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You pull into the parking lot. You see the short Brookville locomotive on display. You walk by the huge test weight car that is used to test heavy weight on the tracks. You see a railroad signal overhead. You see one of the old railroad shop buildings. You see a box car and a caboose. You see all of this… and you have not even entered into the building to pay your admission.
Welcome to the Railroaders Memorial Museum located in downtown Altoona in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is a museum dedicated to those who worked on and for the railroad. It has numerous exhibits that give you a look into the workers lives as well as the workers families, and it tells you how the railroad has contributed to so many aspects of American life from industry to agriculture to life at home.
Once you have spent time inside, you then go outside to see the cars that are on display including a super flatcar that is used as a stage for summer concerts. You can even see a turntable used to turn locomotives and cars around.
They have a roundhouse that you can tour. Be warned. There is much to see at this museum. If that is not enough, you can walk outside past some old workhouses or to the nearby train station and watch the trains roll by.
The museum is located at 1300 Ninth Avenue in downtown Altoona, Pennsylvania. It is open from early April to late December. You can get admission price information and of upcoming events at www.railroadcity.com.
On February 27, 1827, the first railroad in the United States of America began in the city of Baltimore in the U.S. state of Maryland, and it made its way to the mill town of Ellicott Mills. (It is now Ellicott City.) The railroad began going west and south from here beginning new towns with a train station in each town. Among these towns is the town of Bedford in the U.S. state of Virginia. Located in the south-central region of the state, the railroad still passes through the town today. The old train station saw its last passenger train in 1971. Today, it is called Liberty Station, and it is now a restaurant.
Some of you are saying, “I have notice that many train stations were demolished. It is nice that this train station was spared. However, it is called ‘Liberty Station’ and is now a restaurant. How does it get the name ‘Liberty Station’?”
That is a good question. Although the railroad passes through the town and that the railroad once served the town itself, the town of Bedford has never been a railroad town. Then again, many towns in the United States of America that were served by the railroad but never became railroad towns. What is special about Bedford, Virginia? Well, the answer to the question is a sad and tragic one.
Before Liberty Station was a restaurant, it was a train station. It was your average station just like any small town train station… except for one specific day.
During World War II, the Nazis from Germany were marching across the continent of Europe taking control of much of the continent. On June 6, 1944, they reached a place called Normandy in northern France. As the Nazis were on land, allied forces to include soldiers from the United States of America were on ships in the English Channel headed towards Omaha Beach. Among these forces were the 116th Infantry from the small town… of Bedford, Virginia. They made the assault on Omaha Beach which was the largest invasion from the sea in the history of warfare. Although the invasion ended in victory for the allied forces and lead to the liberation of the continent of Europe from Nazi rule, many of the soldiers lost their lives. The largest loss of life came from the 116th Infantry of Bedford, Virginia.
Before the 116th Infantry, commonly called the ‘Bedford Boys’, arrived in the English Channel, they departed the town of Bedford. How did they leave? They departed on a train from Liberty Station. Sadly, it was their last time most would see the town of Bedford.
Today, Liberty Station not only survives as a restaurant, but it also has a museum. You can eat a nice meal in the same place where the Bedford Boys departed to fight a war. Many of them lost their lives so that millions of others could live theirs.
Although the town of Bedford, Virginia is not a railroad town, it was the railroad that served the town that played a big role not only in the history of the United States of America and the United States Armed Forces, but it also played a big role in the history of the world. For this reason, the National D-Day Memorial is located in Bedford to remember the men who had a one way train ticket. The National D-Day Memorial is located just of U.S. Route 460 and Virginia Route 122. (The National D-Day Memorial). You can also visit the Bedford Boys Tribute Center located in the town center on U.S. Route 221 and Virginia Route 43. Located inside an old drug store where the Bedford Boys had their hangout, the Bedford Boys Tribute Center tells the stories of the Bedford Boys from their days in the town to their journey to Normandy. It remembers the boys who returned and those who did not. (Bedford Boys Tribute Center). After visiting the National D-Day Memorial and Bedford Boys Tribute Center, you can end your day with a meal at the Liberty Station. (HOME | Olde Liberty Station | Bedford, VA).
