Railroad Museum

[Norm53]

I would never have guessed that there were so many steam loco museums. I visited only 3: Scranton, Baltimore, Strassburg. Thank you all posters for a wonderful, educational review.

Pity though, that diesel gets no respect.

Norm

 

[USS ALASKA]

I would never have guessed that there were so many steam loco museums. I visited only 3: Scranton, Baltimore, Strassburg. Thank you all posters for a wonderful, educational review.

Pity though, that diesel gets no respect.

Norm

Sir, I tried to keep my postings to those that had at least some Steam related collections to keep with the theme of this web site.
2725

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[USS ALASKA]

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LWeAPQ76H...XM/77vImRnSqpk/w1200-h630-p-k-nu/IMG_1382.JPG

The Bluegrass Railroad and Museum is a railroad museum and heritage railroad in Versailles, Kentucky, United States.

Operating out of the Woodford County Park, the Railroad offers 11-mile round trip excursions through the horse farms of Kentucky to Tyrone, Kentucky where the train stops at Young's High Bridge and allows passengers to disembark and view Young's High Bridge and the Kentucky River valley area.

The railroad uses diesel locomotives, of which it has four operational and two for static display. It also has about 40 pieces of rolling stock. Equipment is stored in three separate locations along the museum's 5.5 miles of track, all of which can be seen while riding the excursions from the Woodford County Park to Young's High Bridge.

Museum
The museum was founded in 1976 by some members of the Bluegrass Railroad Club, a model railroad group. It began to acquire equipment from local railroads, initially storing the equipment in the old Louisville and Nashville Railroad's Lexington yard which is now part of the parking lot for Rupp Arena. The equipment was moved to a siding at Eastern State Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, then to the Bluegrass Army Depot grounds in Avon, Kentucky. In 1988 the museum moved to its present location on Hwy 62 outside Versailles, Kentucky. After a fire in 2006, a partially burned house was remodeled into a Station and Museum.

Rail line
In 1987–1988 five and a half miles of railroad line from Versailles, Kentucky to the Kentucky River and nine and a half acres of land in Woodford County Park just outside Versailles were acquired to begin the process of creating a museum site and train ride.

The rail line was originally built by the Louisville Southern Railroad in the 1880s. For a brief time it was leased by the Monon Railroad. Later, it became part of the Southern Railway. While operated by the Southern, a switching accident at the Tyrone Generating Station caused coal shipments to be received by truck, and hastened the end of the usefulness of this portion of the line. Later, the Norfolk Southern Railway operated the line. A few years into NS ownership, the portion of the line between the Kentucky River and Versailles was slated for abandonment, and subsequently sold to the museum. The line from the Kentucky River to Lawrenceburg, Kentucky was abandoned and sold to a scrapper in 2009. The rails on Young's High Bridge and into Lawrenceburg were then quickly removed and sold for scrap. Young's High Bridge itself has been bought by a private party who have formed a LLC to develop the area into a tourist attraction. Vertigo Bungee, a loose band of thrill-seeking adrenaline junkies known for appearances on MTV sports since the 1990s, has since developed Young's High Bridge into a permanent bungee jumping platform. Young's High Bridge is now considered to be the highest permanent platform bridge jump in North America. Meanwhile, the railroad line from Versailles to Lexington has been sold first to the Lexington and Ohio Railroad and now to the R.J. Corman Railroad/Central Kentucky Lines.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluegrass_Railroad_and_Museum

Bluegrass Scenic Railroad and Museum

Train Rides Saturday and Sunday at 2pm from Easter through October.

Spring Train Rides April 6, 13, 27 May 4, 11

Civil War Trains

Step back in time aboard our Civil War Train. Volunteers dress in the uniforms of the Blue and the Grey and set up a tent encampment. Ladies in period costumes cook over open fires. Arrive early and visit the camp and interact with our reinactors. See and hear cannon firing demonstrations.

June 1 & 2

Then ride the train with the soldiers. Sometimes a wedding is planned between a Union Soldier and a southern Belle. With tempers running hot a skirmish may just happen along the tracks.

Bring your cameras for this one!

https://www.bluegrassrailroad.com/civil-war-trains
2782

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[USS ALASKA]

For our members in Canada...the Canadian Railway Museum

Born out of the Canadian Railroad Historical Association (CRHA), Exporail, The Canadian Railway Museum, continues the legacy of the passionate volunteers who made it possible to preserve and enhance Canada's rich railway heritage.

