RL Fifield 2009.
A fantastic collection in an incredible building tell the epic story of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. The 1884 Roundhouse that serves as the centerpiece of the museum complex sits on the site the birthplace of American railroading, the ground dedicated to that purpose since 1829. The museum celebrates technology, travel, and business, and its quietness is a memorial to the shrinkage of the passenger rail industry and the shift of freight handling out of the city center.
RL Fifield 2009.
I love the hulking massiveness of the 1930s steam engines in the North Shop, the dinner china, the elegant lounge cars, the scene passing by the window. We threw it all away for the speed of flight and a bag of peanuts.
RL Fifield 2009.
In 2003, the Roundhouse ceiling collapsed under the weight of an ice storm. As several engines and cars sit within the roundhouse, the damage from the collapse was significant. The museum has renovated the ceiling, and those objects that are damaged are fenced off from the public with Plexi-glass walls. Signs with the price tag of restoration sit nearby, with photographs of the objects enveloped in snow from that awful morning.
The B and O museum is definitely a great place to visit. That is really sad that they have not found the money to restore everything after so much time.
I think there are some bright spots with passenger rail Ridership is up on many commuter rail systems, It looks like San Francisco to San Jose suburban rail system Caltrain is going to electrify their lines with European style cars, and have up to six trains in each direction during peak hours. Amtrak is setting ridership records again including an impressive 75% market share compared to 25% for airline shuttles between NY and Washington. That is quite remarkable considering how slow the Acela and Northeast Regional are compared to offerings on European rail systems. Florida East Coast Railway wants to return to the passenger business with hourly 110MPH service between Orlando Airport and Miami as soon as 2014. marking the first time a private railroad has operated passenger service since the Rio Grande turned over it’s portion of the California Zephyr to Amtrak in 1983. People are increasingly demanding public transportation and are living closer to it. Who knows what the future will hold, but I think passenger trains will play a growing role in solving our transport and energy problems, while offering a less stressful way to get around.
I agree! I was just in Florida and enjoyed seeing the 1926 Orlando station while I was there.