We just recently visited The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI for the first time in over three years. We thoroughly enjoyed seeing all of the new exhibits that they’ve created since the pandemic started.

There’s a nice little model train layout at the far end of the museum. This time, I noticed that it had a Toy Story character riding along the rails:

Slinky Dog!

Did you notice that he expands and contracts as he glides along the tracks?

We also visited Greenfield Village and rode the full-size steam train around the Park. As we did so, we heard the familiar clicking and clacking that one usually hears when riding the rails. I always thought this sound was made by the wheels on the metal rails, which may be partially true. But if you watch the video below, you’ll see that much of that noise is caused by the couplers between the cars:

As the couplers move from side to side and up and down they grind on one another. This causes many of the noises we associate with rail travel.

I hope you enjoyed this trip along both a model railway and a real railroad!