Anacortes Presents is a program in which the museum invites local collectors to put some of their treasures on display for the whole community to enjoy. The model railroad exhibit will continue for about three months in the upstairs Carnegie Gallery at the museum, Eighth Street and M Avenue. Museum admission is free.
The trains displayed range from O-scale (the largest) to N-scale (the smallest), and include HO-scale and Sn3-scale. Highlights include scratch-built models of the Anacortes Great Northern Depot (an existing structure), a Mi-Jack container crane, a Great Northern caboose with interior, a drover caboose and turntable, and a 12- by 24-inch diorama depicting an old hay barn and billboard that once stood along Highway 20.
There are several hand-held lanterns from different eras that were used by railroad personnel, and a lantern that was mounted on the top of a switch stand to alert the train crew how the switch was thrown for the approaching train.
The Anacortes & Fidalgo Model Railroad Club, established in 1994, meets Tuesdays from 7 p.m. until the last person decides to leave, and holds an annual public open house in November. Anyone interested in joining the club or who wants to visit can contact Doug Greenfield (293-9639) or Steve Jaffray (293-9235), or to stop by a meeting at 419 Q Ave. (in the basement – enter at the North end of the building).
The club’s layout occupies 1,000 square feet and includes a large HO scale layout, an N scale layout, and a loop of HOn3 track on the HO layout.