In 1978, the Government of Canada named Exporail as Canada's specialized railway Museum. In 2007, Exporail asked the Government of Canada to recognize it as Canada's National Railway Museum. That same year, Parliament passed a motion to that effect. Since then, Exporail has worked to have the Government of Canada carry out this motion of parliament.

On this 175th anniversary of the creation of the railway, may Canada's Parliament designate Exporail a National Museum and thus pay homage to all those who worked to create the unique legacy that helped build Canada.

The Canadian Railroad Historical Association (CRHA) owns and operates Exporail, the Canadian Railway Museum. Exporail was founded in 1961 by the CRHA, which counts over a thousand members and several Divisions throughout Canada.

The mission of this non-profit association is to purchase vehicles, artefacts and archival documents that retrace the history of Canada's railways and of their development. The Association aims at preserving and disseminating this information.

Located near the very first railroad in Canada, the Champlain & St. Lawrence Rail Road (1836), Exporail, the Canadian Railway Museum has preserved and showcases Canada's largest railway collection and is among the largest of its kind in the world.

Operated by the Champlain & St. Lawrence Rail Road Company, Canada's first railroad was inaugurated on July 21, 1836 on Montreal's South Shore, between La Prairie and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.

The 23-kilometre long stretch of track runs parallel to an old portage route previously used to transport merchandise from the St. Lawrence River to the Richelieu River and nearby waterways, i.e., Lake Champlain and the Hudson River.

The Dorchester's inaugural trip between La Prairie and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu marked the true beginning of Canada's railway adventure. Initially, the North-South axis was used for trade with the United States and the East-West axis was developed later.

Exporail pays homage to the workers who built the railroads, which contributed to the founding of our Canada. Exporail is Canada's largest railway museum and has a remarkable collection that gives visitors the opportunity to witness how the railroad went from a dream to a reality, in terms of both its technological innovations and social dimensions, to develop Canada and all of its communities.

Exporail's mission is to retrace and showcase the history and present role of railways in a lively and interactive fashion using the various means at its disposal. Its program is diversified and includes exceptional permanent and temporary exhibitions, guided tours, animations, educational activities, conferences, tram and train rides, demonstrations of the telegraphy and steam train operations as well as several thematic events.

https://www.exporail.org/en/
2830

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[USS ALASKA]

The Railway and Locomotive Historical Society, founded in 1921, is the oldest organization in North America devoted to railroad history. Its object is to promote research and to encourage preservation and documentation of all facets of railroading. We take pleasure in welcoming you to our exhibit at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds in Pomona, California. A small group of devoted railroad historians gathered in a home in the spring of 1953 and set the wheels in motion to organize this local chapter and on June 5, 1953 the deed was done.

This exhibit first opened in 1954 with our first acquisition, the Climax geared type locomotive, #3. It was donated by Sunkist Growers, Inc. Since that time 7 more locomotives, a Heavyweight Pullman Lounge, a Santa Fe wooden Caboose, Refrigerator car, an AT&SF Horse Express car and two track motor cars have been added to the rolling stock exhibit.

The center of Museum activities is the former Santa Fe Depot from Arcadia, California. This was given to the Society in the summer of 1969. Built in 1895, it witnessed the daily passing of the Santa Fe's finest trains but became obsolete with the coming of the 210 Freeway. It had to be moved or demolished and so it is now preserved as a classic example of a 19th Century Santa Fe Station.

Our exhibit is maintained by a dedicated staff of volunteers who work at the museum to keep our exhibits maintained for public exhibition. Admission to the Museum is always free, we only ask for you generous donations to help maintain our historic railroad equipment.

http://railgiants.org/index.htm
2903

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[USS ALASKA]

Nevada State Railroad Museum

OUR MISSION
The Nevada State Railroad Museum is a cultural resource dedicated to educating visitors and the community about Nevada railroad history. This mission is accomplished through the collection, preservation and interpretation on significant locomotives, rolling stock, artifacts, photographs and memorabilia directly related to railroads and railroading in Nevada. In addition to static exhibits, select pieces of equipment in the collection are restored and operated throughout the year to demonstrate steam and early gasoline technology and provide visitors with a first-hand experience with railroad history through the sights, sounds and sensations of a train ride.

http://nvculture.org/nevadastaterailroadmuseumcarsoncity/

The Nevada State Railroad Museum, located in Carson City, Nevada, preserves the railroad heritage of Nevada, including locomotives and cars of the famous Virginia and Truckee Railroad. Much of the museum equipment was obtained from Hollywood studios, where they were often featured in movies and television. The museum is operated by the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs.

