Tag: History

Quarry Gardens, Schuyler, Virginia

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

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.

Old Train Station: La Plata, Maryland

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

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.

The New Bedford Whaling Museum, New Bedford, Massachusetts

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

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.

Pacific, Missouri, Train Town, U.S.A.

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

The U.S. state of Missouri is located in the middle of the United States of America.  It is famous for its two major cities: Saint Louis, commonly called the ‘Gateway of the West’, and Kansas City, a city known as ‘The City of Fountains’ for having more fountains than any other city in the world.  The Mississippi River makes up the eastern border of the state while the Missouri River flows through the central region of the state.  One of the most famous routes in the nation, U.S. Route 66, passed through the state.  One of the towns along this route is the town of Pacific.  Located 30 miles (50 kilometers) southwest of the city of Saint Louis, many travelers passed through the town until Interstate 44 was built which is far more used today.  The town was the site of a battle during the American Civil War.  The town of Pacific, Missouri is an American Midwestern small town that tells the story of Midwest America.

Some of you are saying, “Wait a minute.  Pacific, Missouri?  The state of Missouri does not border any ocean nor is it anywhere near the Pacific Ocean.  Besides, this is not a railroad town.  With Missouri being the ‘Show Me State’, do not waste my time showing me the town of Pacific, Missouri.”

Well, not too many people know about the town of Pacific, Missouri.  Before the Interstate Highways were built, many travelers passed through here.  It is not near any ocean to include the Pacific Ocean.  Why would anybody what to visit this town?

Well, the town was not always known as Pacific.  It was originally called Franklin, Missouri.  It started out as a town of log cabins, but it then evolved into a regular town.  In 1853, the Pacific Railroad came to the town.  A railroad depot was built, and a post office was established.  In 1864, ‘The Battle of Pacific’ a battle of the American Civil War, took place.  The Confederate Army burned many structures to include the train depot.  The Confederate Army attacked the railroads around the town.  The Union Army eventually were able to force out the Confederate Army.  A new railroad depot was built in 1882, and in was in use until 1961 when passenger service declined.  The depot was demolished in 1976.

Today, you can follow the original route of U.S. Route 66 through the town.  The Union Pacific Railroad and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad (BNSF) roll through the town today, and the Union Pacific Railroad have offices here.  Located on S. First Street just south of the railroad crossing is Pacific Station Plaza.  Located at the original site of the train depot, you will see an inspector’s car and a caboose from the Burlington Northern Railroad.  The town is located off of Interstate 44 and U.S. Route 50.

The named time you here about a town called Pacific, Missouri, it is not just a town on the old U.S. Route 66.  It is a town that got its name from the railroad.

Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, Pennsylvania

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

How many of you have ever heard of Shippensburg University located in the town of Shippensburg in the southern region of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania?  Alright!  It is not as well-known as Penn State University or Harvard or Notre Dame.  It began as Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania in 1871 before it was simply named Shippensburg University.  For a university that it not very well known, it has had many famous visitors like Pat Benatar, Salt and Pepa, George Carlin, and Jesse Jackson.  Every semester, they have many students that attend this university.  Shippensburg University is a university that has a deep history.

Some of you are saying, “Wow!  This is nice.  A university that has a deep history.  Oh, I love Pat Benatar.  She must have hit the place with her best shot.  There is a very big problem.  There is no railroad here.  Therefore, I will not be making my best shot to visit here.”

Shippensburg University is a university that has a rich history.  It is not famous for railroad history.  What does Shippensburg University have to do with the railroad?  Although the Norfolk Southern Railway passes through Shippensburg, it is a few miles from the university.

As you walk around the university, you see the various structures.  You then notice what looks like a rail trail.  The Cumberland Valley Rail Trail begin on the northeast side of the university, and it is here where you see two boxcars.  The Penn Central boxcar houses the Cumberland Valley Railroad Museum, and the Conrail boxcar houses the Conrail Museum.  The railroad line was originally built by the Cumberland Valley Railroad, but it was later taken over by the Penn Central Railroad, and Conrail was the last railroad to run on the line before railroad service ended.

What does this have to do with Shippensburg University?  It was a plot of open land along the Cumberland Valley Railroad that became the determining factor for the location of the university.  The railroad would bring students to and from the university and played a big role in the establishment of the school.

The next time you think about Shippensburg University, think about a university that had its beginning with the railroad.  You can hike the Cumberland Valley Rail Trail and get a feel of how the students came to school.

