Steam locomotives have a special place in history and are often the centerpiece of many museums. From the Trevithick museum in Cornwall to ‘Think Tank’ in Birmingham, there are numerous locations around the world dedicated to preserving the history of this important engineering technology.
At the National Railway Museum in York, there is a large collection of historic railway equipment from around the UK. These include locomotives, rolling stock and carriages. These exhibits are organized and well documented to show the progression of train transportation from its early days to the modern day. They also have a number of displays that showcase how trains are maintained and operated.
One of the most impressive parts of the museum is the display that shows how the lighting in a train changed over the years. This is very interesting as you can see how a train could be lit in order to keep people safe and comfortable. It also shows how railcars were designed and how they functioned.
Another exhibit that was quite interesting was the GM Aerotrain which was a train that used products from across GM’s different businesses to build a fast and inexpensive train. This was a project that started in the 1940’s and is a popular attraction at the museum.
There are also a lot of historical photographs and videos that make the display even more fascinating. The GM Aerotrain was the first of its kind and is a unique piece of technology.
The museum has many other interesting things to see. There is a railroad station that dates back to 1853, and there are eleven storage barns that have tracks as well as a restoration shop that is used for maintaining all of the trains on site. There are also several streetcar stations that are a great way to explore the campus of the museum.
Locomotives That Have a Story to Tell
There are many steam engines that have a story to tell, and one of the most interesting ones I visited was 502 which is a Baldwin. This locomotive was built in 1916 and was used on the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range. It was later refurbished and upgraded in the 1920’s to have a feedwater heater and a cast trailing truck that had a booster. This locomotive was donated to the museum in 1963 and is displayed toward the rear of the main display shed.
Other steam locomotives that are on display at the museum include 318 which is a 4-4-0 built in 1926 by Terminal Railroad Association. This locomotive was the first to have a one-piece cast frame that held the steam chests and cylinders. This was a major advancement in locomotive construction and it eliminated the need for individual pieces to be bolted or riveted together. This is an example of the many innovations that were made in the early 1900’s to improve the efficiency of train operations and reduce costs for rail operators.
