provided. If you have specific needs for a group visit, email info@tcmrm.org or call (651) 647-9628 before you come. Parking at the building is free, with room for cars and buses.

How long should you plan at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum?

Most families spend one to two hours. Visitors with small children often say the buttons and layouts hold attention for more than an hour, and hobbyists who want to study the O-scale detail or talk with the Train Doctors may want longer.

Can you have a birthday party at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum?

Yes. The museum's pandemic-era expansion added a dedicated space for birthday parties next to the Mini-Sota gallery of layouts. Details and booking are on the Parties page of tcmrm.org, or you can call (651) 647-9628 to ask about available dates.

Does the Twin City Model Railroad Museum offer group rates and tours?

Yes. As of October 2026, groups of 10 or more paying admissions in one transaction pay $8 per person, though not during Night Trains. Organized groups of children under 5 pay a flat rate starting at $50 for 8 to 15 kids. Guided tours can be arranged by emailing info@tcmrm.org.

What is the history of the Twin City Model Railroad Museum?

It began as a club in 1934 and later ran in the Saint Paul Union Depot until the depot closed in 1978. It moved to Bandana Square, a former Northern Pacific repair shop, and built its O-scale layout there. It reopened at 668 Transfer Road on May 17, 2016, and celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2024.

Is there a gift shop at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum?

Yes. The museum has a gift and hobby shop on site. It also hosts a Hobby Show and Sale at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds every April and September, a good place to find trains and parts for a home layout.

Can I get my model trains repaired at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum?

The museum's volunteer Train Doctors help guests diagnose maintenance, restoration and repair issues and give model railroading advice. Check the Ask the Train Doctor page on tcmrm.org or ask a volunteer during your visit. Bring the train or a photo of it so a volunteer can take a look.

How can I donate to or volunteer at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum?

You can donate online through the museum's PayPal link or mail a check to 668 Transfer Road, Suite 8, Saint Paul, MN 55114. Small model train donations can be dropped off during open hours, and larger ones arranged through info@tcmrm.org. Volunteer and membership details are on the Support Us pages.

What train museums are near the Twin City Model Railroad Museum?

The Minnesota Transportation Museum at the Jackson Street Roundhouse is about 4 miles away, the Minnesota Streetcar Museum about 7 miles, the Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum in Chisago City about 32 miles, and the Gopher State Railway Museum in New Prague about 33 miles.

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Kelsey Cecil
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