Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania

The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is the place to see how large and powerful the railroad age really was. Located across the road from the Strasburg Rail Road, it houses a major collection of historic locomotives and rolling stock in a pair of large display halls. Pennsylvania was the home of the Pennsylvania Railroad, once one of the biggest companies in the world, and the state's industry, coal, steel and cities were tied to the rails. The museum tells that story with real machines that visitors can walk around, climb beside and in some cases enter, and it is a favorite with rail enthusiasts, families and anyone who enjoys engineering on a grand scale.

The collection includes dozens of locomotives and cars, spanning steam, diesel and electric power, passenger coaches, freight cars, a dining car, mail cars and work equipment. Highlights include large steam engines from the early twentieth century, electric locomotives associated with the Pennsylvania Railroad's busy corridor and a range of cabooses and sleepers. Interpretive signs explain the role of each piece in building and operating the line, and the sheer scale is the main impression: wheels taller than an adult, boilers that fill a doorway and tenders that carried tons of coal.

Some cars can be entered, which gives a sense of the confined spaces in which crews and travelers worked.

The museum also tells the human side. Exhibits cover the people who built the lines, the crews who ran them, the families who depended on them and the communities that grew up around depots and yards. Photographs, uniforms, signals, tools and timetables show the daily routine, and displays on the decline of passenger service explain the changes in the twentieth century.

A research library supports serious study, while a gift shop caters to casual visitors with model trains and books. Special events and demonstration days add engine movements and train rides in some seasons, so check the calendar to see what is scheduled.

The atmosphere is relaxed. The halls are large enough to avoid crowding, the layout is flat and accessible, and children can look at locomotives from several angles. Younger visitors enjoy the sheer size, and older ones enjoy the details of the cabs and controls. The museum is operated by the state's historical commission, which means admission is modest and the focus is on education. Photography is a pleasure because the halls are well lit, and the machines make dramatic subjects. Allow about an hour or two, longer if you are a rail fan.

Strasburg is the natural base for a rail day. The Choo Choo Barn, the National Toy Train Museum and a steam railroad are all within a short drive or walk, and the town has cafes, shops and a few places to eat. A good plan is to start with the museum, move to the model railroad and finish with a meal.

Check hours and closing days, as the museum may be closed on certain weekdays in the off-season. In bad weather it is an excellent indoor option, and it pairs well with a morning at the farms.

If you are visiting with someone who knows little about trains, ask a staff member to point out one or two highlights, such as a locomotive with a notable history or a car that offers a surprising view of travel in the past. Reading a few signs closely turns the rows of machinery into a story. The museum shop offers books, models and gifts, and a research library serves enthusiasts. Because the halls are large and sometimes cool, bring a light layer in cold weather, and wear shoes you can stand in comfortably.