On this Memorial Day, let us remember the men and women of the United States Armed Forces who left the families and their hometowns to defend the people of the United States of America only to never return home. Let us remember the Bedford Boys who were from a small town in Virginia where the railroad contributed to one of the greatest events in world history.
Most major cities in the United States of America have a zoo. The city of Cincinnati in the southwest region of the U.S. state of Ohio is no exception. Cincinnati, the city famous for the television show ‘WKRP in Cincinnati’, and is the home of the Cincinnati Reds, a professional baseball team that is part of Major League Baseball, and it is the home of the Cincinnati Bengals, a professional American football team in the National Football League. (In case you are wondering what a Bengal is, it is a specific type of tiger that is mainly from India and other countries in that region.) The city does have a few treasures to see. One of those treasures happen to be the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens. The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens has, of course, animals that are in recreated habitats. As you walk around, you will see various gardens and waterfalls. When you visit the Cincinnati Zoo and Gardens, you will enjoy a very special place.
Some of you are saying, “This is interesting. Here is a zoo in a city that happens to be the home of the Bengals. There is one very big problem. This is a zoo. A zoo has animals. It is also a garden which has plants. This place is not a railroad place. Therefore, I will not ‘Red-ee’ myself to visit this place.”
You are right. This is not a railroad site. It is a zoo with a garden. Why would you want to visit the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden?
As mentioned, there are zoos all across the United States of America. You have the famous San Diego Zoo in the city of San Diego in the U.S. state of California. Then you have the Central Park Zoo located in the world famous Central Park in New York City in the U.S. state of New York. You very rarely hear about the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens. Why visit here?
You enter the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens. You see the different animals. You see the various plants. You see the waterfalls. You see a railroad crossing. What? A railroad crossing? What is this? Ladies and gentlemen, this is a railroad crossing for the Safari Train.
Some of you are saying, “I see. The Safari Train is a train that goes around this very small circle that you make a few loops around, and that is the Safari Train.”
Ladies and gentlemen, if you only enjoy trains that go around in small circles, then the Safari Train at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens will disappoint you. It is not a just a train ride. The Safari Train, a miniature train, gets you a great view of the Mexican wolves and the flamingoes. It takes you across a high train trestle and takes you around a lake. The ride is only ten minutes, but, for those who love trains, it will be the best part of visiting the zoo.
The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens is located at 3400 Vine Street in Cincinnati, Ohio. Although the zoo is open year-round, the Safari Train only runs during the warm months. There is a $5.00 fee to ride the train along with the admission to the zoo. You can get all of the information at Cincinnati Zoo | Accredited Member of the AZA.
So, you now have a reason to go to the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens. Although they are the home of the Bengals, they gladly welcome fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, and the Cleveland Browns. You will enjoy the Safari Train, and you will enjoy the zoo and gardens as well.
The U.S. state of Maryland is one of the original states in the nation. It is a state that has so much history and so many attractions. Among these attractions is the Washington County Rural Heritage Museum in the town of Boonsboro. The museum tells the story of the life in the county mainly focusing agriculture. It is a small museum where you can learn about the rural life of the local people in the region.
Some of you are saying, “This is interesting. I love farming. It is great to have a museum about rural life. However, this is not a railroad museum. Therefore, I will not be visiting this place.”
Why visit the Washington County Rural Heritage Museum?
The Washington County Rural Heritage Museum is a museum that features a heritage village that have original structures that were relocated to be a part of the village. It has an exhibit on Home and Business displaying life in the homes and businesses of the county. It has an exhibit on Farm Life telling the story of, of course, farm life. Then you have an exhibit of Transportation. This exhibit mainly features cars and bikes from back in the day, but then you see a display case of model trains. Yes, trains are a part of the rural heritage.
The display area also has an old locomotive bell. It was found and brought to the museum. There is also a display of the railroads that passed through the county to include the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
The U.S. state of New Hampshire is a small state in the northeastern region of the United States of America. It is part of a region known as New England that includes six states. Much of the state is mountainous with mountains like Mount Washington, the highest mountain in the state and is said to have the worst weather in the world. In the valley west of Mount Washington is Crawford Notch. It is here where you will find an old train station.
