The Whippany museum is a unique place to visit that is dedicated to preserving the heritage and history of the railroads of New Jersey. They achieve this by the restoration, preservation, interpretation and operation of historic railroad equipment and artifacts from New Jersey and its immediate vicinity. They have been around since 1965, providing families and historians with the opportunity to look back over the decades to a very important period in our country’s railroad and transportation history.
The museum has many different types of exhibits and train cars on display that help to educate people about railway history. They also offer excursion rail rides throughout the year that are a fun way to experience New Jersey’s rich railroad heritage. Whether you are interested in learning more about the history of trains or are just looking for a fun family outing, the Whippany museum is a great choice.
Children and adults of all ages can climb aboard our larger-than-life trains and take a trip back in time to a very special era in our state’s and nation’s history. Our train rides travel along the historic Whippanong Trail, passing through the towns of Whippany, East Hanover, Morris, Livingston and Roseland in Morris and Essex Counties. We also cross high above the Passaic River on a steel bridge.
Our collection includes the largest collection of American-built standard gauge steam locomotives displayed in New Jersey. These include Southern Railway No. 385, built in 1907 for fast freight service; Texaco Fireless Cooker No. 7240, built in 1937 for industrial switching duty; and one of the newest steam locomotives still surviving, U.S. Army No. 4039, built in 1942 for World War II service. Our museum is home to two operating model train layouts – one indoors and one outdoors. We also feature a gift shop, snack depot and full restroom facilities.
The museum is operated by an all-volunteer staff of volunteers, and the proceeds from our excursion train rides help to support their efforts. It is thanks to their commitment that the Whippany museum continues to thrive at its current location, expanding its collection of New Jersey railroad history over the years.
The museum focuses on educating the public about railroads and railroading through antique excursion train rides, theme trains, indoor and outdoor model train displays, and exhibitions related to major industries. It was founded by a New Jersey aerospace technician, the late Earle H. Gil of Parsippany, who envisioned a financially successful heritage railroad at a time when conventional steam railroad operations were rapidly disappearing from America’s landscape. It has since become one of the most popular railroad museums in the United States. In addition to its extensive assemblage of historic railway equipment and cars, the Museum also features a large collection of historical photographs and documents. Moreover, it holds several annual events and educational programs for its visitors to enjoy. The most notable of these is the Touch-A-Truck 2 & Train Ride, which takes place in September. During this event, kids can explore and interact with a wide range of working trucks from a variety of different industries – including fire trucks, transport vehicles, construction vehicles and public health and safety trucks.
