Lincoln Train Museum in Gettysburg, PA (and other train stuff)

Thanks for the pictures of the Lincoln Train Museum. We were regulars in the Gettysburg area for quite a few years and had the opportunity to visit the museum on a number of occasions. Since it is not lettered at the present time, folks often wonder about the heritage of the caboose on the museum grounds. It is the former Maryland & Pennsylvania 2005.

I've seen recent advertisements indicating the business is for sale but I don't know if anything's come of it yet.

Bob 

I called them a couple of months ago and was told they had a handshake agreement to sell that might be closed by 7/10/12.  They said they would call me back if it fell through, but I have not heard anything.  I misplaced the number I had for them.  Did you see any signs indicating if it was still for sale?  The price was not unreasonable for the property.

I didn't see any signs that indicated the business or the property was for sale.

Andy

Perhaps it has changed hands already as planned, then.  There were paper (home-printed 8.5x11) signs on the front door as well as some of the interior doors (the one you exit through to get back to the gift shop area) indicating that the museum was for sale when I was there 3-4 months ago.

I think it could really benefit from a more train-specific gift shop, too.  I came primed to buy something with my son, who loves trains, and all we found were the same G-Burg souvenirs you can find anywhere else on the main drag through town.

Had they any Lionel or even HO/N gauge stuff, I'd have spent some money. 

I know what you mean with regards to the gift shop.  I only bought a couple of refrigerator magnets.

A custom run MTH RailKing Overton passenger car with "Lincoln Train Museum" above the windows, and "Gettysburg" below the windows would be a perfect O gauge piece for the museum to sell... I know I would have bought one had they existed...

Andy

Hi Andy Now this is a beautiful thread, really nice pictures and lots to see

I'm sure you had a great time. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks again, Alex

P.S. I WISH ALL THE THREADS WERE LIKE THIS

Thank you for the Memories, I think it's been 30 years since we took in the little movie.

Been to Gettysburg many timse but never to train Museum-- this will change soon

maybe tomorrow.

Gettysburg has two train shops. One is Gilberts-- mostly hO and brass. But I have bought O gauge there.. Gilberts has been in Gettysburg many years but moved to a new lcocation a few years ago.

The other train shop is on Rt. 30 but I can't remember the name. Mostly O gauge..

Al W.

The train shop on Rt. 30 I referred to to is not in New Oxford. It is on RT. 30 somewhat west of Gettysburg town center. It is in a houselike structure.

Al W.

I was just at the place you are talking about.  I forget the name.  It is on Rte. 30 a block or so past the roundabout, next to a hair salon.  It is on your way to the Seminary school.

There is a PINK train out in front of the house, and inside it's basically some guy's house, packed to the gills with stuff, Lionel mainly, lots of older stuff. 

If you hit the Pizza Hut you have gone too far.  Parking was limited, we parked behind the hair salon and I popped in for a few minutes. 

Unless the "Pink Train" place is that house that had signs advertising repairs on

office machines, I have missed that one.  The guy in the wheel chair I mentioned

was big in Marx, and the office machine shop had some of that when I visited, I

thought moved from the place east on 30.  In another thread somebody mentioned

an O scale shop in Elgin, Ill., that I was unaware of...always glad to hear about

any "secret" shops around the country that I might check out if I wander through the area.  They have been closing more than opening lately, but some do pop up...

Here is a screen grab pic of the "other" train shop on Rt. 30 just West of town.  It is located between the Pizza Hut and General Lee's HQ:

I've never stopped in, mostly due to the parking situation, and the time of day.  I usually pass through in the early a.m. or late at night.

Andy

That's the one.  I stopped in on a hot day, wife didn't feel like getting out of the car, and my toddler son was being cranky, so I didn't get to look too much.    If I had more time to browse I might have found something, though!

Don Carver is a great guy, a real character, and has a great shop.  The place is stacked floor-to-ceiling with stuff, front-to-back.  He has repaired many items for me, first rate, and I have purchased a number of my pre-war items from him.  He does not carry much new stock, predominantly pre- and post-war Lionel, Marx and AF, and he has alot of vintage toys as well.  You could spend a few hours in there just looking around.  Well worth a visit...

Andy: That’s a great shop, or at least it was the last time I was there about 10 years ago.  The store is a lot larger then it looks from the street front as it extends quite a bit to the back, as if there were several rooms added on to the original house.  The owner is Don Carver, a TCA member, and he is very friendly and helpful.  He specializes in Marx but also had a lot of postwar Lionel and Flyer when I was there.  I was very happy to be able to find the missing pieces for my original Marx wind-up set when I visited there.

It was definitely worth a stop back then.  As I recall I parked on the street right at the curb in the front of building just like that minivan in the photo. 

HTH,

Bill

Despite the fact that it doesn't have a ton of O gauge rolling stock, Tommy Gilbert's is a great hobby shop.  It has lots of scratch building materials, books, and tools.  And the staff is very friendly and helpful.  Tommy does spectacular custom painting and he transformed my Western Pacific Lionel S-2 Alco switcher into Weirton Steel's #208, complete with stack modifications.  It is very sharp and one of my favorite engines.

I highly recommend his shop.  It's on Water Street in Gettysburg.

George

The Gettysburg Lincoln Train did trade hands on July 10th, 2012.  Mr. James F Kralik, retired Sheriff of Rockland County New York is our owner.  I would like to introduce myself, my name is Karen and I have been blessed with the opportunity to be part of the history of this museum.  Thank you Andy for posting these terrific photos.  We would love include them in our album of the history of our purchase if you would not protest.  The static layout is no longer a static layout.  We are pleased to now feature the 'Lincoln Funeral Special' Diorama. It replaces the static layout which is now displayed in a different format.  Our efforts are to present the Spirit of Lincoln and the Spirit of America through the Lincoln Train Museum.  Our Diorama hallway walks us through the history of our United States from our founding father to present day.  Our museum now displays our trains as well as articles of American History.  By next spring we plan to have much more to share.

I will gladly give permission to use my photos, provided some small credit is given somewhere (even in really tiny type).  Email me (my address should be visible in my profile) and I can send higher resolution copies than what you can get here.

Andy