The Crawford Notch Train Station was built in 1891 by the Maine Central Railroad, and it brought vacationers to a region that was beginning to become very popular. It is not as grand as the old Penn Station in New York City, New York and other big city stations, but the American Queen Anne style structure was very popular with passengers along with its two chimneys and octagonal tower. It was the highest train station in elevation on the Maine Central Railroad. The train station remained in service until 1971.
Today, the train station is still standing, and it serves as visitor center and supply store for hikers and is operated by the Appalachian Mountain Club. The railroad line that still runs by the station is now owned by the Conway Scenic Railway.
The Old Crawford Notch Train Station is located on U.S. Route 302 south of the entrance to the Mount Washington Cog Railway. It is open year-round. Sadly, passenger trains no longer stop here, but you can at least see a great piece of architecture that stands today.
The U.S. state of Massachusetts has called itself the ‘Spirit of America’. Why? Its largest city and state capital, Boston, played a big role in the American Revolution. From Paul Revere’s famous ride to the Battle of Bunker Hill to the ‘Shot Heard Around the World’ in nearby Concord to the ‘Boston Tea Party’, so many battles and skirmishes took place here. Boston is the home to the U.S.S. Constitution. What is special about the U.S.S. Constitution? Yes, it is named after the United States Constitution, but it is an old sailing ship that is still commissioned to fight in a war. In matter of fact, it is the oldest commissioned naval war ship in the world. Plymouth, and suburb that it south of the city, was where the Pilgrims landed in the year 1620, and Plymouth Rock marks the site of the landing. Boston is also the site of another battle: the sports battle. The city of Boston is one of the biggest sports cities in the United States of America. It is second to New York City, New York in winning the most professional sports championships, and it is the home to the Boston Celtics, a basketball team in the National Basketball Association that has won the most National Basketball Association Championship titles, and they have won the third most championships in North American Professional Sports only behind the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League and the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball.
There is so much you can say about the city of Boston, but what about its suburbs? We did mention Plymouth and Concord, but you also have the suburb of Lexington which also played a role in the American Revolutionary War and Salem, famous for its witch trials. What few people have heard about the suburb of Lowell. What is special about Lowell? Well, many of you heard of the Industrial Revolution. Lowell played a big role as the cradle of the Industrial Revolution as it was the home of textile mills and manufacturing sites. Founded in 1826 and named after Francis Cabot Lowell, it was the largest industrial complex in the nation. Sadly, the industries died in the town, and the structures were abandoned… until the National Park Service claimed the properties and made them into the Lowell National Historical Park. Today, you can visit the old textile factory and see where workers came every day to earn a living and create textiles to be sent around the nation and around the world.
Some of you are saying, “Wow! That is great. I love Boston. It is such a great city with so much history. I had never heard of Lowell before. It is great to know that the old factories have been preserved. There is a very big problem. This site is about industry. It is not a railroad site. Therefore, I will not make my history of visiting here.”
You do have a great point. The Lowell National Historical Park is a park preserving an old textile mill. It is a not a site built around the railroad. So why visit the Lowell National Historical Park?
As you visit any historic site, you would normally visit the Visitor Center first. It is where you would get most of the information on the site. Well, it is no different while visiting the Lowell National Historic Site. You enter the Visitor Center which contains a small museum. You see displays on the factories and the workers in those factories, and then you see the front of a trolley.
Some of you are saying, “Wait a minute. This site is about factories and mills. What does a trolley have to do with this site?”
That is a good question. Here is the answer.
When the city of Lowell and the mills were erected in the 1820’s, workers walked to work. In 1864, the Lowell Horse Railroad Company gave the workers a new option. They could now ride a trolley pulled by a horse instead of walking. In 1889, electric trolleys took over. However, one of the passenger railroad’s enemies, the automobile, became more popular, and the trolley service ended in 1935.
Some of you are saying, “Yea, I know, and the trolley is gone forever. Therefore, there is no reason to visit this place.”
