History Museum’s 26th annual Model Train Festival coming up

A popular holiday tradition, the Washington State History Museum’s annual Model Train Festival in Tacoma, now in its 26th year, is Dec. 16 through Jan. 1. At that time, visitors can see model-railroad scenes, some of which are set in the Pacific Northwest. Tickets are available for purchase at the Washington State Historical Society site (washingtonhistory.org).

According to a release, the Model Train Festival brings railroad clubs from around Puget Sound to share their room-sized layouts in the History Museum. Every floor of the museum features trains, from the Kitsap Live Steamers’ 7.5 inch-gauge railroad engines to the Mount Rainier N-Scale layout featuring miniature scenery of western Washington, and many more.

The largest permanent model train layout in Washington is always on display at the museum on the fifth floor, operated by Puget Sound Model Railroad Engineers. Train operators will be on hand for questions and conversations, according to the announcement.