Bracketts Farm, Louisa, Virginia

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

The U.S. state of Virginia is a state that is so rich in history as well as natural areas.  It has famous cities like Richmond, Williamsburg, Norfolk, Alexandria, and Charlottesville.  It is the state that gave birth of more U.S. Presidents that any other state.  This includes George Washington, the first President of the United States of America and is called the Father of the Country and Thomas Jefferson, the man that wrote the Declaration of Independence.  The city of Charlottesville, famous for being the home of the University of Virginia, is also the home of Monticello, the famous home of Thomas Jefferson and the only home of a U.S. President that is a UNESCO Heritage Site, and Highland, the home of James Monroe.  With all of these historic sites, there are historic sites that are overlooked.  One of those places is east-northeast of Charlottesville.

Welcome to Bracketts Farm.  What is Bracketts Farm?  Well, it is a farm.  It is a historic farm that is also a working farm that covers 500 acres featuring a farmhouse and slave quarters as well as barns.  (The farmhouse and slave quarters are private residences.  Please do not trespass.)  There is also a pond where you can go fishing.  There are hiking trails as well.  It is located in the Green Springs Historic District protecting the area from being condos and single family homes.  Even though the structures are not open to the public, the farm is.  As you walk around, you can see a peaceful place that is still working today.

Some of you are saying, “Wow!  This is nice.  It is great that this historic place has been preserved.  There is a problem.  What is the problem?  There is no railroad here.  Therefore, there will not be any history of me visiting this place.”

So why visit Bracketts Farm?  The farm has no railroad history, nor does it have any history with the railroad, and, as far as it is known, no railroads have ever run through the farm or through the Green Springs Historic District.  The nearest railroad is in the town of Trevilians which is east of here.  Why visit Bracketts Farm?

Let us begin with the farm itself.

Bracketts Farm was established in 1790.  Elisabeth Aiken Nolting was the last owner of the farm before it was sold to the Bracketts Farm Foundation, an all-volunteer foundation, who now owns the farm.  As mentioned, it is a working farm that has farm animals (not owned by the foundation) that are grass fed.  The public is invited to fish in the pond as well as walk a nature trail and see some of the farmland.

Some of you are saying, “That is very nice, but the farm has no railroad history.”

That is true.  Why visit this farm?  The answer begins in a nearby town.

Have you ever heard of the small town of Cobham, Virginia?  So, you have never heard of this town.  You are in the majority as most people have never heard of this town.  What was special about the town of Cobham?  As you drive through this town, you say to yourself, “There is not much here.”

You cross a small bridge which crosses a railroad track, but it is just a simple railroad track.  There is really nothing here… but that was not always the case.

The town gets its name from an estate called Cobham Park which is located in the town that gets its name of a village in England, United Kingdom of the same.  (The village is called Hanson today.  The Cobham Park Estate is not open to the public.)  This town, which looks as if it has no history, had one of the earliest train stations on the railroad line when the Louisa Railroad reached the town.  The line was later taken over by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway.  The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway built a train station.  Why?  The town had a siding track.  There was also the Piedmont Female Academy which made much use of the station.  The train station was replaced by another train station in 1905.  Today, the post office is now a private residence.  Only the main railroad line remains and is owned by Chessie Seaboard Transportation.  (We simply call it CSX.)

Some of you are saying, “It looks like Cobham had the fate of many small towns in the United States of America.  The train station is gone forever.  However, this has nothing to do with Bracketts Farm.”

Ladies and gentlemen, this is where Bracketts Farm comes to play.

When train stations are replaced, the old train station gets demolished.  As for Cobham, Virginia, the train station was spared.  It was taken apart.  It was then taken to Bracketts Farm and reassembled.

Some of you are saying, “It was reassembled, and it continues to rot and rot and rot.”

Ladies and gentlemen, if you desire to see rotting train stations, then you will want to see the old Cobham Train Station at Bracketts Farm.  The Old Cobham Train Station has been fully restored.  The ticket office, the living room, and the upstairs family bedrooms are fully restored.   An addition was built on the rear of the station opposite of where the tracks were located to include an extra room, a second bathroom, a full kitchen and eating area.  The station can be rented out for events, or you can spend a night here.  The one thing that is missing is the railroad line.  Sadly, you cannot see passing trains during your stay.

Now you have a reason to visit Bracketts Farm.  Think of Bracketts Farm as a working farm that continues to feed the people in the United States of America and preserve a piece of railroad history.

