Education

Educator: Olga Cortes

Summer Camp
All aboard for railroad fun& adventure! Create arts, crafts, and learn about the “The Old West” while exploring gigantic model railroad layouts. Campers get their own boxcars made for real model railroads! Younger campers ride the Balboa Park train, build their own layouts, and high-ball our trains down the tracks! Junior high campers visit the San Diego Trolley Yard and ride the trolley!

Camps are for grades 1 - 8

Operation Lifesaver, started by a concerned railroad employee in Idaho in 1972, is a national, non-profit education and awareness program dedicated to ending tragic collisions, fatalities and injuries at highway-rail grade crossings and on railroad rights of way.

The San Diego Model Railroad Museum is proud to participate in this program through bilingual exhibits and educational training. The museum's education department meets weekly with a group of elementary school students to inform them about rail safety. Since its inception, this program has spread the message of rail safety to thousands of children throughout San Diego County.

Every year hundreds die and thousands are injured in nearly 3,000 highway-rail grade crossing collisions and 900 trespasser injuries or fatalities. Many tragic iincidents can be prevented if you follow these simple tips:

Know what your warning signs mean

Expect a train at anytime

 Don't get trapped on a highway-rail grade crossing

Never drive around crossing gates

Watch out for a second train

Get out of your vehicle if it stalls

Never race a train

Don't misjudge the train's distance and speed

Trains can't stop quickly, you can

Operation Lifesaver reminds you to Look...Listen...and Live
For more information call (800) 537-6224 or email: general@oli.org

Teachers can bring pre through 12th grade students to visit the museum. We also welcome community groups to come and visit the museum. Groups are required to fill out our form and agree to our policy. For the form and policy information click here.