So why visit? Well, you were at the Visitor Center. Why not visit an old factory? However, the factory is a few blocks away. The good news is that you have options. Option one is to walk to the factory like they did in the old days. Option two is that you can drive, but you will have to find parking of which the museum does not have. Option three is that you can use public transportation. There is a fourth option. What is the fourth option?
In 1984, the National Park Service brought back the trolley. No, it is not pulled by a horse, but it is an electric trolley that runs between the Visitor Center, the boat ride, and the factory museum. Yes, you can ride Trolley Number 1601 to the museum. As you ride along, you can see some of the old trolley tracks along the way.
There is also another thing. What is the other thing? As you wait for the trolley at the Visitor Center, you can see an old train from the Boston and Maine Railroad. The train consist of Locomotive Number 410 and a combine car. The train pays tribute to the role that the Boston and Maine Railroad played in Lowell’s economy.
The Lowell Historical Park Visitor Center is located at 246 Market Street in Downtown Lowell, Massachusetts. The historical park consists of other museums and a boat ride as well. You can get all of the information at Lowell National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service).
The Lowell National Historical Park may be erected around the old factories, but you can ride an old trolley to most of them. It is a place where trolleys played a big role in the largest industrial town the United States of America.
Team Alka Treka was an adventure hiking racing team that challenged many people in a hiking race on some of the toughest hiking areas in the world. The team leader was a man named Thomas Markman. His teammates were Paul Tillgis, Van Boston, and a lady named Britney Hauer. Their one claim to fame: they had never lost a race.
Team Alka Treka was sitting at their home base.
“Hey, guys!” Van held up his phone. “There is an old man who wants to race us to the top of Mount Washington in New Hampshire.”
Britney glanced at the picture on his phone. “You’ve got to be kidding me. This man looks older than the planet, and he thinks that he can beat us in a race to the top of the highest peak in the U.S. He looks like he needs a walker.”
“So, it says here that his name is Old Man Wilcox. What a joke.” Paul giggled.
“Call him. Tell him that well will take him up on his challenge.” Thomas said.
One month later, they were at the base of Mount Washington, the highest peak in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. A man walked up to them.
“Hello. I am Judge Harold Colton. I will be overseeing the race.”
“Nice to meet you.” Thomas shook his hand. “I cannot believe a man who is older than dirt would challenge us.”
Judge Colton moved closer. “Do not underestimate Old Man Wilcox. He has defeated many people including those who could not be defeated.”
Judge Colton walked away.
“We will see how stupid this old man is.” Thomas sputtered.
An hour later, they were at the starting line. Thomas, Van, Paul, and Britney stepped up to the line. Old Man Wilcox, with the help of his walker, and his granddaughter, slowly creeped to the starting line.
“You have got to be kidding me.” Van said.
“Nope! I am Old Man Wilcox, and I am here to race you to the top of Mount Washington.”
“Well, see you at the finish line… five months from now.” Thomas mocked him.
“Get ready!” Judge Colton stood nearby. “The rules are simple. Be the first to get to the top of Mount Washington to win the race.”
Team Alka Treka readied themselves.
“On your mark. Get set. Go!”
Team Alka Treka sped off… leaving Old Man Wilcox and his granddaughter behind.
Thomas, Paul, Van, and Britney were hiking their way up the mountain. The weather was cold. The wind blew hard. In about three hours, they were above the tree line. They were awed by the views.
“It would be nice to stay here and watch, but we need to get to the top.” Thomas tried to rush everyone.
They continued upward.
They were three quarters of the way to the top. The weather was getting frigid. Strong winds were blowing. Britney started limping.
“Are you O.K.?” Van was concerned.
“It feels like I have a blister.” Britney was wincing.
“We will be at the top soon.” Thomas tried to urge her.
They continued on until… they reached the top. They had arrived at the summit of Mount Washington, but there was nobody around to greet them. They went into the Visitor Center. Britney sat down and removed her boot and her socks to see the blister on the sole of her foot.
“That looks bad.” Van stared at her blister.
“So, you made it.” Judge Colton walked over to him. “I see that she got a blister.”
“Yeah! It must be my reward for victory.” Britney squeezed the blister.
“Too bad Old Man Wilcox beat you here.”