Bracketts Farm is part of the Green Springs Historic District in Louisa, Virginia which is owned by the National Park Service.  Bracketts Farm, although on National Park Service property, is run by volunteers from the Bracketts Farm Foundation who also preserves the old train station.  The farm is located off of Virginia Route 22 east of U.S. Route 15 and is part of the Hallowed Ground Driving Tour.  (Hallowed Ground is a region the begins in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and ends in Charlottesville, Virginia that has more historic sites that anywhere else in the United States of America, mainly along U.S. Routes 15 and 29).  You can learn more about Bracketts Farm, the Bracketts Farm Foundation, read more into the history of the farm, and see how you can visit at https://www.bracketts.org/.

When you hear about Bracketts Farm, do not think about another farm.  Think about a farm that is preserving agricultural history and railroad history.

Hazel Ruby McQuain Park, Morgantown, West Virginia

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

Who is Hazel Ruby McQuain?  She is not famous to most people.  Although she was born in the town of Coshocton in the U.S. state of Ohio, she made great contributions in the city of Morgantown in the U.S. state of West Virginia.  Morgantown is famously known as the home of West Virginia University.  Hazel Ruby McQuain is famous for establishing the Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust which made a donation to build the John Wesley Ruby Memorial Hospital which is located on the campus of West Virginia University.  (The hospital is named after her husband.)  She made other contributions throughout Morgantown.  For this reason, the Hazel Ruby McQuain Park was created in her honor.  Located on the Monongahela River, it features an amphitheater where concerts are played, a kayak launch for those who wish to paddle on the river, a hiking and biking trail, and a picnic area.  The view of this park is a real contribution for a woman who did so much for this city.

Some of you are saying, “You know, this is very nice.  It is great to honor a great woman who did great things for the city of Morgantown.  Go Mountaineers!  However, there are numerous problems here.  The first problem is that Hazel Ruby McQuain has made no contributions nor does she have any connections to the railroad.  The second problem is that Morgantown, West Virginia is not a railroad town nor is there a railroad passing through here.  The third problem is that this park has nothing to do with the railroad.  Therefore, I will not be contributing a visit to this town or to this park.”

Why visit the Hazel Ruby McQuain Park?  She has no connection with the railroad.  Why visit the park?

It is true that Morgantown, West Virginia, being famous for the University of West Virginia has no real railroad history.  Other than a light rail system, there is no railroad here.  However, that was not always the case.

As you enter the Hazel Ruby McQuain Park, the first thing you see is an old train station.  Why is there an old train station here?  It is because the Caperton Trail passes through the park.

Some of you are saying, “That is great.  It has the old train station, but what is special about the Caperton Trail.”

On the south side of the park is an old railroad bridge.  Why is there an old train station and old railroad bridge?  The Caperton Trail is a rail trail.  The Deckers Creek Trail, another rail trail, begins at the old railroad bridge and continues along Deckers Creek.

As you can see, you have a reason to visit Hazel Ruby Park.  Along with the concerts, you have a place where the railroad once ran.  The old train station can be rented for events as well.

The Hazel Ruby Park is located at 185 Garrett Street in Morgantown, West Virginia.  It is just off of U.S. Routes 19 and 119 and a short drive from Interstates 68 and 79.  Parking is on site, or you can hike or bike the trails to the park.

Why visit Hazel Ruby McQuain Park?  She has no connection to the railroad, but the park keeps the railroad history of Morgantown, West Virginia alive.

The Northern Virginia Model Railroaders, Vienna, Virginia

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

The Northern Virginia Model Railroaders is a model railroad club based in the Washington D.C. suburb of Vienna in the U.S. state of Virginia.  The club is based inside the old train station that was once on a railroad line.  (The railroad line is now the Washington and Old Dominion Trail named after the last railroad to own the railroad line before it was abandoned.)  Inside the old train station is a model train display.

What about the model train display?

The model train display is a model of the Western North Carolina Railroad, an actual railroad that ran in the western region of the U.S. state of North Carolina particularly between the cities of Salisbury and Asheville with towns in between.  The railroad line is still in operation today under the Norfolk Southern Railway.  A trolley line, model after the Blue Ridge Traction Power and Light Company, is also displayed here.

The members of the Northern Virginia Model Railroaders are all volunteers who have a great love for model trains.  Their model train help keep the memory of two forgotten railroads alive.

The Northern Virginia Model Railroaders are located in the old train station at 231 Dominion Road NE in Vienna, Virginia along the Washington and Old Dominion Rail Trail just a few blocks from Virginia Route 123.  Please note that due to the age of the structure that the model train display is not wheelchair accessible.  Parking is street parking, and it is free.  The model train display is free to visit, but they can gladly use your donations to keep their trains.  They have eleven open houses a year.  You can get more information about when the display is open to the public at https://www.nvmr.org/.

