A Day at the B&O Railroad Museum

January 23, 2010

A Day at the B&O Railroad Museum

On Wednesday, Dad's real birthday, we headed to the B&O Railroad Museum in downtown Baltimore, MD. It was such a great visit. They have so many trains in their collection and some are truly awe inspiring. They are just that huge! The kids had a blast there and Dad and Sara were able to come along with us, which only added to the fun for everyone.

The roundhouse. Several years ago, Baltimore had huge snows that collapsed this roof and caused much damage to the trains inside of it. I am amazed at the restorations they were able to do and a little sad seeing the trains yet to be restored, sitting battered behind the safety of plexi-glass.

David, checking out the stagecoach with Chris.

David with the conestoga wagon that had been greatly damaged by the collapse. A fine restoration they did.

So, we get to these very early train cars that were modeled after stage coaches and I take the picture. Afterward, David says to me, "Mama! Did you like how you took that picture of me looking at the eagle?" He says the funniest things.

The boys posing on the turn table in the roundhouse (psst! They're the little blue and red coats in front of the ginormous-a little shout out to you, Chris-engines)

David posing (if I have my information correct) the same train featured in The Great Locomotive Chase.

The boys, posing with the coupler

The boys, posing with the caboose (are you noticing a theme here?)

The rather ornate part of the train car where the white passengers would have sat. Notice the nicer woodwork and window trim.

Here you see the seating arrangements for the African American passengers on the train. While the seats are basically the same, there is not the more ornate woodwork and trim in this rather sparse coach area. The opening in the door reveals the nicer white's seating area. Separate but definitely not equal.