Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania - Strasburg, Pennsylvania - historical information center and museum honoring the railroads of Pennsylvania

The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, which is located in Lancaster County, is a historical museum honoring the railroads of Pennsylvania. Featuring over 100 old locomotives and cars that were once part of the American railroad system, this museum focuses on both fun and education. The museum was founded in 1975, and underwent major renovations in 1995 for add more indoor space. As its popularity continued to grow, the museum's board decided to add a new entrance and gift shop, called the Whistle Stop Shop, both of which opened in 2007.

The main area of the museum is Railroader's Hall. This part of the museum has five platforms and an observations bridge overlooking the trains. Although many of the trains are hands-off pieces of art, there are a number of interactive exhibits as well. There is a steam locomotive cab, passenger car, and caboose open for tourists to walk though so that guests can see the interiors of these railroad cars. There's also a locomotive that you can walk under to see how this type of train works from below. Many of these cars and locomotives are from the 1800s and have been fully restored, so they're unique pieces that can't be found elsewhere in the United States.

In addition to the locomotives and cars themselves, the museum also features an exhibit area. The exhibits in this facility are always changing, so every time visitors come to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, there are new things to see and do. In the past, there have been exhibits showing train artwork, the history of train wrecks and accidents, railroad photography, and histories of specific railroads, such as the Strasburg Railroad.

The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania does not operate any working trains, but they do work in conjunction with the nearby Strasburg Railroad, which has a number of different train ride options for visitors to this area. They have also partnered with the National Toy Train Museum, which is less than a mile from their facilities and has a huge collection of toy trains, electric train models, and accessories that attract guests of all ages.

Along with exhibits, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania has a banquet hall known as Rolling Stock Hall that can be rented for weddings, receptions, reunions, dinners, and the like. They also have a second, smaller space available for business meetings, educational seminars, workshops, and other smaller events. There's free parking for up to 200 guests at this facility, as well as guided tours of the railroad exhibits and trains available.

The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania holds a number of special events every year, including a Charter Day celebration every March, when admission is free, as well as Family Days themed around Harry Potter and Garden Railway Tour Days, where guests can see the beautiful gardens and model train collections at some nearby homes. Tickets for events and general admission tickets can be purchased at the museum at $10 for adults, $9 for senior citizens, and $8 for children under the age of 12. Guests can call 717-687-8628 for more information.