They were stunned. “What do you…?”
“He had been here for hours.” Judge Colton added. “He and his granddaughter had been here for hours. It looks like you got a taste of defeat.”
Old Man Wilcox slowly creeped to them with the help of his walker with his granddaughter next to him. “I see that you finally got here.”
“Now how did an old poop like you beat us?” Britney kept looking at her blister.
Old Man Wilcox pointed. They looked outside.
“Wait a minute.” Thomas was furious.
“The rule was to be the first to the top. It did not say how to get to the top. It said be the first to the top. Old Man Wilcox and his lovely granddaughter was the first to the top. Therefore, they are the winners. You, Team Alka Treka, are the losers. Have a great day.” Judge Colton walked away.
“Have a nice day.” Old Man Wilcox creeped away.
They watched at Old Man Wilcox and his granddaughter made their way to the Mount Washington Cog Railway.
Old Man Wilcox approached the train.
“Congratulations on another victory.” The conductor tipped his hat.
“Thank You.” Old Man Wilcox smiled. “I always enjoy riding the train.”
Old Man Wilcox and his granddaughter climbed aboard and sat down. The train began its descent down the mountain. As for Team Alka Treka, they suffered their first defeat along with Britney Hauer suffering the agony of de-feet.
So how did Old Man Wilcox, a very elderly man who needs assistance of a walker to stand and walk, win a race against four very experienced very physically fit hikers on a mountain that is known for some of the toughest weather on planet earth?
It began at the starting line. When the race began, Team Alka Treka began their hike up the mountain. Old Man Wilcox called a cab. He rode the cab to Marshfield Station. Yes, it is a train station. It is the train station for the Mount Washington Cog Railway. He rode the train to the top, and made it to the top long before Team Alka Treka arrived.
What is the Mount Washington Cog Railway?
Well, it is the first railroad of its kind in the world. Darlington, England, Great Britain was where the first railroad in the world. Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A. was where the first railroad ran in the Western Hemisphere. Honesdale, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. was where the steam locomotive was first used on a railroad line in the Western Hemisphere. As for Mount Washington in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, it was the first cog railroad in the entire world.
Some of you are saying, “Wow! That is cool. What is a cog railroad?”
That is a good question. It is a railroad, but it is not your typical railroad. A cog railroad has its two main rails, and it has a center rail that looks like it has teeth. What are these teeth for? A normal railroad would not be able to ascend straight up a mountain.
Some of you are saying, “Well, the Cass Scenic Railroad in Cass, West Virginia goes up a mountain.”
That is true, but the Cass Scenic Railroad does not go directly to the top but on a normal railroad line using switchbacks to climb the mountain. It is more like driving a winding road except on the railroad.
A cog railway is able to go straight up the mountain on very steep track. (It goes from a twenty-five percent to thirty-seven percent grade. The average railroad, including narrow gauge, could not run on tracks this steep.) The center gear track is how it is done. You may have heard of rack-and-pinion. A wheel, called a cog wheel, on the bottom of the locomotive, connects to this tooth track, and it rides this track up the mountain.
As you arrive at the station, you get your ticket, and you get aboard the train. The train goes on its ascent up the mountain. It is a very slow ride. A slow ride allows you to enjoy the scenery that you will enjoy on your three mile (five kilometer) ascent. Be warned. There will be lots of scenery to enjoy. You are only on one of the highest mountains in the United States of America.
You arrive at the top. You step off the train.
Some of you are saying, “And you see nothing, and you are freezing to death.”
Nope. At the top of Mount Washington is where you will find Mount Washington State Park. You have a visitor center that has a restaurant, an exhibit called ‘Extreme Mount Washington’, a restaurant, restrooms, and, on cold days, heat. You can view the scenery below from the many overlooks. (You can even see the states of Maine to the east and Vermont to the west.) You can see the weather station (not open to the public), and you can put your feet on the summit of Mount Washington. (Please note that the summit is not wheelchair accessible.) Then it is time to descend down to mountain back to Marshfield Station. While at Marshfield Station, you can visit the museum to see how the cog railway looks.
Some of you are saying, “That is nice. With the steep grades, it is sure a not-so-comfortable ride.”
