Photo by Unknown, via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
About Carnegie Science Center Miniature Railroad & Village
Visiting Pittsburgh has never been so much fun! Tour Western Pennsylvania with the Miniature Railroad & Village.
At a Glance
Verified daily- Type
- Heritage railroad & tourist attraction
- Location
- PA
- Rating
- 4.4 ★ 2,235 Google reviews
Upcoming Events
No ticketed events are currently listed for Carnegie Science Center Miniature Railroad & Village. Many heritage operators publish schedules seasonally or run on regular open hours instead of dated events.
Check the operator’s website for current hours and special runs, or subscribe to event alerts and we’ll email you when something is scheduled.
Plan Your Visit
- Parking
- Paid lot
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance · accessible restroom · accessible parking
- Good For
- All ages
- Hours
- Monday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PMTuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PMWednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PMThursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PMFriday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PMSaturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PMSunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Find the Depot
The Trains
Five independent loops of Lionel trains and a Bowser trolley run continuously across a platform 83 feet long by 30 feet wide — 60 percent larger than the original — over more than 1,500 feet of GarGraves track. The models are handcrafted by staff and volunteers and replicate real western Pennsylvania structures from the 1880–1930 era, from Fallingwater, Forbes Field, and the Mister Rogers' Neighborhood house to the Sharon Steel mill, the largest steel mill ever replicated in O scale, built from the mill's actual blueprints. More than 250,000 handmade trees, over 100 animations, real water carrying magnet-powered boats, and genuine coal, coke, limestone, and iron ore dress the scenery, while an Opto 22 computer control system and a lighting scheme designed to mimic the sun's movement keep the whole layout alive.
History
See full history
The Miniature Railroad & Village traces its birth to December 24, 1920, when Charles Bowdish of Brookville, Pennsylvania entertained his brother's wedding guests with a model train display of his hometown's buildings — word spread and nearly 600 people turned up. Bowdish showed the layout in his house every Christmas, never charging admission, until a flood nearly destroyed his stored models and his insurer refused to keep covering the crowds. He offered the display to Pittsburgh's Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science, where it opened on December 1, 1954 as the 14-by-14-foot Great Christmastown Railroad, drawing 23,885 visitors in 31 days; renamed the Miniature Railroad & Village in 1957, it became one of the city's major holiday attractions, with basement queues stretching around the block and waits of up to four hours. The Buhl joined the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh in 1987, and when its successor science center (today the Kamin Science Center) opened on October 5, 1991, the railroad finally received a dedicated room of its own — the new, expanded display debuted in fall 1992, and the exhibit has now been a Pittsburgh tradition for over 50 years.
Around the Depot
Getting There & Staying Nearby
Optional trip extras from our travel partners.
Rent a Car
Most heritage railroads sit well off the interstate. Picking up a rental at the nearest airport is usually the easiest way in.
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Tours & Activities Nearby
Tours
Guided tours, day trips, and things to do around the area, bookable in advance through Viator.
Browse nearby tours →Bookings made through this link support usatrainrides at no extra cost to you.