Train enthusiasts are in for a treat at this railway museum. Not only do they have a collection of old steam locomotives and trains, but they also offer ride-on train rides! The museum has 22 miles of track that visitors can explore and even enjoy a scenic train ride in one of the old rail cars (like the Pullman Lounge, Observation, or Sleeping Car).
The museum’s collection features four different railroads and over 100 pieces of rolling stock. It is one of the few museums in the world that has all types of railroad equipment on display: locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, a caboose, and a turntable.
The exhibits in the Great Hall of Transportation include Mallard, a steam train that set a record speed in 1938 that was never beaten. Another exhibit showcases the 1960s Shinkansen bullet train from Japan that was a breakthrough in high-speed rail travel. A section of the exhibition also highlights ambulance trains that were used during the First World War.
Another must-see is 573, an A4 class locomotive designed by Sir Nigel Gresley. The design of these locomotives was honed in a wind tunnel to ensure that they cut through air efficiently, allowing them to reach speeds of up to 120mph. Originally named 754, it was renumbered 573 in 1915 and purchased by the Wabash Railroad and donated to the museum in 1955.
Visitors can learn more about how locomotives operate by visiting the locomotive workshop where they can watch volunteers repair, maintain and make repairs to the trains on display. They can also learn about the tools and techniques that are used to keep trains running smoothly as well as the various types of railway equipment like lighting, dining car menus, and uniforms. They can also see how the maintenance of a train has changed over time and get a feel for what it was like to travel by train back in the old days with an interactive railcar display.
In the Great Hall, the museum also displays its gondola cars which are large freight cars that could hold up to 80 tons of cargo. Some of the gondola cars on display at the museum are the L&N No. 152, the L&N No. 665 Combine Car, and the L&N No. 228.
This section of the museum also includes a Louisville and Nashville Railroad Post Office Car and an Erie Business Car. Visitors can also marvel at an operating 8ft by 12ft O gauge model railroad.
The Deutsche Bahn Museum takes visitors through 200 years of history that produced the bustling and reliable train system that Germany is known for today. The exhibits, which are spread out over two stories, show how trains influenced culture, technology and commerce, as well as politics and religion. Visitors can also learn more about Germany’s railways during the Nazi era through a collection of propaganda, documents and modeled ticket booths. The exhibits in the museum are highly detailed and informative for anyone interested in the evolution of train travel.
