Located on the lower level of the building, an actual railway signal greeted guests as they descended the stairway. In the below right was the gift shop window for the museum. Although the signal was functional, note that it did not control passage down the stairway.

The hours for the railroad museum were posted on the outside wall of the gift shop. Open Tuesday through Sunday at 11 a.m., the museum closed at 4 p.m. on weekdays and at 5 p.m. on weekends.

Outside the museum was a large poster of a railroad station waiting room. In front of the poster, as if inside that waiting room, was a bench.

The windows that allowed viewing of the railway models were a little high for young children. Fortunately platforms were provided to allow children to view the exhibits too.

In addition to scale models of actual railroads and towns, antique toys were also on display. Here was an old toy locomotive, made entirely of metal.

A replica of a high bridge spanning a deep gorge. Note the old style construction using cross-braced steel. To the right of this replica was a photograph (unseen) that showed the original bridge for comparison.

The La Mesa Model RR Club created a replica of the railroad line through the Tehachapi Pass. Next to that model was this display of photographs showing and describing the actual railroad and pass.

Part of the replica of the railway through the Tehachapi Pass. This model was created by the La Mesa Model RR Club.

A good sense of humor was exhibited by the designers of this model. Here, a shark was discovered in the swimming pool.

Here behind the glass viewing windows was a large replica of downtown San Diego with a railroad passing through and around it. The Western Metal Supply Company building would eventually become part of PETCO park .

Here a rail line ran along the valley at the base of massive rolling hills.

The children's play area was just under a sign that read, "San Diego Society of N-Scale."

An old clock in a box formed the sign describing this exhibit. The sign read:

La Mesa Model RR Club

1950's Era

Steam and Diesel

Building the Tehachapi Loop

Operating Sessions

Nov. 6,7 Nov. on Tehachapi

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San Diego Model Railroad Museum   •  1619 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, California   •  (Photo posted Sunday 13 March 2011)   •  (photo taken 11:09:19 Thursday 14 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales #BCY_0203
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The Tehachapi loop was constructed with realistic looking hills and a painted cyclorama that made the hills appear to vanish into the distance.

The Toy Train Gallery was open. It was run by the San Diego 3-Railers Club . They ran restored toy trains on realistic lines that included video shots from the locomotive as it traveled its line.

Inside the Toy Train Gallery glass cases displayed rare old train 0-scale toys. To the left where framed examples of old toy train advertisements.

A shot of several toy trains in a display case. At the top was a Union Pacific train. At the bottom was a Lionel Train brand locomotive and coal tender.

An actual switch handle was on display on the floor. One could lift the lever and feel how it felt to turn it.

A rail line passing trough the desert. This model used an HO-gage and included details of an old mining area.

A man was fixing the truck of a model locomotive. He was concentrating on his repair and did not look up as folks took his photograph.

A display case exhibited old Lionel Electric Train components. Here was a "No. 608 Apple Inspection Car to operate on 'O' gauge track."

Another case displayed accurate models of rare old railroads. Each had with it a description of the actual train upon which it was modeled.

A parting shot of a man setting a car carefully onto the tracks. Note how he stood between scenes. This scene was behind the scene with hills that could be viewed elsewhere along the long winding and looping corridor.