Last nite on Public Broadcasting there was a show about the last steam railroads in the USA and Canada. One of the segments showed some shots along with commentary about the Pennsylvania Rail Road Museum, they stated there are over 100 pieces of Pennsy cars and locomotives, all under a glass roofed building. One of the items that really blew my mind was the GG-1. Oh my goodness, that is one big hunk of locomotive. I didnt realize the size of it, it is massive. Anyways, I was most impressed. Has anyone been to the P.R.R. museum ? If so, anyones first hand comments would be appreciated. fatalxsunrider43
I was at the PRR museum four years ago and it was awesome. Also worth seeing on the East Coast is the B&O Museum in Baltimore. If you are ever around Chicago, drive and hour north to the Illinois Railroad Museum. It is actually the largest RR museum in the world as far as the number of items on display. There is a three unit turbine as well as many others. Definitely worth the short trip from Chicago.
Just a quick point of order, as I'm a member of the museum's charitable organization... The museum you refer to is the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. The reason I clarify is because the RR Museum of PA represents all railroading in Pennsylvania, including railroads that ran in PA and equipment manufactured in PA that may have run out-of-state. At the core of the Museum is the original PRR steam collection which was passed on to it from Penn Central, who inherited them from the Pennsy during the merger. However, the collection has expanded to include pieces from dozens of railroads, like the Reading, Lehigh Valley, and yes, even Conrail and Amtrak. The Museum has a very PRR-oriented bent, to be sure... But it's chartered to be more than just a PRR museum. The other Pennsy-oriented museum in PA is the Altoona Railroader's Memorial. There the equipment, most of it yet to be restored, is pure Pennsy.
"While the Museum is known as the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, it is not the Pennsylvania Railroad Museum." This is a quote from their website. To learn more click the link below...' http://www.rrmuseumpa.org/index.shtml
I've been there a half dozen times..The place leaves me in awe every time I go there,I never leave dissapointed..It's a must see if you like steam,it's the grail if you're a PRR fan...
Thanks for making sure I was corrected , the TV show made it sound like it was the museum of the Pennsylvania Rail Road. fatalxsunrider43
You mean this one? :tb-biggrin: Our club participates in events at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania two or three times a year. There is no better place to run N scale and enjoy railroading history. The section you refer to is the most recent addition. It is meant to replicate a railroad shed. While the roof is not glass, there are numerous skylights that allow in ambient light. We will be there on October 9-10 for Model Railroading Days 2010. Stop by and say hi if you are in the area.
Tell us more about the "Model Railroading Days 2010" what goes on there? This is the first I have heard of any such doings at the museum.
It is held the 2nd weekend of October. This will be the 4th year. There are the usual modeling seminars for the general public, layouts in everything from N to G, and an optional garden layout tour on Sunday. It is conducted in coordination with the TCA museum, which is about a half mile east of the RR Museum of Pennsylvania. Here is a link to the 2009 information: RR Museum of PA :: Model RR Days. Here is a photo from the 2007 show, which provides a good view of the train shed mentioned above. It is one of the better attended special event weekends of the year.
Attending this museum is on my bucket list, and has been for many many years. I can remember in 1955 as a kid living in western PA, my father bought me a Brunswick Green GG1 for my Lionel layout. My parents took me on a vacation trip to Washington, D.C. which was very eventful. First we attended the Kafauver hearings at the Capitol building, and when boarding the elevator, a TV crew filmed us. I was told my my grandmother and many relatives we made Huntley-Brinkley that night. So what. The main event was the trip home......we were on the Pennsylvania Turnpike when we heard this large machinery type sound and looked over and there was a GG1, which I recognized immediately. What I remember most was the vibration on the ground which actually went up through the car as the train went by. Awesome. I have some Arnold GG1's and have my eyes on a Brunswick one at my LHS which next months paycheck will be aimed. One of the greater non-steam locos.....ever. Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman
I have been there a couple of times and highly recommend it. Great place to see the real ones and then down the road to see the model train museum. Don't know of another place that packs so much into a small area for train enthusiasts to visit.
I'll guess you mean the PRR museum in Strassburg PA. I have been there in 1998. There was still a lot of construction going on then. But the GG1 was there, and a lot of other interesting exibits. Realy value for money in my opinion. Every trainbuff who comes near Strassburg PA should visit the museum. It can only become better in all these years.
We're headed up there on the 26th with my parents. Trying to get tickets for the Strasburg RR too. As much as I'd like to see the mechanical shop I don't think it would be as interesting for the kids or wives (Dad would like it) plus the extra $16 a person. Plenty of pictures to follow
They have combo tickets you can buy across the street from the Strausburg RR where you can ride the steam train and go to the museum. Save a few bucks per person.
This museum is outstanding. In addition to all the other items already mentioned, it also has three geared steam locos on display, and a DD-1. The DD-1 was the original electric locomotive type used by the PRR when they first opened the tunnels into Penn Station over a hundred years ago. The PRR did not think that axle or truck-mounted traction motors were ready for prime time yet, so they had the DD-1 locos designed with huge electric motors in the car body and side rods to link to the wheels. And it bears repeating that the Strasburg railroad is literally across the street from the museum. The trip would be worthwhile to see either attraction, but the two of them combined makes it a slam dunk.
