Night Trains® — Twin City Model Railroad Museum

Night Trains® season is, in the museum's words, a special Holidays tradition at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The museum's collection of model trains of all scales and toy trains of yesteryear comes alive throughout the building: the lights are turned down, the buildings and street lights glow warmly, and specially lighted models of operating vintage passenger trains run. The museum says there are no real trains to board and ride.

The make-believe towns are buried in snow and holiday decorations, uniquely decorated trains run on the layouts, and special holiday-only layouts are on display. The season runs on Saturday evenings, with tickets sold for two-hour time blocks and bonus nights that the museum lists on its season page. Night Trains is a registered trademark of the museum.

The museum is an all-volunteer non-profit. Its home page describes more than 11,000 square feet of interactive layouts and displays, including a large O-scale layout of the Twin Cities area and a toy train layout of the same area, designed for guests of all ages.

Model trains in lit-up towns covered in snow and holiday decorations, with decorated trains running on the layouts and special holiday-only layouts. Tickets are for two-hour blocks on Saturday evenings; there are no real trains to ride.

Twin City Model Railroad Museum, 668 Transfer Road, Suite 8, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55114. The museum says the Transfer Road facility is handicap accessible with restrooms, and that parking is free with ample space for cars and buses. By bus, Metro Transit Bus 16 to the University Avenue and Transfer Road stop. Children 4 and under are free, and the museum says no group rate applies during Night Trains. Tickets can be bought in advance through the museum's Eventbrite page. The museum is closed on Easter, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The special evenings can change without notice; the museum asks visitors to watch its Facebook page for the latest information.