KENNESAW, Ga. — The Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History will host the fifth annual installment of its highly popular “Trains, Trains, Trains” event on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015. The event will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. throughout the Museum.
This year, the railroad-themed event will include new and expanded model train layouts, more activities for families and an expanded General Emporium. The enlarged gift shop will offer a wide range of train and railroad-themed items, including a number of gifts geared toward families and kids.
“‘Trains, Trains, Trains’ is the Museum’s most popular annual event, and we are gearing up for what is sure to be our largest turnout yet,” said Dr. Richard Banz, the Museum’s executive director. “We are proud to host an event where families can make memories that will last a lifetime.”
As guests explore the Museum and discover the eight train layouts planned for this year’s event, they will have the opportunity to interact and operate select layouts.
North Georgia Modurail, a local model railroading group, will set up the largest layout ever showcased at “Trains, Trains, Trains.” The one-of-a-kind HO scale layout will fill the 3,600-square-foot space Cobb Energy Gallery and will allow visitors to view the model trains operating on the layout from a number of unique angles.
As part of this year’s expanded hands-on activities, kids of all ages will be able to take part in a new and enjoyable take-home craft. In addition, railroad artifacts from the Museum’s extensive archive collection will be on display for visitors to hold, touch and discover how they were used on the railroad.
“This event is so much fun and we love watching the joy and excitement younger train buffs have when they walk in the door and see the model trains for the first time,” said Sara Wilson, the Southern Museum’s event coordinator. “That excitement only increases the first time they walk up to one of the model layouts and pull the throttle to make a train go.”
In addition to the special train exhibits erected for the event, the Museum’s regular displays, including the historic General locomotive and the Glover Machine Works will be open during “Trains, Trains, Trains.”
The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway is the title sponsor of this year’s event. The Museum and the railroad are partnering for a March 28 fundraiser. Proceeds raised during a scenic train ride that day from Blue Ridge, Ga., to McCaysville, Ga., will benefit the Museum’s education programs.
Museum admission is $7.50 for adults, $6.50 for seniors, $5.50 for children ages 4-12 and free for children three and under as well as Museum members; coupons and discounts will not be accepted on the day of the event. The Museum is located at 2829 Cherokee Street in downtown Kennesaw (exit 273 on Interstate 75). To purchase tickets in advance, visit http://bit.ly/1yzUS3E.
For more information, call (770) 427-2117 ext. 3058, visit southernmuseum.org or follow the Museum at facebook.com/southernmuseum.