Amazing things can come in small packages. Trainland U.S.A. in Colfax, Iowa will take you into a miniature world in motion that you have to see to truly appreciate. Kids of all ages will find themselves pressed up against the glass to see these little trains carrying imaginary loads of freight across a carefully crafted landscape. It’s as much a dream world as it is a railroad display. Interested in a trip to Trainland U.S.A.? Here’s your ticket.

Trainland U.S.A. is located in a large private home that was built in 1976 to accommodate these sprawling displays. The display area is huge - the size of two typical ranch-style homes!

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The model trains are anything but huge. They are Lionel O-gauge, which is 1/48 scale. So, something that is an inch long in Trainland U.S.A. would be four feet long in the real world!

Trainland U.S.A. / Facebook

Trainland is not your typical hobby display. There are more than 4,000 feet of track connected to 120 automated switches. More than 25,000 feet of wire keeps everything powered. It took 2.5 tons of plaster to shape all of this amazing landscape.

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Large glass viewing windows offer a nice vantage point for visitors. A rail and step help even the smallest visitors see all the action.

Trainland U.S.A. / Facebook

The displays are carefully organized into sections. The center section covers the frontier and steam era of trains, while the outside area features more modern diesel locomotives. Some trains are very old - the oldest was made in 1916.

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While trains are the star of the show at Trainland U.S.A., the displays include so much more. you’ll see landmarks like Mount Rushmore as well as other vehicles like cars and trucks. There’s even a steamboat!

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Trainland U.S.A. is just one of the quirky and unusual stops you need to make in Iowa. Here are a dozen more things you can only find here.

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Address: 135 IA-117, Colfax, IA 50054, USA