There are many ways to “train up a child,” and the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is doing its share by bringing railroading and its heritage to life for kids or the kid in us. Most of today’s children see only subway or high-speed trains whizzing by their towns. For them, images of steam locomotives carrying freight over the countryside exist only in photos and old movies. However, a visit to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania provides a fascinating journey over two centuries of Pennsylvania railroad heritage and is a perfect getaway for train enthusiasts of all ages. 

The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is located amid scenic Lancaster County farmland, across the road from the Strasburg Rail Road, with the National Toy Train Museum and the Choo Choo Barn close by, all located in Strasburg. 

More than just a history museum, it has many hands-on and interactive ways to experience the fun and fascination of railroading. 

Your journey begins at the Steinman Station, an early 20th-century passenger depot exhibit where you will see a short orientation film on “Preserving a Transportation Treasure,” which takes you back to the early 1800s as railroads were being built across the state as part of a statewide transportation system. 

Adults and children alike will enjoy seeing railroading’s glorious past with the fascinating world-class collection of 100+ historic locomotives and vintage railroad cars in the main exhibit hall. Walking over the observation bridge, you can get a bird’s eye view of the collection and then take the stairs down to the platform level where you feel you are in a century-old train station. While on the platform level, feel free to walk about and examine each train. Take the throttle in a real freight engine cab for a simulated run, climb aboard a caboose, inspect a 62-ton locomotive from underneath, or explore an early 20th-century passenger station. Preserved in this world-class collection are classic wood burners, massive steam engines and electric-powered and diesel engines. 

It is the education programs that put this museum on the right track. Stewart Junction Railway Education Center, a 1915-era freight station, is filled with challenging and exciting hands-on activities and programs for railroaders of all ages. Whether you are a family visiting for the day or with a school, youth or Scout group, you will discover something exciting with its many hands-on simulations, live steam demonstrations, operating telegraph, push-button model train displays and building-block train sets.

Even museums have a history and the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania’s began in the 1960s when Penn Central donated its retired historic engines to the state. In 1969, the ever-growing collection was moved to Strasburg and the museum opened in 1975. Since then, the museum has more than doubled in size. A major addition in 1995 enabled whole trains to be displayed inside. A state-of-the art Restoration Shop was added in 1999. 

There is also a collection of artifacts including dining car china, lanterns, tools, uniforms and signals. A second floor gallery houses prints, maps and paintings. The Research Library and Archives contains thousands of historic volumes and hundreds of thousands of photos and archival materials related to railroading. For an appointment to visit the Research Library and Archives, researchers should contact the museum archivist in advance.

The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is accessible to individuals with disabilities and accommodates special needs upon request. Advance reservations are required and can be made by calling 717-687-8628. The museum is located at 300 Gap Road on Pennsylvania Route 741 East, in Strasburg, Pa. Admission for adults 18–59 is $8; adults 60 and over, $7; youth 6–17, $6. Children under 6 are admitted free of charge. For information, call 717-687-8628 or visit www.rrmuseumpa.org.