Why are we here?

Our county has not seen a day without a train passing through it since 1870’s.  The International & Great Northern Railroad followed by the Gulf Colorado & Santa Fe and the San Antonio & Aransas Pass Railroad in the 1880’s was just the start.  Currently the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroads pass through often.  We have artifacts dating back to those earliest days of railroad in Milam County.  You can also find the largest collections of railroad photographs, slides and negatives here at Milam County Railroad Museum. Including a train whistle, you can pull the chain on and a bell to ring.  And to top it all off, we have a 900 square foot diorama of Cameron as it looked in the 1940’s, built by Cameron native John Johnson and his wife Frances.
 
Working together on the project for over thirty-five years, John and Frances researched, drew plans, photographed buildings, interviewed friends, cut out pieces of wood and styrene, painted and then glued together to resemble the boyhood town John remembered in the 1940’s.  It took love, patience and skill to make the 900 square foot diorama of Cameron, Milano, Gause, Red Mountain and the Little River.  The massive town-train layout now resides here at the Milam County Railroad Museum.  What drove John Johnson to build the miniature town of “Old Town Cameron?”  John would have told you “I don’t know. I just did it”.  

​If you like Railfanning, we are just two blocks away from the BNSF railroad tracks.  Cameron has a wonderful Coffee Shop with a great patio just across the street from the tracks.  If you’d like to make a day visit of Cameron there are also many eclectic shops, a bakery, beer market, Italian restaurant and a burger joint called Tex Millers that’s been in Cameron since 1937 and still serving up good old-fashioned burgers.  Next door to the Railroad Museum, you will find our fabulous Milam County Historical Museum full of interesting information about what was once the second largest county in Texas.  Within walking distance is our beautiful Court House and the 1895 Jail Museum.  Tours are available for those buildings by asking at the Historical Museum.  We hope to see you soon here in Cameron at the Milam County Railroad Museum. 
​Cameron is in the center of the big triangle between Temple, Bryan/College Station and Austin.  
Visit the Milam County Railroad Museum...

​The Milam County Railroad Museum, home of the iconic Old Town Cameron town model constructed by John and Frances Johnson is open Thursday – Saturday from 10-3. We are in the building next to the Milam County Historical Museum on the North side of the square.  There is no entrance fee. Donations are greatly appreciated! It is by far the most visited site in Milam County so, if you have not been in to see the latest, then come on in!
The Milam County Railroad Museum
is located at
 
110 W. 1st Street
Cameron, Texas 76520
​
254-697-7055
979-436-5487 mobile
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.mcrm-otc
Facebook: Old Town Cameron