Just sort of a random question, what are your favorite picks for museum and tourist railroads? Just kind of want to hear everyones thoughts. I have a few I can think of that I will list below; but I always like hearing about railroads and museums to visit to think of for future trips someday.
Now here are some of my own personal picks:
Favorite ‘Wild Western’ Trains: Both my picks when I think of this are in Nevada; the Virginia and Truckee; and the Nevada Northern Railway. I just rode the NN last month, so its pretty fresh in my mind and I will continue to state it is the hidden must see gem in the west.
Favorite Scenic Trip: Gotta give this one to the Durango & Silverton. Still visualy the best journey by rail I have been on.
International Lines: I have two railroads that come to mind on opposite ends of the globe I want to ride someday; the Tallyllyn Railway in Wales; and El Tren a Las Nubes in Argentina. I did live near the Tren a Las Nubes for a while, but never got the chance to ride it during my time in South America and hope to return someday.
Best Museum Displays: My personal pick here is for the California State Railroad Museum. In terms of showmanship this place has all the glitter and wow factor of the best of Hollywood. But its got the meaty history were it counts.
Smalltown Favorite: Everybody’s got a local smalltown museum they adore. Mine is the Tooele Valley Museum & Historic Park here in Utah. I also ought to give an honorable mention to the WPRM in Portola California to.
Those are just my own categories and personal favorite picks, but again… I am mostly asking this since I want to hear other people’s ideas and favorites. So please chime in!
I’ve been to most the heritage railways in the U.K. and I have to say the Keighley and Worth Valley and the North Yorkshire Moors are my favourites. Both are open to the public as not just recreation but viable transportation. Those Yorkshiremen don’t screw around!
My favorite “wild west” line was the Cumbres & Tolec when I rode it almost 30 years ago, although I noticed in recent vidios along the line that cabins/homes have started popping up along the way.
My favorite “back east” is the East Broad Top. which I was glad to see when it was stlll an operating museum.
My favorites? Well, it’s pretty subjective, 'cause I haven’t seen them all, but I’d have to say the following…
The B&O Museum in Baltimore.
The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg PA.
The Durango and Silverton Museum in Durango CO, it’s an adjunct to the railroad and well worth visiting. The only drawback? You can’t do the ride and the museum in the same day, just not enough time do do both. So, make it a two-day stay, it’s worth it!
And maybe this really belongs over on the “Classic Toy Trains” side, but there’s a rail hobby shop in Hagerstown MD called “The Train Room.” The place has an attached museum of Lionel products that has to be seen to be believed! There’s everything in there, up to and including the fully functional Lionel mini-stove and range produced as a girls toy in the 1930’s! Just unbelieveable!
The Hagerstown Roundhouse museum is just down the street from “The Train Room,” a nice little museum that’s worth a visit as well. Nice people in there, we were there a week before one of their yearly exhibitions, but they opened up the big Christmas O gauge layout for us and another couple and ran it, a “private showing” as it were, and did the same with the HO layout. Needless to say, I spent big in the gift shop afterwards!
My hometown “O.Winston Link Museum” located in the old N&W passenger station in downtown Roanoke, Virginia.
The closeby “Virginia Museum of Transportation” should also be taken in.
Mine would have to be almost a tie for Scenic between Cumbres & Toltec and D&S. I have not been on D&S for years, rode when it was still owned by D&RGW in 1970, the High Line was awesome,but for wide open vistas, it has to be C&T, could see for miles and there was even snow at top of Cumbres Pass in early June.
Also have to mention Royal Gorge RR, have rode it two times and coming into the gorge under the bridge 1,000 feet above is awesome and sitting on the famous Hanging Bridge too. Very scenic with kayaks running the river.
Museum-another tie, NMOT has great displays, including a Big Boy and #1522, but IRM has working engines, it was a thrill to see #1630 going down the tracks and got to ride behind Frisco steam.
Small town would have to be Mid-Continent. Just visited this summer, and they have a great train ride, where you get to see engine uncoupled and run around to be switched by hand. Can get off and take pics and the crew will explain what is going on for those who do not know a lot about railroading. Since my grandfather was a Frisco brakeman and later conductor, I could imagine I was seeing him at work, except for the diesel engine and no link and pin couplers. I would recommend a visit there for any railfan.
Georgetown Loop is another great RR for scenic views and seeing the train go around those loops. A short ride but very interesting.
Favorite ‘Wild Western’ Trains: Mt. Rainier Scenic – now Mt. Rainier Railroad and Logging Museum in Elbe, Washington.
Favorite Scenic Trip: I have to agree with the Durango & Silverton.
International Lines: Swiss Railways through the Alps.
Best Museum Displays: Also agree that the California State Railroad Museum is #1. But the Lake Superior Railroad Museum in Duluth, Minesota is a close second. I also love the O. Winston Link Museum and Roanoke Railway Museum.
Smalltown Favorite: East Troy Railroad Museum in East Troy, Wisconsin. I am happy to volunteer there. The museum is basic but riding the actual interurban cars and street cars makes it living history.