Souris Valley Model Railroad Club

08/01/2026

The expansion is officially on the rails!

The trackwork in our new addition is complete, and we couldn't have done it without the dedication of our members. Thank you to everyone who spent long days measuring, cutting, laying track, and making sure every rail was just right.

Now comes the fun part. Over the coming weeks, you'll get to watch an empty room transform into a railroad. Mountains will rise where there are none, towns will appear, and another section of the Souris Valley Model Railroad will come to life.

Stop by, see the progress for yourself, and watch the layout grow one scene at a time. We can't wait to show you what's coming next!

07/12/2026

🌞 The trains have voted.

After a lengthy discussion in the yard office, the engineers, conductors, and dispatchers have unanimously agreed that it's simply too hot to run... or at least too hot for the humans who keep everything running.

The Souris Valley Model Railroad Association will be closed Sunday, July 12, so our members can enjoy the sunshine, cool off, and spend some time with their families.

We'll be back on the rails next weekend. Until then, stay cool, and remember: even our locomotives prefer air conditioning. 🚂☀️

Send a message to learn more

07/03/2026

⚡ There's just something about a neon sign coming to life...
With the flip of a switch, Reddy Kilowatt lights up the night once again at the Souris Valley Model Railroad Association.
Little details like this are what bring a layout to life. Every building, every light, and every scene tells part of the story. It's never "just trains." It's an entire miniature world waiting to wake up.
Come see what else is hiding on the layout. You never know what you'll notice next... especially after the lights come on. 🚂💡
What's your favorite animated feature on a model railroad?

06/10/2026

We were able to capture the bullet train. While its not the Empire Builder it does look great flying around the railroad.

06/09/2026

🚄 Club News from the Department of Unexpected Developments

Well, it finally happened.

Club member John has officially completed the legendary Japanese Shinkansen, a train capable of speeds up to 186 mph.

So, after years of carefully building a North Dakota railroad with a healthy dose of Amtrak influence (thanks, Andrew), we now apparently operate an international high-speed passenger service. Somewhere between Minot and Watne, passengers can now enjoy punctual departures, spotless trains, and announcements they probably don't understand.

We're not entirely sure how this happened. One minute we were hauling grain, coal, and ethanol. The next minute we're debating whether the station signs need to be translated into Japanese.

At 186 mph, the train should be able to travel from Jamesville to Watne in approximately three seconds. Conductors are advised to begin station announcements before leaving the previous town.

The bigger question is this: should we continue trusting John as Treasurer? Today it's a Shinkansen. Tomorrow he could be spending the entire budget on vending machines, bullet train stations, and lessons in Japanese railway etiquette.

Let us know in the comments. 🚄💸

Videos will follow... assuming anyone can actually catch the thing on camera.

Visit us during the museum's summer hours to try and catch the iconic... well, globally iconic... train.

At 186 mph, it's the fastest thing on the layout, and unlike certain passenger services Andrew keeps buying, it might even be on time.

🇯🇵🚄🇺🇸

The Souris Valley Model Railroad Association: proudly modeling North Dakota railroading, except when we're accidentally modeling Tokyo.

05/24/2026

Ok folks, we need to have a serious talk from the basement railroad.

We know the layout is full of awesome scenes. The rivers, the trees, the farms, the little details hidden everywhere... half the fun is getting close and seeing how it’s all built. But those “Please Don’t Touch” signs are not decoration. Yes Nancy, that still means you.

For the third week in a row, parts of the layout have been intentionally damaged by both adults and children. Over the years we’ve had vehicles moved, pieces of buildings disappear, people reaching into scenes, and even attempts to run trains without permission. Apparently Farmer Mike’s deer have become the most pettable wildlife in Ward County.

We open the club during museum hours because we genuinely love sharing model railroading with the public. We enjoy answering questions, explaining scenery techniques, showing how operations work, and introducing people to the hobby. That’s what this is supposed to be about.

But the damage is becoming expensive and frustrating. If parents cannot keep children from climbing on or touching the layout, and adults continue ignoring the rules, we may be forced to close the club to the public during open hours. That is absolutely not something we want to do.

The club is not funded by the museum. Everything you see on the layout was purchased, built, donated, or maintained by club members. The locomotives, control systems, track, scenery, buildings, and countless tiny details came from member dues, donations, and a lot of personal time and money.

Please help us protect the layout so everyone can continue enjoying it for years to come.

Look with your eyes. Not your hands. 🚂

05/23/2026

Some people collect stamps.

Some people golf.

And some of us spend three hours debating whether the freight should be spotted on Track 2 or Track 3 like it’s a federal investigation. 🚂

Model trains: you either love them… or you just haven’t watched a tiny switcher drag a cut of cars through a perfectly weathered lumber yard yet.

The Souris Valley Model Railroad Association layout keeps growing, one rail, one scene, and one “I’ll just buy ONE more locomotive” at a time.

Come see what all the fuss is about down in the basement of the Railroad Museum of Minot. Warning: side effects may include sudden opinions about paint schemes and an uncontrollable urge to say “that’s actually N scale.” 😄

Open Saturdays 11-5.

03/31/2026

We don't recommend this shirt, but if you get kicked out for wearing it, we have a couch, and some scenery that needs done.

03/30/2026

While we will not have eggs hidden, we love this idea!

🥚🚂 ATTENTION ALL EGG ENGINEERS 🚂🥚
We’ve got a situation…
Somewhere in the Railroad Museum, eggs have gone off schedule.
📅 Saturday April 4th| 11AM – 3PM
💵 $5 Admission
Your job:
Find an egg.
Bring it to the front desk.
Collect your reward like a properly routed freight.
No switches required. No dispatch clearance needed. Just good eyes and a little luck.