Model Trains
(3rd floor)

The museum has an extremely realistic model train layout which shows how a model railroad is constructed, and also shows what happens if the NMRA standards aren't followed.  The trains won't work; which this exhibit demonstrates quite well.   If you happen to see it (somewhat) working, you might notice the locomotive pushing (instead of pulling the cars), perhaps a few cars laying on their sides, and - just like many hobbyist's model layouts, one of the tracks never quite works right, and there's just nothing that can be done about it. On the NMRA's layout, it's the inside track.   I'm guessing it's that severe "hump" in the middle of the curve - visible in the picture - that causes the cars to derail or uncouple.   Probably a pain to fix now though...  

But, this is what makes the model-layout so realistic; many can (painfully) relate to it.