A rail museum is a place where railway artifacts are displayed for the public to enjoy. They have historic displays, as well as models and layouts. Some museums even offer train rides. One such place is the Whippany Railway Museum in New Jersey. It’s a great place to learn about the history of railroads in the state, and it also provides a great way to spend an afternoon with the kids.
The Whippany Railway Museum is a railroad museum in the Whippany section of Hanover Township, NJ. Since opening in 1965, it has been educating the public on the history of transportation in the state. Previously known as the Pequannock Valley Transportation Museum, the museum has a number of artifacts, trains and other items.
Visitors can take a ride on an authentic railroad caboose, or view several locomotives and rolling stock. Children can learn about the rich history of the railroad system in the state, and enjoy the beautiful scenery. There are several other features to the museum, including the 1905 Scale House and two operating model train layouts. Guests can also visit the gift shop, picnic area, and full restroom facilities.
The Whippany Railway Museum is open to the public on Sundays from April through October. You can find out more about the museum by visiting its website. During your visit, you’ll have a chance to see the oldest steam locomotive in the United States and learn about the museum’s collection of dozens of vintage railcars.
Another feature of the museum is the 121-year-old Whippany Freight House, which has been rescued from demolition. It’s now the museum’s headquarters. In addition, you can learn about the restoration process of the building. Many cast iron signs have been restored, as well as a Lackawanna Railroad semaphore.
Morris County Central Railroad Museum was founded in 1965. Earle H. Gil, Sr., a Parsippany resident, had the idea to start a steam excursion train. He opened the museum on the site of the former Morris County Central Railroad. This was the first steam excursion train in the state. When the train left the station, it carried over 400 passengers.
The Morris County Central Railroad Museum proved to be a success. Several employees from the Central Railroad of New Jersey co-founded the museum. After a few years, the railroad ceased operations. However, a group of conscientious employees decided to save the freight house from demolition.
Today, the museum has been renamed the Whippany Railway Museum. Its mission is to preserve the railroad heritage in the state of New Jersey. Through hard work and positive support from the community, the Museum has made a lot of progress in equipment acquisition and restoration.
Visitors can also check out the museum’s extensive collection of privately owned rail equipment. In addition, there are regular themed excursions for visitors. These include the Halloween Express and the Santa Claus Special. Kids can also explore the grounds and buildings on their own.
