It was reported yesterday that the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania became an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. Although the relationship is in its infancy, I believe that both groups will benefit from many opportunities including and not limited to resource sharing.
See more info reported in the link below:
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Funny I thought that they already were. The Olama plantation engine that was formerly in the transportation hall at the National History Museum has been on display in Strasburg for a few years.
I wonder if this will result in the same kind of lethargy that is apparent at Steamtown, also in PA. They are not part of the Smithsonian per se but are operated by the National Park Service and seem to have trouble making important things happen. With volunteers doing most of the work around most museums, things seem to get done. With Steamtown's "professional" management the work becomes just an average "job" for the workers and the true love of what they are doing seems missing.
Hope that the Pennsylvania RR museum can continue to grow and continue to have projects develop and be completed like the #460 visual restoration project that was just completed.
Paul Fischer
Steamtown is a part of the National Park Service, completely different from how things are run with the Smithsonian. The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania now has a Smithsonian affiliation, is still maintaining it's volunteer force for everything, and has laid out a plan for the building of the roundhouse as well as getting 5 more of the Pennsy engines outside stabilized and ready to be cosmetically restored for the new roundhouse.
The museum in Strasburg, as far as I know from working there, has no plan nor desire to go the way of Steamtown and how things are run there.
Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership
