Does anyone here have a favourite rail museum they like[?]
I’ve visited a few, and the one that I liked the most of those was the Duluth, MN museum.
I would go with the Lake Superior RR Museum in Duluth too. You can ride the North Shore Scenic RR between the museum and Two Harbors (on former DMIR trackage) in an RDC. They have a good number of unusual pieces of equipment, and it’s in the historic old Duluth depot.
Plus there is a maritime museum and aquarium within walking distance, actually the whole Depot Square / Canal Park area is very nice now…and of course you get to watch 1000 ft oreboats go by!! [:0]
The Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden is excellent. In July, I’m going to the California Railroad Museum and I can’t wait to check it out!
IRM hands down Steamtown ( with steam)- Not Dieseltown, a distant second
Havent seen California RR Museum but looks interesting.
How about the North Carolina Historic Spencer Shops and amenities at Spencer, NC.?
Well worth the trip.
[tup]{tup]
Sam
I’m torn between the B&O Museum and the California State Museum. Both have great collections. In case anyone decides to visit our friends across the pond, the British National Railway Museum in York, England is also very impressive.
I love the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden and the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City. In a different category (a whole museum railroad) is the Nevada Northern.
I love how you spell favorite[;)]…you must be from Europr somewhere (?)[}:)]. Yes, actuall the Illinois Railway Museum is my FAVORITE.[:)]
Three come to mind. For one, the Railroaders Memorial Museum in Altoona,PA, which focuses on the people more than the equipment/trains. The State Museum at Strasburg, which is a must for anyone. The PRR exhibits are just the beginning. Now, when you want action and exhibits at one stop, may I recommend the North East PA,(near Erie,PA) museum operated by the Lake Shore Chapter,NRHS. There’s CSX on the old Lake Shore and NS on the Nickel Plate![;)]
My favorites are the B&O museum and the Califdornia State Railroad Museum.The Nevada State Railroad Museum is smaller,but is also very good.
I went to the St. Louis National Railroad Museum a couple weeks ago. It has interesting equipment, but I must say for me seeing engines in various stages of repair isn’t much fun. It’s more like going to a morgue. Would rather see steamers in action.
Actually eolafan, I’ve been in Western Canada most of my life. The borders of my world is the Yukon to the north, down the west coast to Eugene, last time I was there was in the late 60’s Been out of Western Canada four times since. The eastern edge of the world for me is Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Sticking those u’s in words like favourite is Canadian, a habit I picked up in grade school. [;)] This is between the dinosaurs & steam engines. [:D]
My favorite museum is the one at portola
Actually the rail museum in Cranbrook is a first rate museum, run quite well. But the guy who runs it is known in town as the biggest [}:)] [:o)] in it. Many of those who have worked there have complained to Social Services - welfare - because they couldn’t handle working for him. He’s a perfectionist who is constantly over everyones shoulder to make sure they get it absolutely right the first time.
I will throw in a (blatant plug) for Western Railroad Museum in Rio Vista,Ca
I was a volunteer there many years ago, and it was always fun.
Rgds IGN
California state railroad museum is an awesome experience, I grew up in colorado so I volunteered at Colorado Railroad museum, it is definetely close to my heart. Neveda is nice, and steamtown is impressive, portola, ca, but have to say california state in sacremento takes the cake
National Railroad Museum in St. Louis is also pretty nice and they have some really nice pieces on display, but IRM is still nicer.
My two favorites are precisely the same as Jim’s. Of course, it’s been years since I’ve been to any of the others; they may have either improved or gone downhill since I was there last.
I like different museums for different reasons - Cal State does wonderful interpretation and displays of what they show – but they keep so much of their collection hidden.
Nevada for the time frame covered.
NC for the sheer number and variety of equipment types accessable on display and their Shay is fun to watch/ride.
Galveston TX has not been mentioned here. It is a large museum with a lot of equipment – some quite modern (such as the world’s largest tank car). But it is in need of some tender loving care.
Volunteers really make the difference in museums. If you have one near – I would highly recommend volunteering.
dd