Atlanta

Model Trains through the Ages was the name of the exhibit located in the Harstfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The exhibit was designed to promote model railroading by showing passengers what can be done with model trains. Many people in the hobby got started with a train under the Christmas tree as a young child. Years later, they remembered the joy of watching the train go round and wanted to experience that again. Or perhaps a father or relative worked for the railroad and became interested in the trains they worked around. It was many a child’s dream to become a railroad engineer when they grew up. Model railroading can bring back memories and be an enjoyable hobby that the entire family can share.

Model Trains Through the Ages was a huge undertaking for the Central Georgia Model Railroad Club. Started in late 2002, club members devoted countless hours over almost 3 years to complete the project. Yet all the time spent was well worth it. Everyone had a great time building the exhibit, as this is what we like to do. There is a reason that they say “Model Railroading is fun!”

The idea for Model Trains Through the Ages got its start in 2002 as Karl Warden was helping remove an exhibit on papermaking in the same location at the airport. The exhibit would introduce airline passengers to model railroading and bring more people into the hobby. Plans were made and work began.

The Model Trains Through the Ages exhibit was in the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport from August 2005 until September 2006. While in the airport, an estimated 10 million people saw the exhibit, and many took note of it. This was a truly remarkable number of people who were exposed to model railroading.

The exhibit in the airport was located in the “T”, or International terminal- the busiest terminal in the busiest airport in the world. The exhibit was enclosed in four glass cases, viewable from both sides. The cases formed an “L” shape made up of three 42' long by 42" wide cases as the long part of the L, and a 15'x42" case forming the bottom. The cases were located past security at the airport.

In the first case was a variety of model trains ranging from the large scale live steam locomotive and train from Little Engines to an assortment of trains in O, S and G scales. LGB was prominent in this case, with a sampling of their products on shelves. At one end of the display was a Christmas tree, complete with presents and an O scale train running around the bottom, just like one would find on Christmas morning.

The second case contained the HO scale layout, which was only 38' long due to the size of the opening in the case. Please see the “Construction” page, which can be found by clicking the link to the left.

The third case contained several “modules”. These modules were small sections of a train layout selected for their detail and realism. The modules included a sawmill with complete interior, a used car lot, a coal ship being loaded, a ship scrapyard, a glass factory with a new section under construction and a how-to module that shows the major steps in building a full sized model train layout.

The fourth and final case contained paintings by famous railroad artists such as Howard Fogg. There was a G scale representation of a Pennsylvania Railroad passenger train complete with a GG1 type locomotive, one of only two in existence, with a Z scale (the smallest) train above it to compare size. There were also other examples including wooden toy trains and old Lionel equipment.

Before Moving to Atlanta

The Exhibit in Place

Removing the Layout