Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania

I'm a volunteer there, and Charter Day is one of the highlights for our year there.  I was working in the cab of the H6sb that day (I try to be scheduled to work there when I'm there!) and it really is encouraging and amazing to see families come, many who have never been to a railroad museum before, and get to know how railroads work.

Seeing the genuine wonder in parents and children, the desire to find out more about trains, is truly warming and heartening to see.  One thing that helps make it real is when I describe the Engineer's side of the cab, and kids equate it with the sequence in the movie Polar Express!

The energy and excitement is what makes that day special there.  Even though it's a full day, it goes quickly and is truly not "work" at all!

It's a wonderful, wonderful place .... including the volunteers and others there.

When my boys were small, we spent many a weekend there. The kids just always wanted to go back. Dad, too.

One of the finest railroad museums in the U.S. No question about that!

I have been fortunate these past 18 years to live within 30 minutes of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.  As you say, across the street is the Strasburg Railroad, another gem in the crown of this little railroad town.  To the east is the TCA's Museum and to the west is the Choo Choo Barn.

It doesn't get much better than this, IMHO. 

George

G3750 posted:

I have been fortunate these past 18 years to live within 30 minutes of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.  As you say, across the street is the Strasburg Railroad, another gem in the crown of this little railroad town.  To the east is the TCA's Museum and to the west is the Choo Choo Barn.

It doesn't get much better than this, IMHO. 

George

I've been going to that area for about 40 years or so (it was the first place I saw a running steam locomotive, and at 5 years old, it was the most incredible thing I've seen - still is!) and for train enthusiasts (as well as being able to find some great smorgasbords a short drive from there), it really is a wonderful place.

When I'm working at the Museum, sometimes I'll take a lunch break across the road at the Strasburg, and eat there while watching the train come in and get ready to head back out on the next run.  Makes me feel like the railroader I always wanted to be!

Some days, depending on when I'm working the Museum, I'll stop by the Strasburg Train Shop right next to Choo Choo Barn and see what's in.  You really can't go wrong for trains in that area.

They do amazing things with what they have, and with all the volunteer work that is contributed, they really get maximum leverage out of every single dollar.  But there are still locomotives and rolling stock sitting outside needing shelter and restoration.  

This is an organization that has earned its place as very worthwhile to give to and belong to.   Memberships multiply the benefit the museum receives as grants to museums are based on things like how many members they have.  If you would like to help, here's a link to to the on-line membership form:  http://www.rrmuseumpa.org/memb...membershiporder.html 

Peter Gentieu

When I was a kid all that equipment was rusting away outside... no building what so ever. Now fast forward to last year I say it for the first time. The amount of work and attention to detail had me awestruck.

I am going to make a point to stop every year on my way to York!

J Daddy posted:

When I was a kid all that equipment was rusting away outside... no building what so ever. Now fast forward to last year I say it for the first time. The amount of work and attention to detail had me awestruck.

I am going to make a point to stop every year on my way to York!

 

Same with me!  The Museum was originally the few tracks in now what's the yard of the Museum.  

Now plans are underway for the addition of a roundhouse structure, which will house 5 of the key Pennsy steam locos (with the newly-restored E6 on a moving display), all sheltered and cosmetically restored to look as if they just came out of the shops!

As funds and time permit, the plans are to get the locos and rolling stock cosmetically restored and sheltered as much as possible.  But I'm really looking forward to the 5 locos in a roundhouse, all shiny and gorgeous (mainly that K4!)

It will even get better when the new roundhouse is completed and able to house more of the collection.  Recently the staff and volunteers completed a fantastic restoration of E6s 460.  Hopefully with added space they can similarly  restore the remaining locomotives in the PRR collection that have been standing unprotected from the elements for years. 

What a great museum! been there many times. Right across the street from one of the best steam RR's in the country too. Last time we were there, my son and I ran the G gauge shunting layout for hours....almost lost my wife and daughter...

Ran into Thomas the Tank Engine in the shop for maintenance once at Strasburg. The engine was not on display but was outside of the shop for some testing. The guys working on it were really nice and let us go right up to it for some photos.

One of the best spots around for train nuts like us.

Bob

 All Time Best Museum! My favorite museum piece is the restored (to perfection) Coudersport & Port Allegany Railroad Russell Snow Plow. Manufactured in Ridgway, PA, the Russell snow plow started service on the C&PA in 1895. It sat on a siding behind our home in Coudersport from about the mid 1950s 'til it was rescued by the Museum. After the Russell plow retired, it became our "clubhouse"....and snow removal service was supplied by the neighboring Wellsville, Addison and Galeton RR. Right now...my modeling project is bashing an MTH Russell snow plow to resemble the 1895 C&PA plow. So far it has the port hole windows, arched entry to the "back porch", and lots of brass handrails. I can't wait to finish my plow, so I can start to paint the GE 44 tonners...D-1 and D-2 that pushed her from about 1949 'til the mid 50s.

When I was stationed at Aberdeen Proving Ground (twice) in the late 90s, I used to go to Strasburg about once a month (and Gettysburg every following weekend) as I was single and drawing good temporary duty money. There were a few good antique stores along the way back then, as well as a very good railroad bookstore due West of there. I’d go and ride the Strasburg RR, riding behind every locomotive they had at the time. The Museum was one of the more impressive RR museums I’ve ever seen, though the outside equipment was looking a little sad. I really missed the place after I rotated out of the region.