Museum activities consist of operation of historic 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge and 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge railroad equipment, including train rides, handcar rides, lectures, an annual railroad history symposium, changing exhibits, and a variety of special events. The Museum also has an ongoing research and restoration program. The Museum's most recent event is the rebuilding of the interpretation center and possibly the HO scale model railroad operated by the Carson Model Railroaders who operate the Mills Park Railroad.

The Wabuska Railroad Station, a historic station from Wabuska, Nevada was relocated to the museum grounds. The building is, in essence, still used as a working railroad station where tickets for the museum train rides are purchased.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevada_State_Railroad_Museum
2959

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[USS ALASKA]

Great Plains Transportation Museum

The mission of the Great Plains Transportation Museum is to preserve and convey the unique history of railroading in the Great Plains through acquisition, restoration, research, exhibition, and education.

The Great Plains Transportation Museum (GPTM) displays a wide assortment of railroad equipment. Our two largest displays are Santa Fe steam locomotive #3768 and Santa Fe FP45 diesel #93. These locomotives are unique in our collection in that they represent the last class of passenger locomotives that were built for the Santa Fe in their respective eras.

Indoor exhibits include railroad prints, signs, lanterns, tools, and other artifacts including a mock-up mechanical stoker used for training steam locomotive personnel. We invite you to visit the Great Plains Transportation Museum to learn more about these and many other historical pieces and displays.

The Great Plains Transportation Museum, Inc., (GPTM), incorporated in 1983, was an outgrowth of the former Great Plains Railway Museum, which was closed in 1977 and placed into storage when it lost its home on the second floor of Union Station. At the time, Union Station was to undergo an extensive renovation through an urban renewal project and the Railway Museum was to eventually have a place in the Union Station building again. The new home in the Union Station building never materialized, so a small group of railroad enthusiasts decided that if there were to be a railroad-oriented museum in Wichita, it would be necessary to incorporate a new museum.

In the meantime, the City of Wichita sold the former Union Station building to Multi Media Cable Vision. The sale of Union Station included former Santa Fe locomotive 3768, which the cable company did not need for its business, so they donated it to the Museum. The steam locomotive was a feature attraction the Museum needed before opening its doors to the public. Already on hand from the former Great Plains Railway Museum were a Frisco wooden caboose, a Santa Fe drovers' car, and a former KG & E electric locomotive. The Burlington Northern Railroad had donated a former Frisco switcher locomotive that was sitting in storage on their property.

A volunteer crew erected a fence in the summer of 1985 for enclosing the property and to protect the outdoor displays. Because the Museum would also need some office space, gift shop space, and indoor display space, a lease for a small portion of the Player Piano building was also negotiated.

Doors were first opened to the public in December 1986. The Museum held a "Grand Opening" the following June and by then a small admission was charged instead of relying only on donations and gift shop sales for income.

After its official opening the GPTM has acquired additional rolling stock over the years -- such as two industrial locomotives, some cabooses, a tank car, and a former Santa Fe diesel electric locomotive -- and various artifacts and memorabilia, and books. The GPTM also provides special group tours for schools and other organizations and a speakers bureau for civic and community groups. The benefits to members include a monthly newsletter, free admission to the Museum, and a 10% discount on purchases from the gift shop.

The number of yearly visitors is up, especially since a Douglas Street level entrance was opened beginning in November 1999. In addition to visitors from the Wichita and the nearby surrounding area, there have been visitors from other parts of Kansas, numerous other states, and a variety of foreign countries. Out-of-state visitors are typical on virtually a weekly frequency and foreign country visitors are typical at least monthly. Over the years the GPTM has established a presence in the City of Wichita and has become an asset to the community.

http://www.gptm.us/
3129

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[USS ALASKA]

The Railroad Historical Center was established in 1970 with the intent of preserving the area and country's railroad history, from the "Golden Age", roughly 1900-1950. After spending years as a private collection in the rear of an Adams family property, the land and equipment was graciously donated to The Museum [of Greenwood] in 2005. Since then the site has grown with the acquisition of various new artifacts and the former Palmetto Bank building to serve as visitor's center for the near future. The Museum along with the Railroad Center Board jointly oversee the upkeep and restoration of the site and its vintage equipment.

https://www.greenwoodrrmuseum.com/
3200

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[USS ALASKA]

Located on a major north-south corridor between two major cities, Bowling Green has a long history tied to the evolution of transportation in Kentucky; from steamboats traveling the Barren River to the railroad, and eventually the current interstate systems. The current L&N Depot was built in 1925 to replace an older station. At one time, over 20 trains per day departed the current site, providing a hub for Bowling Green's economic foundation and exposure to travelers between Louisville, KY and Nashville, TN.

