Photo by Molly McNeal.
My grandson Cole was in relentless pursuit. “I think I found Batman,” called PeePaw, his other grandad from opposite a gigantic miniature village, as a tiny train glided by in front of him. Grandson #2, Austin, was also enthusiastically on the quest to find a ninja riding an elephant, the Flintstones’ house, a reindeer, and every single item on the scavenger hunt list in his brother’s hand. This was shaping up to be a terrific outing for two grandads and two grandsons set loose in 50,000 square feet of model trains—the largest such museum in the world.
The morning’s adventure began when we entered the Traintastic Model Railroad Museum in Gulfport, Mississippi through a life-sized passenger car, where you can watch a film that provides an overview of model railroading’s history. Then it was on to the cavernous center of the museum, which was filled with over twenty-five elaborate train setup tables, three of them built entirely from LEGO bricks. One is a representation of the Gulf Coast, complete with model buildings of everything from the Air Force base and Mississippi Aquarium nearby, all the way to Café du Monde in the French Quarter. Photos of the buildings were sent to a company that used 3D printing to create the miniature versions. The display is valued at over a million dollars and requires continuous maintenance.
Another of the larger displays was donated by two model train enthusiasts from Minnesota. “It took three semis to get it here,” said Tabitha Barnes, the museum’s marketing director. Another was rescued after a hobby shop closed, and volunteers stepped up to restore it.
Photo by Molly McNeal.
The spirit of volunteerism that keeps the museum chugging along is embedded in its origins. Long before it opened its doors, a small group of model railroad hobbyists came together in Gulfport to build layouts, share skills, and enjoy time with people who love trains. That group—“the club”—became the foundation for what eventually grew into the Traintastic.
“The train club has over twenty-five members who have been in the club for as long as I can remember,” said Barnes. “We have several who put in many hours a week as volunteers.”
One of those volunteers is John Gray, who has been a dedicated member of the Train Club (which was formed in 1993) for over ten years.
"Being part of the train club gives me a reason to get up and get moving,” observed Gray. “I may be retired, but there’s always something to do—and I love every minute of it.”
Photo by Molly McNeal.
The museum is the culmination of two brothers’ lifetime love of model trains, a passion that started when they were kids in Ohio. The grown brothers, Richard Mueller, Jr. and Glenn Mueller, relocated to the Gulf Coast, where their company now operates more than a hundred Domino’s pizza locations in Louisiana and Mississippi. When the brothers found out that the local train club had lost its location, they stepped in to help. Over the years, what began as the Mississippi Coast Model Railroad Museum grew and moved to progressively larger locations. In June of 2023, they opened in the current space on Pass Road and renamed it the Traintastic Museum.
Inside, we spent hours with the boys, scavenger hunting and wandering from display to display, pushing buttons that blew train horns and moved sailboats. There’s one exhibit where the boys were able to crawl underneath and pop up in the middle of the train village for a 360-degree view.
Outside, in the rear of the building, is a little train that takes its passengers on a serpentine loop through a tunnel. (An enthusiastic volunteer even persuaded two full-sized grandparents to fold themselves into one of the tiny cars and enjoy the ride with the kids.)
Photo by Molly McNeal.
It struck me that the expressions on the faces of the volunteers was the same I saw now on my grandkids’ faces—and if I had a mirror, probably mine, too. Shrinking trains, and the world around them, down to tiny sizes somehow engages the wonder in the inner child of people of all ages.
Back inside, there are more kid-sized train cars, including a locomotive, gondola, mail car, dining car and caboose to explore, as well as a train-themed play climber with ramps, nets, tunnels, and slides. Other interactive exhibits explain more about how trains work and how people use them. And there is, of course, a gift-shop filled with just about anything train-themed you can imagine.
The magic of Traintastic translates well for the holidays, it turns out. “We literally transform the whole museum into a magical wonderland for our annual Holiday Lights events,” said Barnes, who teased s’more stations, a hot chocolate bar, and crafts. The train tunnel transforms into a wonderland of lights. And of course, there are lots of Polar Express-themed activities as well, including an appearance by Santa, who hands out bells to the children.
Photo by Molly McNeal.
We may well need to bring the grandsons back for the holidays, so that we can all throw ourselves into the special Christmas scavenger hunt. At least now we’ve had some practice.
The Traintastic Museum's Holiday Lights after-hours events will take place on Fridays and Saturdays December 5–27. Learn more about the museum and its other holiday activities at traintastic.com.