In 2015, my wife and I, along with a couple we’re friends with (the husband is a bigger train fan than I am) went to NYC for a week, followed by a return to the Pacific NW via Amtrak. This is when the Pope was in town, which cut the city in half a few times. On one day, knowing the obstacle course we’d have to negotiate to get anywhere, said to heck with it and we instead went to Hershey that morning to do the tourist stuff, then to Strasburg to ride the train (behind 89, the only loco they had I’d never ridden behind before, score!) then see the museum. My wife, who is NOT a train fan, actually found the collection to be interesting (I think she didn’t realize a RR museum could have good stuff indoors) and she took a lot of photos of her own! The museum was even better than I’d recalled. They had cabs of various electric and diesel locomotives open. I would have liked to have seen the cab of one of their GG1s, but I know they’re very cramped. A very nice docent was on hand in the cab of PRR 4465 (an E44) to explain everything. If memory serves, that unit was outdoors the last time I’d seen her before that. I don’t recall ever seeing cabs open for the public in the past.

Like some have said, though, it was in my mind a little odd to have PRR 3750, the only existing assembled K4, sitting outdoors in the weather and facing the highway.

I'm only the most casual enthusiast, but I love that place, too. All that equipment, the atmosphere, everything.

Those guys in the restoration shop seem like a good bunch of guys, too ... no egomaniacs or anything.

My girlfriend has even stayed in the caboose hotel with me .... she's sweet.

Yes, this is a must see if you attend one of the York TCA Meets...Fantastic. Hopefully I will be there in April....Wow...

I've always enjoyed it the times I've visited during York week.  I highly recommend it to anyone who is considering checking it out. 

Important to note it's not exclusive to Pennsy equipment, there is lots of other nice stuff as well.  I am a fan of the corner that contains a Shay, a Climax and a Heisler all near one another.

If you go, make sure to make your way up to the bridge that lets you walk across the hall over the interior display.  That's a great vantage point to look up and down the whole room from a bird's eye view.

The climate control added a few years ago to the inside area was a benefit for the general public's comfort, but me being a train fanatic (though I guess that's not necessary to state here ), I find all the large HVAC vents  detract from the items along the walls where the vents are  very prominently in view.

The roundhouse addition mentioned sounds like it will be  very nice, I need to make sure I don't miss that when it comes to be.  I imagine that will take a lot more time and resources than the last expansion to the front of the building to make the large gift shop and room for the model layouts before you get to the main display hall area.

-Dave

Next year.  

anyone know of the latest restoration project the museum has taken on? their website is dated as showing the 460 restoration [ which has been restored]

TURTLE 2 posted:

Last Sunday we had the wonderful experience of touring this Museum in Strasburg, PA. (Across the street from the Strasburg Railroad)  It was "Charter day" and all the State of Pennsylvania Museums were free to the public. Aside from the the fantastic museum collection, it was the "energy" of all these young families with children that was the highlight. They were able to go through the cabs in steam engines, Geeps, railcars and the like. They were excited with the model railroad displays and hands on exhibits and play areas. It was refreshing to see the history they were experiencing and the introduction to model railroading as well.

I always love charter day.  I wish it were in the summer when the weather is nicer though.

prrhorseshoecurve posted:

anyone know of the latest restoration project the museum has taken on? their website is dated as showing the 460 restoration [ which has been restored]

The last one completed was 460, which had the unveiling this past November.  It is a no-holds-barred, gorgeous restoration.  When people ask where it is, we tell them to look for the glow from the reflection of the paint!  She's gorgeous, and looks ready to pull the Lindbergh Special again!

Money is now being collected via donations to cosmetically restore the K4, I1, M1, B6 and H10 (I think it's the H10!) that are in the yard.  They will be in the new roundhouse with the 460 as the centerpiece of that expansion.

There are also plans in the works to get 4800 restored to "As Delivered" scheme.

To GPRITCH,

We will have to blame the date for Charter Day on either William Penn who received the 1861 Charter from King Charles II or the King's bureaucracy.

I was to the Pennsy Railroad Museum in Strasburg in Sept. of 2016. They changed a little bit since I was there a few years ago, however it seems to be for the better.

Then there is Strasburg RR across the street and the TCA Train Museum about one mile further away from both the museum and the RR. Also the Red Caboose Motel is near the TCA Train Museum, they have old caboose converted into bedrooms and have a TV set with cable.

The other place is the train store and operating train layout called The Choo Choo Barn. 

Strasburg PA has more attractions very close then any other city in Pennsylvania that I know of. You could spend 2 or 3 days taking in all that Strasburg PA has.

Lee Fritz

prrhorseshoecurve posted:

anyone know of the latest restoration project the museum has taken on? their website is dated as showing the 460 restoration [ which has been restored]

Rumor mill from some friends of the museum I know is that after 460 was done they'd focus on GG1 4800 Ol' Rivets...

I was visiting the PRR Museum some years back and touring the outdoor exhibits with one of the volunteer guides who offered to show me "Old Rivets" #4800 which had been moved under cover in a shed-like structure on the south side of the yard.  Sure enough, there she was in the dark, but at least out of the elements.  Without telling me why, he asked  me to move to the right front of the engine and put my hand up under the front "fender" and tell him what I found.  There wasn't much room to get under there as this was the side against the outside wall, but after feeling around I found it... the bell!  He said I could ring it by moving the clapper which I did and indeed it rang, very cool.  I rang it a number of times given the opportunity.

I don't know if I was actually supposed to be there playing with the bell, but I've always always been grateful to the gentleman for letting me ring the bell on one of America's classic locomotives.

FJ