Not exactly. The locomotive and the passenger car is designed to handle the steep grades. Yes, the grades are steep, but the engineer and the passengers feel as if they are on level ground.
The Mount Washington Cog Railway is the first of its kind in the world. It is a National Historic Mechanical and Civil Engineering Landmark. The man who design the railroad, well, was Sylvester Marsh. What is special about Sylvester Marsh? He was not a railroad man, but he designed the Mount Washington Cog Railway. When his idea to build the railroad came to the New Hampshire legislature, they laughed at him. When he began running the railroad to the top of Mount Washington on July 3, 1869, it continued to run, and it runs to this day. The man who was laughed at by big dignitaries designed one of the most popular railroad rides in the world, and people still ride to the top of Mount Washington today. Other cog railways have also been built to climb other mountains. Who is laughing now?
Some of you are saying, “The sad thing is that it only runs from late May to October.”
The sad thing is that you are wrong. The Mount Washington Cog Railway runs year round. Yes. You can ride to the top of Mount Washington in January and February.
The Mount Washington Cog Railway is located at the base of Mount Washington in the northern region of New Hampshire at 3168 Base Station Road in Mount Washington, New Hampshire. It is a six mile drive from U.S. Route 302 on a paved road. Please note that the weather does change rapidly at the summit so you will want to prepare even in the summer months. The ride up is thirty minutes to the top. You can get more information and tickets at https://www.thecog.com/.
So, what is the best way to the top of Mount Washington? Ride the Mount Washington Cog Railway. It is scenic up and down. Oh, the Mount Washington Cog Railway will not give you blisters on your feet.
The state of Virginia is one of the original states of what would become the United States of America. The state has produced more U.S. Presidents that any other state to include George Washington, the first president, and Thomas Jefferson, the third president and the one who drafted the Declaration of Independence. The state has many famous historic sites like the Manassas National Battlefield, Mount Vernon, and Monticello. The state has many cities and small towns. In the central region of the state between the famous college cities of Charlottesville and Lynchburg is a small town known as Schuyler. What is famous about Schuyler? The town’s claim to fame is that it is the home of Earl Hamner. Who is Earl Hamner? He is famed for being the writer of the true stories that inspired the television show The Waltons, a television series that took place in that small town. In this town, you will find the Waltons Museum where you can learn about Earl Hamner and the television show. A few miles from the museum is where you will find another great place.
Welcome to Piedmont Discovery Center’s Quarry Gardens. What is the Piedmont Discovery Center’s Quarry Gardens?
Some of you are saying, “Well, duh, it is a garden that is in a quarry.”
Well, you are exactly right. It is a garden that was formed in an old quarry. Well, there are two quarries. In its heyday, Schuyler was the soapstone capital of the world. The soapstone was cut out of the quarries, and it was shipped around the world. Soapstone was quarried on the land now owned by the Piedmont Discovery Center mainly between the 1950’s and the 1970’s, and then it became a dumping site. A couple named Bernice and Armand Thieblot came up with the idea of making the two quarries into a garden and opening it to the public. With help from the Piedmont Discovery Center, the idea became a reality. Today, you can hike the trails around the old quarries. As you walk around this peaceful place, you will never know that this was once a very active and messy place.
Some of you are saying, “Wow! I loved the Waltons, and I love gardens. It is amazing that they were able to make a garden out of this place. There is a big problem. This is an old quarry. This is not a railroad site. Therefore, you will not see me visiting here.”
Why visit the Quarry Gardens? It is not a railroad site. Why visit here?
You arrive at the Quarry Gardens. You park your car, and you enter the Visitor Center to check in. The Visitor Center contains a small museum telling the history of the quarry and the soapstone industry. You can also learn about the different plants that have grown in the quarries. You then see a model train. I know. Some places have model trains, but this once is very special. How special? It is a model train display of the Nelson and Albemarle Railroad. What does the Nelson and Albemarle Railroad have to do with the quarry?
As soapstone was mined out of the quarries, it was shipped around the world. How was it shipped? You can use big trucks, but the mode of shipping the soapstone from the quarries was the Nelson and Albemarle Railroad.
