Trolley Layout

Freight Tunnel

Running some three hundred yards beneath where Central Station’s tracks used to be is the freight tunnel. The baggage room was situated at the North end while the express offices anchored the South end of the tunnel. Freight elevators extended up to the platforms between the tracks on either end. Express and baggage and for a time U.S. mail was moved from and to the trains through this tunnel. Ask one of the museum volunteers to show you the tunnel which is pretty much the same as when it was built in 1914.  

On30 Layout

On30 is modeling narrow gauge railroads in “O” scale using “HO” track. The layout was donated to the museum by the “Mid-South Narrow Gaugers” model railroad club. One of the clubs former memebers, Steve Albers, is still upgrading and improving the layout. Come in and see what Steve is up to this week.

Thomas & Friends

A favorite of our younger visitors, The Thomas room includes the Thomas layout  and a TV showing Thomas & Friends videos.

Mississippi River Bridges

The story of the two railroad bridges across the Mississippi River at Memphis and their significance in the history of the city.

ATCS Monitor

Online and live!

See Memphis train movements on a emulated dispatcher screen. Learn how you can install the same program on your personal PC. Listen to Memphis railroad radio scanner at broadcastify.com. Compliments of the Memphis Railroad and Trolley Museum.

Trolley Exhibit

Sponsored by Operation Lifesaver, the Trolley Exhibit tells the story of Memphis’ trolley system, past and present.

Interior View of Train Simulator

Drive a train! Based on Microsoft Train Simulator, our simulator is a recreation of the Illinois Central between Dyersburg, TN and Memphis South Yard. Constantly under construction, new activities are added often.  There are presently four activitries, Drive Illinois Central train number 8 from South Yard to Central Station, to Poplar Street Station or Millington TN and spotting cars of mail at the Memphis Mail Terminal.

Railroad Tool Wall

A display of tools unique to the railroad industry complete with descriptions of how they are/were used.

Lights

Hobo History

Kentucky Street CTC

This CTC board was manned by an operator twenty four hours a day, seven days a week at Kentucky Street and controlled the traffic over both the Harahan and Frisco Bridges. Dispatchers in Ft Worth TX (BNSF) and Omaha NE (UP) now perform these duties. Work is underway to bring the board to life with operational lights and switches. A monitor showing the movement of trains over the same tracks in real time is also being added.

IC 2499

The museum is very fortunate to have on loan from the family of Jean Rousseau, Jr. the 1/8 scale live steam model of IC 2499 which was modeled after the Illinois Central’s only  Hudson type locomotive. Story boards tell the story of Jean Rousseau and his model and the story of the protptype engine.

Wagon Memorabilia

Pullman Exhibit

Mainline Switch Stand

For years this switch stand stood alongside the Illinois Central Passenger Mainline in Memphis. It was the first switch thrown by now retired Conductor J. D. Moss, who saved it from the scrap heap. Mr. Moss was kind enough to donate it to the museum.