After approval by the Depot Development Authority and Operation Pride, the Historic Railroad Committee (now called Friends of L&N Depot), an all-volunteer and non-profit group, was formed for the purpose of acquiring authentic, historic railroad cars for display at the Bowling Green Louisville and Nashville Depot. The goal of Friends of L&N Depot is to provide a venue for tourism and local interest, and for educational development, within a historic facility.
Within the museum, galleries of regional and national importance have been developed for public interest of cultural, historic, and socioeconomic importance. Behind the museum lies 450 feet of track displaying an E8 Engine, a Railroad Post Office Car, the Duncan Hines Diner – a 1949 Pullman diner, the Towering Pine – a 1953 Pullman Sleeper, the 353 Presidential Office Car – the personal car of the president of the L&N built in 1911, and a Chessie Class C-27 caboose. The first cars were placed there in May 2002 and community volunteers have worked hard to restore them to their original splendor. The cars are available for guided tours as well as rental for small catered community meetings on the diner, birthday parties in the caboose, and many other special functions.

https://www.historicrailpark.com/
3276

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[USS ALASKA]

Often brought up here in TRR threads...

The Best Friend of Charleston

The original Best Friend of Charleston train made its first trip on Christmas Day in 1830. The Best Friend was the first engine built entirely in the United States – at West Point Foundry in New York – and was the first train to carry the U.S. Mail and the US Military. Six months later, the Best Friend's boiler exploded, destroying the engine. Southern Railway had the Best Friend Replica built in 1928, from the original blueprints, to recognize the S.C. Canal and Rail Road Co.'s 100th anniversary. The company was chartered in 1828 by the Legislature to explore connecting Charleston with inland markets via rail. The replica was donated to the City of Charleston by Norfolk Southern in 1971. Norfolk Southern borrowed the replica in December 2008 and it was returned to the city after six years on loan to Norfolk Southern headquarters in Atlanta where they had displayed it in their lobby until October 2014.

THE BEST FRIEND TRAIN MUSEUM in historic downtown Charleston behind the Charleston Visitor Center. The train may be seen at any time through the windows on the John Street side of the building. Open daily (except major holidays) 9 AM to 4 PM

http://bestfriendofcharleston.org/
3377

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[captaindrew]

This past weekend I visited the Strasburg Railroad in Pa to see visiting Norfolk and Western J class locomotive #611 reunited with Stasburg's Norfolk and Western #475. It was quite a day, I'm sure @Southern Unionist and @Eleanor Rose will like this.

 

[JOHN42768]

Looks like my bucket list needs to be transferred to a 55 gallon drum

 

[JPChurch]

I think that #611 has stopped here in Manassas and taken folks for rides out to Warrenton and back...….It's a real beauty and has a steam whistle that can be heard for miles

 

[James N.]

An interesting bit of trivia is that the locomotives that "portrayed" the General and Texas (above) in Walt Disney's The Great Locomotive Chase came from the B&O Museum.

 

[Mary L]

Railroaders Memorial Museum

http://www.railroadcity.com/

"The Railroaders Memorial Museum is a railroad museum in Altoona, Pennsylvania. The museum is dedicated to revealing, interpreting, commemorating and celebrating the significant contributions of railroaders and their families to American life and industry. The museum also operates the visitor center at Horseshoe Curve National Historic Site.

Altoona is one of the hubs of the area's tourist industry. Many significant cultural resources are within the city itself, and most of these resources are linked directly to the city's long history as a railroad center. Altoona is in a section of southwestern Pennsylvania that is home to a number of significant cultural and historic resources. The Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site, Johnstown Flood National Memorial, Horseshoe Curve National Historic Site, Staple Bend Tunnel, and the historic iron furnace at Mt. Etna are all within 25 miles (40 km) of Altoona.

For more than a century, Altoona was one of the most important rail facilities in the United States. The city was home to the Altoona Works, the Pennsylvania Railroad's (PRR) repair and maintenance shops, locomotive construction facility, and test department. Altoona's location at the foot of the Allegheny front and its proximity to the Horseshoe Curve route over the mountains made the city a key location in the PRR's Altoona operations.