The Nelson and Albemarle Railroad was a short line railroad that was only 17 miles of total track connecting the quarry to the nearby Chesapeake and Ohio Railway and the Southern Railway, which then took the soapstone to the rest of the world. The model train display tells the story of how the soapstone was taken from the quarries to the other railroads. When the quarries were decommissioned, the Nelson and Albemarle Railroad was no more.
Many of the old railroad beds are on private property, but you can see one of the old railroad beds in the nearby town of Esmont. The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway line is now owned by Chessie Seaboard Transportation, and the Southern Railway line is now owned by the Norfolk Southern Railway.
What about the gardens? There is great scenery everywhere you walk. You get great views of the quarries that are now filled with water. (The water is not safe to drink.) Please note that the pathways are dirt and gravel and not accessible to wheelchairs, and there are stairs to climb.
The Quarry Gardens are located at 1643 Salem Road in Schuyler, Virginia. Please note that you must make an appointment to visit the gardens and that you cannot simply enter on your own. You can go to https://quarrygardensatschuyler.org/ to purchase admission, get directions, and to learn more about the history of the garden.
Schuyler, Virginia was once the biggest supplier of soapstone in the world. It was the railroad that made it possible.
The U.S. state of Maryland is one of the original states in the United States of America. It was the state that donated the land that would become the Nation’s Capital. It is where the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ the National Anthem, was written. It was where a woman named Harriet Tubman created ‘The Underground Railroad’, an escape network for enslaved people in slave states to escape to the free states in the north, and this escape network is used in other parts of the world today. It is where the first balloon flight took place, and the oldest continuously operating airport in the world is located here. The largest estuary in the United States of America divides the state. The oldest Catholic church is also here. The eastern end of ‘The National Road’, is located here. The first tracks of the railroad were laid in this state. The Western Maryland Railway Locomotive Number 1309, the largest operating locomotive in the world that was originally owned by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, pulls excursion trains out of Cumberland. You have the coastline at the east end. You have the plains east of the Chesapeake Bay. You have the rolling hills west and north of the state with the mountains at the western end.
You then have a forgotten part of the state known as Southern Maryland. The region on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay south of Annapolis, the State Capitol, is a region not too many people know about. It is the home of Point Lookout where the Point Lookout Lighthouse is one of the most haunted lighthouses in the world. The Patuxent Naval Air Station has one of the longest airport runways in the world being one of the few runways where the space shuttle could land. The Patuxent River, sadly, was used by the British during the War of 1812 as they sailed up to a town called Upper Marlboro and then marched on to Washington D.C. to burn the city. The state was also settled down here, and it is where Saint Mary’s City, one of the oldest cities in the United States of America, is located.
You see all of this about Southern Maryland, but you wonder anything about the railroad. Well, there is some railroad history in the region of this state. Because of the Chesapeake Bay and the wideness of the Potomac River south of Washington D.C., most of the railroad lines ended here. The defunct Chesapeake Beach Railway brought vacationers from Washington D.C. to the then resort town of Chesapeake Beach, Maryland. Sadly, the tracks are gone, and much of the railroad bed is on private property. The old train station in Chesapeake Beach is the only surviving train station on that line, and it is a museum today.
There is another railroad line that went south from the town of Bowie. It was originally built by the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad, and it is owned by Chessie Seaboard Transportation (CSX) today. It connects with the Amtrak line in Bowie and winds its way through the southern region of the state to a coal plant on the Potomac River. One of the towns it passes through is the town of La Plata. What is special about La Plata? Well, it is the home of the only surviving train station on the line. Today, that train station is now a museum.
Some of you are saying, “This is nice. The train station is still there. It is not a major railroad line. Why do they not demolish the train station?”
La Plata, like many small towns in the railroad era, owes must of its history to the railroad. Before the automobile, the railroad was the fastest mode of transportation. Sure. It took a long while to ride the train to Washington D.C. and points south, but it played a major role in the development of the town. When you visit the old train station during its opening hours, you will see model trains, and you will see many photos of the railroad in the town. This includes photos of passenger trains that served the station. You can also see some of the old schedules.
