2026 Train Heritage Day - Collierville, TN

[NEMMRRC]

I live a short drive from Collierville, TN. Collierville is your typical small town with a town square and a small railroad depot. However, Collierville is a suburb of Memphis so it's practically within a large city. For some time now, Collierville has held Train Heritage Day to honor and remember its roots to the railroads that built it. Collierville also has some history that placed it in the middle of some Civil War action. Thus, the town is proud of its heritage.

2026 Train Heritage Day deserved a visit. So I went along with my wife. Actually, it was her idea.

The event had model railroad displays in 3 separate buildings. I only made it to 2 buildings. The first building I went to is an old church that has been converted into a local museum, The Morton Museum of Collierville History. They had an O Scale 3 rail layout, a Garden Railroad Scale layout and a HO Scale layout. Here are some photos of the layouts in that building (minus the HO one which I'll do later).

This is the main exhibit hall of the museum. This used to be the sanctuary of the old church.



This is the 3 rail O Scale layout.



This is the Garden Railroad Scale layout.



More 3 rail action.





Garden Railroad action.



This is Collierville, a desirable suburb to live in out here in West Tennessee.



More Garden Railroad.



This is the old train depot. The BNSF mainline runs right behind this depot. BNSF hauls a bunch of coal through here going to the coal burning electric plants further east in Tennessee and other parts of the Southern USA. Yes, we burn a lot of coal to make electricity.



This is the inside of the depot which currently serves as the town's Visitor Center. They had an N Scale layout here depicting the town of Collierville and parts of Memphis. Note the town square complete wth the picturesque gazebo where each Christmas the town of Collierville displays a magnificent Christmas tree.





Notice the replica of the town's railroad depot.



The gazebo in the town square.



Replicas of actual businesses in the town square.





Another look at the town square.



A look at the real businesses along the town square.



There used to be a restaurant that used this coach and another one next to the depot. The restaurant is no more 



Frisco Railroad 1351 along the BNSF mainline and on the outskirts of the town square. During Christmas they light up the locomotive and caboose with lots of Christmas lights. Every so often they ask for volunteers to repaint the locomotive and caboose exteriors.



Train Heritage Day was fun. There were lots of young families there with plenty of little kids that were amazed by the "choo choos".

[NEMMRRC]

This is the HO Scale modular layout on display. It belongs to the Memphis Model Railroaders. I know some of those folks. At one time I attended their work sessions at the location where they keep their modular layout full time. I need to see about reconnecting with that bunch.











I am not a fan of the of the clear acrylic borders. I understand why the modeler(s) choose to put them there. I would rather they not be there. I guess if I ever display a module of mine (as if I had any) I can do what I wish 











I had to "reach" over the clear acrylic for the last few photos. I wonder if that upset the modelers...

That is a cool little harbor scene though. This is not what we see out these ways so I decided to post these ones separately. Memphis is on the banks of the Mississippi and we see plenty of railroad action cross the river We just don't see a lot of trains travel along the river banks here or even go up to the river banks.

[Jerry]

Jaime thanks for posting.  Glad your wife made you go!! 

Jerry

[NEMMRRC]

Here is a compilation of some short videos I made of the modular layouts.

[NEMMRRC]

Jaime thanks for posting.  Glad your wife made you go!! 

Jerry

Happy wife, happy life.