PRR's contribution to the nation's transportation infrastructure, and to production standardization, marks it as one of the most important contributors to America's industrial revolution. By the 1920s, the Altoona railroad works employed 15,000 workers; by 1945 the PRR's facilities at Altoona had become the world's largest rail shop complex."

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railroaders_Memorial_Museum

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

Great museum! the original building was very small but the one they are in now is a definite place to see.

 

[USS ALASKA]

Founded by Houston Mitchell and Hamilton Mask in 1854, Corinth, Mississippi, was called the "Crossroads of the South" during the Civil War because of its strategic railroad importance–two rail lines intersected at city center, making the town one of the most heavily contested transportation hubs fought over by both Union and Confederate armies. Today the Crossroads Museum and Historic Corinth Depot sit only a few feet from the original railroad tracks that remain busy with frequent freight-train traffic. In the mid to late 1800s, it was the Memphis & Charleston and the Mobile & Ohio railroads paving the way for Norfolk Southern and Kansas City Southern today.

In addition to railroad and Civil War history, the museum is home to thousands of artifacts detailing the city's rich history in both cultural and industrial pursuits. The museum also hosts Margaret Greene Rogers Library–named in honor of a longtime educator & history advocate–for genealogical & historical research as well as a gift shop with train- and Corinth-related souvenirs. Outside on the depot grounds, visitors can explore a vintage train caboose & inspect a Civil War cannon used during the Battle of Shiloh.

Recently relocated to the front courtyard of the museum depot, a Civil War cannon used during the Battle of Shiloh is part of an additional outdoor exhibit.

Crossroads Museum and Corinth Depot - Corinth, Mississippi

Visit the Crossroads Museum and Historic Corinth Depot in Corinth, Mississippi.

www.crossroadsmuseum.com

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[USS ALASKA]

Experience more than 160 years of railroad and Civil War history at Tunnel Hill Heritage Center and Museum. Start in the museum with a trip through Tunnel Hill's history as you examine the unique artifacts on display.

Explore a true engineering marvel: the Western & Atlantic Railroad Tunnel. Completed in 1850, it was the first major railroad tunnel in the South and the first through the Appalachian Mountains. Take the guided tour to see original drill marks made during the construction of the tunnel and see where the Civil War's "Great Locomotive Chase" came through in 1862.

Walk in the footsteps of Union and Confederate soldiers as you step into the historic Clisby Austin House which was used as a Confederate field hospital in 1862-1863 and as a headquarters for Union General William T. Sherman in May of 1864 as he planned his famous Atlanta Campaign.

Our museum exhibits feature a number of railroad and Civil War artifacts that tell the story of Tunnel Hill from the days before the city was chartered to the renovation and reopening of the historic Western & Atlantic Railroad tunnel in 2000.

Tunnel
The Western & Atlantic Railroad was founded in 1836 to connect the Tennessee and Chattahoochee Rivers, however one barrier stood in northwest Georgia: Chetoogeta Mountain. With scaling the mountain being out of the question, tunneling through was the only solution. Construction on the tunnel began in the summer of 1848 and with it came an influx of workers. The tunnel, which spans 1,477 feet was completed in less than 22 months and on May 9, 1850, the first Western and Atlantic locomotive passed through the tunnel and the connection between Chattanooga, Tennessee and the new town of Atlanta, Georgia was complete. While in operation, the tunnel was controlled by both the Union and Confederate Armies at various times throughout the Civil War and even witnessed the "Great Locomotive Chase" in April of 1862. As the demand for more railways grew, so did the trains themselves and by 1926, so many train cars were getting stuck in the tunnel that the decision was made to build a larger parallel tunnel through the mountain, ending the use of the W&A tunnel in 1928. The tunnel faced possible destruction from 70 years of neglect until, in 1992, steps were taken to preserve it. The tunnel was re-opened to the public in 2000, just in time for its 150th anniversary. As we approach the 170th anniversary in 2020, we invite you to come explore this engineering marvel!

Tunnel Hill Hill Heritage Center & Museum

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[Lubliner]

View attachment 424597

Experience more than 160 years of railroad and Civil War history at Tunnel Hill Heritage Center and Museum. Start in the museum with a trip through Tunnel Hill's history as you examine the unique artifacts on display.