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, Ronks, Pennsylvania

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

When you think about railroads and the state of Pennsylvania, there are so many famous rail sites and railroad excursions that you can bring up.  The railroad is a major part of the history of the state of Pennsylvania.  The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania encompasses all of that history under one roof.

The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania has one of the largest collections of locomotives, rail cars, and artifacts in the United States.  You will notice this is before you approach the museum from the east or the south.  The collection includes steam locomotives including the Lindbergh locomotive that raced a plane, electric locomotives, diesel locomotives to include the last E7 in the world, historic box cars, plus many others under one big climate controlled roof or outside where there is also an old turntable.

Among the huge collection you will also find model train displays, an honor roll, a kids play area, a train simulator, and a gift shop just to name a few.  Be advised that when you come to this museum, you will need to give yourself plenty of time to see everything.

If that is not enough, the Strasburg Railroad, the oldest short line railroad in the United States, is across the street where there is plenty more to do.

The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is located in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country in the Lancaster suburb of Strasburg, Pennsylvania on Pennsylvania Route 741 (300 Gap Road) just east of Pennsylvania Route 896.  It is open all year round.  General admission is $10.00 for adults, $9.00 for seniors and $8.00 for children 3 to 11.  (Rates many vary due to specific events.)  Go to www.rrmuseumpa.org for more information on museum hours, to learn about the history of the museum, to read about their numerous restorations and to look up special events hosted by the museum.  For the rail fan, this place will fail to disappoint you.

Hot Springs, Arkansas

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

The U.S. state of Arkansas is nicknamed the ‘Natural State’.  If you have driven through the state, you can see why it gets that name.  There are no major cities in the state although the metropolis of Memphis in the U.S. state of Tennessee has suburbs in the eastern part of the state.  Speaking of Memphis, Tennessee, the mighty Mississippi River runs on the eastern border of the state.  As the ‘Natural State’, it is interesting that the state capital is Little Rock.  It is also the state’s largest city.  The state is also known for its hot springs.  One of the places where you will find some of the state’s hot springs is in the city of Hot Springs.

Some of you are saying, “Well, duh!  It is called Hot Springs because there are hot springs there.”

Yes.  That is why it is called Hot Springs.  The city was a city of spas.  That is hot spring spas.  Many of the spa structures remain in a section of the downtown area known as Bathhouse Row, but not all of them have working hot springs.  Yes.  Hot Springs, Arkansas was a place of hot springs, and Hot Springs National Park was established here.  Before they went to the U.S. states of Florida and Arizona, baseball teams did their spring training here.  Yes.  Hot Springs is the birthplace of baseball spring training.  Many famous baseball players to include Herman ‘Babe’ Ruth, Cy Young, Hank Aaron, Jackie Robinson, and Stan Musial, just to name a few.  Many United States Presidents visited here.  Arkansas’ own William Clinton lived here and graduated from high school here.  This was a resort for celebrities, but it was also a haven for gangsters.  One of the most famous gangsters, Al Capone, had a personal room at the Arlington Hotel.  There is so much to Hot Springs, Arkansas.  If you are ever in the central region of Arkansas, it is worth your time to visit.

Some of you are saying, “This is nice.  I have heard of Hot Springs, Arkansas.  I knew about the springs, but I never knew that it was the birthplace of Spring Training Baseball or a gangster haven.  There is one very big problem.  This city has no railroad history nor does it have anything to do with the railroad.  Therefore, I will not be feeling the hot springs of this place.”

The city of Hot Springs, Arkansas has never been a railroad city.  As you walk and drive around, you see no signs of a railroad ever being here.  Then you come to the Greyhound and Transit Bus Station at the intersection of Broadway Street, Market Street, and Broadway Terrace.  It appears to look like an old train station.  Well, that is because it was an old train station.  This train station was a major contributor to the growth of Hot Springs, Arkansas.  It was built by the Missouri Pacific Railroad in 1917.  It was a spur line that connected to the main railroad line in the town of Malvern, Arkansas.

The railroad line began as the Hot Spring Railroad in 1876.  It was a narrow gauge railroad that was built by Joseph Reynolds who built the railroad line so that he could ride the train from his home in Chicago in the U.S. state of Illinois to the spas to help cure an illness he has.  The railroad line was converted into a standard gauge railroad and was eventually taken over by the Missouri Pacific Railroad.  Passenger service was discontinued to the town with the last train leaving in 1964, and the original railroad line is now a rail trail.  Some of the old rails remain.  The main railroad line in Malvern remains in service and is the closest Amtrak stop.  The current train station in on the National Register of Historic Places.

The next time you think about Hot Springs, Arkansas, you can think about the hot springs, but it was once a place where the railroad once came to town.