We are arriving at York on Tuesday night, on Wednesday morning we do the bandit (pirate) shows in the morning then go exploring. One time we went to Toy Museum and rode on the Strassburg Railroad, next time the B&O Museum and the the next the Pennsy museum. This year we are looking for something like that to do. Any suggestions???
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There is steam into history in New Freedom PA. From what I have seen I think their steam engine is currently down for inspection, but they are still open and giving rides. http://steamintohistory.com/
The Auto Museum in Hershey has a 3 rail layout. I do not know if it will be running, they used to have it running and open York week.
This is just what I came up with. there is definitely more I am forgetting.
It's not train-related, however, the free tour of the Harley-Davidson factory is outstanding.
Great ideas!!! I have been to the Harley Museum in Milwaukee and not being a bike guy I was impressed!!! Okay it doesn't have to be train related... Auto Museum is good too. Reminds me that I need to schedule a trip to Greenfield Village, trains, cars and more.
rboatertoo posted:I need to schedule a trip to Greenfield Village, trains, cars and more.
You and me both! I love that place...especially the Henry Ford Museum, next door. I've been 3 times, when my daughter used to live nearby. It's been 17 years since my last visit.
The Western Maryland RR in Cumbeland isn't too far using the Interstates. Great railroad and scenery. The C&O Canal is in that area too.
If you're into DCS I'd suggest attending the DCS User Group Meeting Wednesday evening. You can read about it by clicking here.
jim pastorius posted:The Western Maryland RR in Cumbeland isn't too far using the Interstates. Great railroad and scenery. The C&O Canal is in that area too.
The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad is not operating until May.
The C&O Canal is great for hiking/exercise - I use it every weekend. However, the Cumberland area doesn't have a ton going on compared to my neck of the woods near Washington. My town, Potomac, MD still offers historic, mule drawn canal boat trips. We are only 15 miles north of Washington.
If you haven't been to Washington, that could be an option. Two hours from York but you can see the monuments, museums, etc. Plenty of train things to see at the Museums. The American History Museum has the Southern 4-6-2 #1401, narrow gauge 4-4-0, Trolley, Subway cars, and the John Bull among other wonderful things. Plan a few days of course. Lots to see. Wonderful city and it is beautiful this time of year. Nice before it gets hot.
Lock 20 Potomac, MD. On board the Charles F. Mercer on the C&O Canal, 15 miles north of Washington. Also here is the MD overlook for the Great Falls of the Potomac River. Mercer only makes trips on weekends now.
Smithsonian Museums
Gowns of the First Ladies at the National Museum of American history. R-L (Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton, Barbara Bush, Nancy Reagan)
Marine One on final approach to the South Lawn. 
Steam into History will run an ex-Pennsy GP9 on the historic Northern Central Railway south of York, 6 miles west of Exit 4 on I-83, on Saturday and Sunday. Go to the Website and click on "Tickets & Schedule."
South of York is the territory the Ma & Pa (Maryland and Pennsylvania) ran in... East of the Shrewsbury exit off I-83 just north of the Maryland line is the tiny town of Middle Creek Forks, where an old country store that served as a Ma and Pa station and post office still stands beside the track, with an old feed mill across the road, in a tight and picturescque little stream valley. The store is model material. You will pass another Ma&Pa station in another small town, with some rolling stock sitting around it, on the way.
Not train related... not far... Gettysburg.
Now that I think of it, you could take a ride to Harpers Ferry Wva. Nice area, lots of history. CSX regularly runs through town over bridges and through tunnel. Beautifully restored B&O depot.
Just outside of town at a guys house is the Joy Line Miniature Railroad and Toy Train Museum. He has a loop of 16" gauge track in his front yard with classic "park trains" from area amusement and city parks he has restored. In his barn is a large standard gauge layout and toy train collection. He is usually open weekends Apri - October. Lots of fun, just a mile or two outside of downtown HF.
Washington is a good idea, the last time I was there was with my five kids on a spring break trip over 15 years ago. For that we might need to add a few days to the trip
The B&O railroad museum in Baltimore.
This isn't train related, but Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor is great. The National Park Service has done a good job. Nice presentation and a nicely restored structure.
I am a history nut. The Gettysburg battlefield is 35 minutes west of York. The Antietam battlefield is about 2 hours away......but you probably know that.
Peter
Another trains related sight in Washington DC also is Union Station and Ivy City engine terminal for Amtrak ( although not open to the public but can be seen at vantage points along NY Ave. ) If you really want to go nuts there are some motels with rooms that over look the coach yard where you can view Amtrak trains being made up and broken down. Watch CSX freights take the Y from the Camden Line to the Washington Branch of the old B&O.
In Baltimore there is Riverside ( the old B&O Riverside Yard ) locomotive ( near port covington ) servicing facility complete with a turntable. Marc locos are serviced here. Plus Penn Station up on Charles St. The Baltimore and Annapolis Railroad bike trail begins in Glen Burnie just outside Baltimore ( you can view B&A artifacts along the way ) and there is the Northern Central bike trail that follows the old Northern Central Railway route from Baltimore to Harrisburg.
Many have probably already been mentioned, but:
Non- Train Related, but good:
IF you get as far as Hagerstown Maryland, check out "The Train Room"
There is a great Lionel museum attached to the store. It has been written up a couple of times that I know of.
He has things I've never seen elsewhere. I didn't even know some of them existed.
There is an admission fee.
Here is a link to their site: Train Room
The North Central trail is great.....did 15 miles from Hunt Valley to Moncton and back in 2013.
Here are some pics from along the way.....
Peter
C W Burfle posted:IF you get as far as Hagerstown Maryland, check out "The Train Room"
There is a great Lionel museum attached to the store. It has been written up a couple of times that I know of.
He has things I've never seen elsewhere. I didn't even know some of them existed.
There is an admission fee.
Here is a link to their site: Train Room
Oh yes! Definitely check out the Train Room Museum!! It's well worth the trip! I've been there twice! The admission fee is nominal.
BANDOB posted:Hagerstown, MD Roundhouse Museum is not too far away. It has real RR equipment as well as O Gauge and HO layouts. Only open Friday-Saturday-Sunday, though.
I didn't even think of this....
The HO layout is very well done. It was built and displayed by the Gaithersburg Model Railroad Society in Olde Town Gaithersburg MD for many years. Construction started circa late 1990s and was removed and sent to Hagerstown circa 2005. It was a great layout. The GMRS allowed anyone to come by on Saturday and run their trains or your own trains. I was there running my HO trains nearly every Saturday. I remember when it was all bench work and a single oval of track operating and nothing else!
Great layout to run on. It roughly depicted the B&O "triangle" - Washington to Point of Rocks on the Metropolitan Branch then back from POR to Baltimore and then back to Washington.
That layout has a lot of good memories for me. I have not seen it since it left Gaithersburg over 10 years ago. One day I'll have to get up there and see it finished.
As for the Joy Line in Harpers Ferry, HERE and HERE are good, recent Youtube videos of their S-16 "1865" miniature steam engine train and their museum and layout. They also have several G-16 F unit diesel engines and alternate them. A large collection of 16" gauge miniature railroad equipment as well as a separate line for the Hodges Handcars. Well worth the hour or so visit. Below are a few photos pulled off of their Facebook page. As I recall, their "Station" is/was an authentic B&O MOW shed from the Harpers Ferry area.
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