Explore a true engineering marvel: the Western & Atlantic Railroad Tunnel. Completed in 1850, it was the first major railroad tunnel in the South and the first through the Appalachian Mountains. Take the guided tour to see original drill marks made during the construction of the tunnel and see where the Civil War's "Great Locomotive Chase" came through in 1862.

Walk in the footsteps of Union and Confederate soldiers as you step into the historic Clisby Austin House which was used as a Confederate field hospital in 1862-1863 and as a headquarters for Union General William T. Sherman in May of 1864 as he planned his famous Atlanta Campaign.

Our museum exhibits feature a number of railroad and Civil War artifacts that tell the story of Tunnel Hill from the days before the city was chartered to the renovation and reopening of the historic Western & Atlantic Railroad tunnel in 2000.

Tunnel
The Western & Atlantic Railroad was founded in 1836 to connect the Tennessee and Chattahoochee Rivers, however one barrier stood in northwest Georgia: Chetoogeta Mountain. With scaling the mountain being out of the question, tunneling through was the only solution. Construction on the tunnel began in the summer of 1848 and with it came an influx of workers. The tunnel, which spans 1,477 feet was completed in less than 22 months and on May 9, 1850, the first Western and Atlantic locomotive passed through the tunnel and the connection between Chattanooga, Tennessee and the new town of Atlanta, Georgia was complete. While in operation, the tunnel was controlled by both the Union and Confederate Armies at various times throughout the Civil War and even witnessed the "Great Locomotive Chase" in April of 1862. As the demand for more railways grew, so did the trains themselves and by 1926, so many train cars were getting stuck in the tunnel that the decision was made to build a larger parallel tunnel through the mountain, ending the use of the W&A tunnel in 1928. The tunnel faced possible destruction from 70 years of neglect until, in 1992, steps were taken to preserve it. The tunnel was re-opened to the public in 2000, just in time for its 150th anniversary. As we approach the 170th anniversary in 2020, we invite you to come explore this engineering marvel!

Tunnel Hill Hill Heritage Center & Museum

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

This one sounds pretty neat and would be a simple day trip for me. Huntsville station also is nearby, and it was refurbished earlier this century. Thanks USS Alaska.

 

[USS ALASKA]

Sirs, an article to go with post - https://civilwartalk.com/threads/railroad-museum.139977/page-2#post-1804104

Southern Museum Of Civil War And Locomotive History Turns 50
POSTED BY: LARRY FELTON JOHNSON
MARCH 4, 2022

The Southern Museum (full name Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History) in Kennesaw issued the following press release announcing their 50th anniversary:

Kennesaw, GA (March 4, 2022) — The Southern Museum opened fifty years ago on April 12, 1972, in historic downtown Kennesaw, Georgia. Originally called the Big Shanty Museum, it showcased the famous General locomotive and was dedicated to telling the story of the Great Locomotive Chase. The event, which took place 110 years earlier on April 12, 1862, elevated the engine and Big Shanty (today the City of Kennesaw) to prominence during the Civil War. Over the next fifty years, the Museum grew in size and expanded its collection to include other artifacts from the Civil War period and railroading in the Southeast. In the mid-1990s, the Museum acquired and curated an impressive collection from the Glover Machine Works of Marietta, Georgia, the last builder of steam locomotives in the South. The name was changed to the Kennesaw Civil War Museum soon thereafter. Beginning in 2001, a two-year renovation and enlargement project culminated in a nearly 50,000 square foot facility housing three permanent exhibits: Railroads: Lifelines of the Civil War, Glover Machine Works: Casting a New South and The Great Locomotive Chase featuring the General locomotive. The name was changed, yet again, to the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History.

Full article with pics can be read here - https://cobbcountycourier.com/2022/03/southern-museum-of-civil-war-and-locomotive-history-turns-50/

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[Library Lady]

Can anyone tell me what kind of engine is in this poster? Are there any left? If yes, is there one doing steam excursions?

Vintage Art Deco Railroad Travel, 1938 Poster | Zazzle

FREE Design Tool on Zazzle! Shop Vintage Art Deco Railroad Travel, 1938 Poster created by HistoryPhoto. Personalize it with photos & text or purchase as is!

www.zazzle.com

I just found out that the UP has again retired the Challenger because it needs a rebuild. From the sound of things, I'm not sure the Big Boy will be running again, either, so I'm looking for a new engine to love. The art deco posters for the 20th Century Limited have always intrigued me, so I thought I'd start with that engine.