Need a reason to visit Southern Maryland? The old train station in La Plata, Maryland, it a good reason. It really tells the story of the railroad in the region.
The Old Train Station is located at 101 Kent Avenue just north of Maryland Route 6 and less than one mile west of U.S. Route 301. Admission is free, but they could use your donations to keep the museum open for many years to come. The museum is owned by the town of La Plata and run by volunteers. Parking is on site, and the station is wheelchair accessible. You can get information on the opening hours on their Facebook page and on their website at Facilities • La Plata Train Station Museum.
The next time you think of the state of Maryland, think of a small southern town of La Plata. It is a town that keep the history of the railroad in the region alive.
In the early years of the United States of America, whaling was a way of life. What is whaling? Men would step aboard ships, and they would head out to sea. Why? They were hunting whales. They would take harpoons and throw them at the whales. (Harpoons are basically a specific kind of spear mainly used to pierce the thick skin of animals.) The whales were pulled onto the ship, and they were processed at sea and turned into lubrication and oil used for lighting. Back in the day, it was the main source of income particularly in the New England States. The story of Moby Dick is a story that was inspired by the whaling industry. (Moby Dick was the name of a fictional whale.) Today, the hunting of whales has been banned in the United States of America. (It is still legal in some countries but with limitations.) Although the whaling industry is no more, you can learn more about the industry at the New Bedford Whaling Museum in the city of New Bedford in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. In the heyday of the whaling industry, New Bedford was an international port city. Today, you can see the waterways where the whalers (whale hunters) would depart and return each day. The New Bedford Whaling Museum tells the story of the whalers, the industry, and the life of a whaling town.
Some of you are saying, “Wow! This is great. There is a museum that is dedicated to whaling. I do have a problem with this museum. What is the problem? This is a whaling museum, not a railroad museum. Therefore, I will not have a whale of a time visiting this place.”
You do have a point. It is called the New Bedford Whaling Museum. It is about the whaling industry and not a railroad museum. Why should somebody who is a railroad fan visit this museum?
The museum, founded in 1903 as the Old Dartmouth Historical Society but operates under the name ‘New Bedford Whaling Museum’, features different galleries and exhibits exhibiting the life in the whaling industry. One exhibit displays a half scale model of a whaling ship called the ‘Lagoda’. What is special about this ship? It is the largest scale model ship in the world.
Some of you are saying, “That is nice. However, there is nothing about the railroad here.”
What does this have to do with the railroad? Well, there is no connection with the railroad and the whaling industry. Why visit this museum?
The museum tells the story of the whaling industry in New Bedford, but New Bedford also had other industries like glass and textiles and other industries in the town. One of the exhibit halls is the ‘Energy and Enterprise’ exhibit. Yes, it displays the industries in the city. As you look around, you see a model of a streetcar. Streetcars began in New Bedford from 1872 by the New Bedford and Fairhaven Street Railway Company. The Union Street Railway Company took over in 1887, and it ran until 1947. A model of Streetcar Number 540 is in a glass display.
Is that all? No.
Another display tells the story of how the railroad connected the city of New Bedford to the rest of the nation. In 1840, the railroad came to town. Being a major international port at the time, items were transported from the ships onto railroad cars and transported to various towns throughout the United States of America.
Yes, it is called the New Bedford Whaling Museum, but it also tells the history of the city and how the railroad was a big part of the city. The museum also has collections that are related to the Old Colony Line, the New Bedford Railroad Company, and the Union Street Railway Company.
The New Bedford Whaling Museum is located at 18 Johnny Cake Hill in New Bedford, Massachusetts. It is located off of Interstate 195, U.S. Route 6, and Massachusetts Route 18. It is open Tuesday to Sunday (closed Monday) from 9:00am to 5:00pm. The museum is fully wheelchair accessible. Please note that the museum does not have its own parking. You can get information on parking, buy tickets, look more into their intensive collection to include those about the railroads and streetcars, and get more information at Home – New Bedford Whaling Museum.
Yes, it is called the New Bedford Whaling Museum. It is a whaling museum that also tells the story of how the railroad was a major contributor to the industry of this town.
John Cowgill: Stories of the Railroad 