Mine is the Railroaders Memorial Museum in Altoona, Pa. Whats yours?[:)][:)][:)]
Mine is the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, CA. It’s a HUGE museum with lots of different trains, and it’s only about a forty minute drive from my house.
I’ve got two favourites;
(i) Steamtown in Scranton PA
(ii) The GWS in Didcot, Oxon, England.
My local hobby shop
Gordon
I like:
Green Field Village in Flint, Michigan.
Steamtown (never been there but looks cool)
Califonia state RR museum (never been there either)
Our yearly excursion on the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad. Beautiful country. Dave
I remember it when it was in Bellows Falls, Vermont[:)]
Mine used to be this place at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, called “enterTRAINment”, but it closed 10 years ago. They had this cool Lionel layout. I wonder what ever happened to that place?[:-^][swg]
California State Railroad Museum. Its a 27 minute bus ride downtown. We have the last Cabforward.
Yeah, the Cab forward is one of my favorite things to see there. I like how you can even go into the cab.[:)] I just don’t like the fact that you can only see one side of the locomotive.[:(]
Gotta be Strasburg. They might not have the biggest collection or the longest mainline, but it’s one of the “sincerest” railroads I’ve ever seen (and I’ve seen most East of the Mississippi, as well as the D&S and CAT). Go to Strasburg on a day they’re running, when the weather isn’t the best (to keep most of the tourists away) and you’ll swear you’re back in 1920.
WHere exactly is Strasburg?
Another vote for the CSRM–I’ve got to go get changed for my shift there this afternoon! If you want to see the other side of the cab-forward, you can get an engineer’s eye view by peeking along the side as you enter the cab–it’s a little dark but you can get a good look from that angle.
I’m just looking forward to the day when the Railroad Technology Museum opens (sometime in the next decade depending on funding and other unpredictable things) which will allow the Sacramento Locomotive Works and much more of the collection to be visible and available to the public. There’s a pair of magnificent AT&SF locomotives in the shops area-- #2925, a 4-8-4, and #5021, a 2-10-4. I suppose that technically there are bigger engines but these two are absolute monsters–standing in between them is like being between Godzilla and King Kong. There are other gorgeous things in the Shops, as well as the magnificent buildings themselves!
I must admit a fondness for the Western Railway Museum as well, down in Rio Vista–but then, I’m a traction buff. It’s smaller but dedicated to electrics (though they have some diesels and even an old Shay!) and very friendly and informal.
And one of these days I’m going to have to visit the other end of the Transcontinental in Omaha–I’ve seen their railroad museum from the train, and admired the UP “Big Boy” they keep nearby in the pre-dawn light, but never actually been inside. Worth a look, I’d think…
Mine would be railfanning at my local train station and at Bayview Junction
Strasburg Railroad, in Strasburg, PA (about an hour southeast of Gettysburg). They claim to be the longest running RR in America, with a charter in the 1840s sometime. They’ve got five miles of track, a few old freight cars, and one of the best steam departments in the country. They’re the ones who have built all the officially licensed Thomas engines, and do a lot of work for other steam roads. They’ve restored several of the steamers for the RR Museum of PA (which is across the street) and do wheel work for lots of steamers. The last time I was in their shops, they were “kitbashing” a 2-8-0 into a 4-6-0, and they were building an old British steamer from scratch!
I also love Strasburg.
the tracks in town. even though there are hardly any trains that go through i still like it. as sometimes in school i’ll be able to watch one if i’m lucky. also its nice to hear them at night. then the train tracks in MN that we sometimes go and sit by and watch.
Thats a hard question to answer.
I’ve been to the Railroaders Memorial Museum in Altoona, Pa. twice,
the East Broad Top in Orbsonia Pa. three times,
the Knox Kane Railroad that went to the Kinzu bridge in Pa.
Green Field Village in Flint, Michigan. twice,
The Cass Scenic railroad in WV. three times,
the Grand Canyon Railway,
the Verde Canyon Railway. in Cottonwood Az.
the National Museum of Transportation in St. Louis MO. (there are some articulated locomotives there some of you’all should see in person)
Oh Heck, I can’t decide I liked them all.
Who owns this line anyway? What exact town do you like to railfan at?
Has to be the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, IL. Drive time is less than an hour from home. One ride on the old street cars at the museum would more than compensate for a longer drive.
My first choice is my 2-car garage with my HO layout in it[swg]! My second choice is the San Diego model railroad museum. My third choice is Los Angeles Live Steamers. I’ve got to go to the Californa State Railroad museum sometime this year.