Welcome To

Railroad Institute Train Camp

Railroad Institute plans to host an educational Train Camp at Train Mountain beginning July, 2014.  Train Mountain is the world's largest model railroad with over 35 miles of 7.5" track located in Chiloquin, Oregon.   Campers would learn to drive trains, switch cars in yards, run steam engines, obey signals, and perform railroad operations.   Details will be available on this website in the spring of 2014.

Background -- Railroad Institute is following the example set by European 7-1/4" railroads.   

European 7-1/4" railroads are used as educational platforms for the school students, the public, and the rail industry. European kids interested in railroads soon find themselves at a local 7-1/4" railroad track.  They learn to operate engines, obey signals, maintain equipment, lay track, and operate a railroad.  When they get older, they may enroll in formal railroad educational programs. Typically these are partly apprentice programs and partly university courses.  As part of the apprentice programs students often build their own 7-1/4" engines. Most students pay for their materials and take their engines home. 

Many kids that go through these programs end up in railroad careers.  Their engines make them life long members of the 7-1/4" railroad hobby. There are lots of 7-1/4" tracks.  These tracks become the place railroaders from different railroads meet and exchange ideas.  It is often where railroaders learn how other railroaders are doing things.  The tracks become an important part of the railroad culture and serve as an educational platform for present and future railroaders  .

Railroad Institute is being formed to bring this European model of railroad education to North America.    

This project is all about the kids and railroads.  

Stay Tuned for further announcements.