Located at 1 Railroad Plaza in Whippany, the museum offers visitors a chance to explore antique train cars and learn about the history of railroading. With special train rides offered throughout the year, this museum is a great way to spend an afternoon with your family and help preserve New Jersey’s rich history.
The history of this railway museum goes back to 1965 when a group of employees and volunteers of the Morris County Central Railroad banded together to establish the first museum in the state dedicated to train exhibits. The group began displaying memorabilia in one half of the classic railroad freight house which was situated directly alongside the stone station building. The museum was later expanded with the purchase of additional historic train cars. Today, the museum has the largest collection of standard gauge steam locomotives displayed in a single location in New Jersey and also has two operating model train layouts.
With a variety of train cars on display, visitors can explore different time periods and cultures through the various types of trains. This includes the Lackawanna Railroad Subscription Club Car that echoes the elegance of ‘The Millionaire’s Express’, the elegantly restored CNJ club car ‘Jersey Coast’ and the historic cabooses that represent the work and living conditions of railroaders for over a century.
In addition to these exhibits, the museum also hosts a number of events and activities for visitors. For example, the Halloween Pumpkin Festival is a fun and educational experience that allows children to enjoy train rides and participate in a craft/vendor fair. The museum also runs special train excursions during the holidays like Easter and Christmas to give families a unique holiday experience.
Each excursion ride is operated as a fundraiser for the museum. The funds that are raised support the historic preservation efforts of this non-profit. Visitors can choose to ride a 45-minute round trip on the classic train through East Hanover, Livingston and Roseland or opt for the ten mile journey that goes higher up over the scenic Whippanong Valley.
The museum also has a large train yard where visitors can walk through a variety of different antique train cars. The museum works to restore these cars so that they can be a part of the displays at the museum.
The museum is also in the process of restoring the classic passenger coach number 1001. With your support, this important work can be completed and the train can return to service for the next generation of railfans. To make a donation to this effort, click here. All donations are tax-deductible. Thank you for your support! We hope you can join us for this exciting project!
