A railway museum is a place where a person can step back in time to when the transportation of people by train was an important part of daily life. You can learn about the history of railroads, see historic trains, and even take a ride. In addition, you can find models of different types of locomotives. For children, a battery-operated mini-train is available.
The Empire State Railway Museum, located in the Ulster and Delaware Phoenicia Railroad Station, was founded in 1960. ESRM maintains a small collection of historical railroad equipment. They also publish the annual Steam Railroad Directory. In the future, they hope to operate a steam locomotive on the Catskill Mountain Railroad tracks.
The museum is closed on New Year’s Day, Christmas Day, and Thanksgiving. Admission is only $5 for children 2 to 12 and $10 for adults. There are several exhibits that are open most weeks. They include freight cars, passenger cars, locomotives, and maintenance equipment. They are housed in a climate-controlled building.
The Zhan Tianyou memorial hall displays the accomplishments of this renowned Chinese engineer. It includes more than 2,000 historical relics. The exhibitions are displayed in five halls in chronological order. There are videos, rare pictures, and documents.
The main building showcases restored rail company china, movie set rail cars, and original rail company glass. The former passenger depot is also on display, along with a former freight depot. A railroad gift shop is also located in the former waiting room. There are historic railcars, including a former Lake Superior and Ishpeming 2-8-0 No. 23 that moved from Kingston, New York to the museum.
The Central Station Museum features an extensive collection of old steam and electric locomotives. You can also look at maintenance vehicles, such as steam and diesel trucks.
The Railway History Campus contains five exhibit halls with an array of historic railroad equipment. You can also take a short ride on a vintage train. If you visit during the summer, you’ll be able to enjoy a picnic on the grounds. The BNRM is the largest railway museum in the world. You can walk into the showroom and view hundreds of locomotives, each polished and gleaming. You can also see working demonstrations of the locomotives. The Centennial Trail exhibit is free.
The Railroad Museum of San Angelo is another excellent destination to explore. Located in the passenger depot, you can find restored photos, locomotives, and artifacts. A model train layout is on display as well, featuring a Santa Fe caboose. You can even purchase a boarding pass at the original ticket window.
There are many more museums. For example, the Southern Nevada Railroad Museum offers a train ride, as well as a peddle pusher and rocket carrier trains. You can also visit the Railway Museum of Arizona. It’s open from Labor Day through Memorial Day. There are discounts for families, and a special visit with Santa is offered.
A railway museum can be a wonderful family experience. You can take a ride on a steam or electric train, examine railroad artifacts, or view a variety of model trains. For those with children, this is a great way to bring your kids back in time to when traveling by train was a highlight of life.
