A railway museum explores the history of all aspects of rail related transportation including locomotives (steam, diesel and electric), railroad cars, trams and railway signalling equipment. Some museums even operate historic equipment on the museum grounds and provide train rides for visitors to enjoy.
A few examples of railway museums can be found in the United States, Australia, Japan and India. Depending upon the size of the collection the museum may be free to enter, but most railway museums are not and require a small donation to visit. This is due to the astronomical costs of maintaining and operating large pieces of equipment as well as the cost of the staff to keep everything running smoothly.
Some museums also have a gift shop on the premises where they sell railway publications, t-shirts and caps as well as other items of memorabilia. These items make great gifts for the railfan in your life.
The museum’s collections include over 100 historically significant steam, diesel and electric locomotives, railcars, and other historic equipment. Its archival collections contain over half a million photographs, documents and works of art. Its library contains more than 20,000 books on railroading and related topics. The museum’s extensive exhibitions and programs educate the public about the role of railroading in America’s past and present.
In a time when railroads are being shut down and railroad museums are being closed the West Virginia Railroad Museum is a welcome exception. The Wheeling railroad museum was built on the backs of dedicated volunteers who saw a need for the preservation of railway history in their community. This is a common theme with smaller railroad museums throughout the country; they grew out of need for a place to house rail artifacts and a way to showcase them to the general public.
This railway museum houses a vast collection of historic railroad artifacts from the American West. Its collection includes a variety of railroad equipment, including streetcars, interurban cars and a restored car house. The museum’s collection is one of the largest in the United States.
In addition to the museum’s renowned exhibitions, the Museum offers a variety of programming, events, and educational opportunities for visitors of all ages. Programs and special events include the Railroader’s Ball, an annual fundraiser held in December, a summer concert series and a family holiday event, to name just a few.
The Museum features a number of long-term gallery exhibitions that examine different aspects of NYC’s subway, trolley and bus system including Steel, Stone & Backbone; Moving the Millions; On the Streets; and Fare Collection. The exhibitions are designed to be interactive and educational. There are many other artifacts and models on display which allow visitors to experience firsthand the fascinating history of NYC’s public transportation system. The Museum is located overlooking Tetsudo Hakubutsukan Station, which is connected to Omiya Station via the New Shuttle service. This trip takes about 30 minutes. This makes it a convenient stop for anyone visiting from Tokyo or the surrounding area.
