Tag: photography

Miller Park, Bloomington, Illinois

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

Cities big and small throughout the United States have their landmarks and city parks.  Among these city parks is Miller Park in the city of Bloomington in the U.S. state of Illinois.  The park has trees, a playground, a small zoo, a manmade lake, a miniature golf course, a memorial to firemen and a war veterans memorial.  Located in the southwestern area of the city on the Historic U.S. Route 66, it is a park within the city that is an oasis from the urbanization.

Some of you are saying, “It is nice that these cities have parks.  These parks are great.  However, there is a problem.  Since this park has no railroad history, I will not be taking a walk in this park.”

Oh, you will want to take a walk in this park.  Why?  One of the big features of this park is Nickel Plate Road Steam Locomotive Number 639 and its tender.  Another feature is Caboose Number 4770 from the Southern Pacific Railroad.  Other feature include a whistle that was on top of the shops of the Chicago and Alton Railroad and pays tribute to the workers of those shops.  (The shops are now gone.)  Another feature is an old semaphore.  (Semaphores have been replaced by the railroad signals today.)

The locomotive was built by the Lima Locomotive Works and was used by the Nickel Plate Road.  When the Nickel Plate Road decommissioned the locomotive, they donated it to the park.  Today, it is on display with the Southern Pacific Railroad Caboose.

Miller Park is located at 1020 S. Morris Avenue in Bloomington, Illinois along the Historic U.S. Route 66.  (It is west of U.S. Route 51 by way of Wood Street.)  Parking is on side.  The park is open sunrise to sunset, and the park is wheelchair accessible.

When in Bloomington, Illinois, visit Miller Park.  See a locomotive that once ran on the rails of the United States of America.

The Red Lion Mile, Red Lion, Pennsylvania

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

What is the Red Lion Mile?

Some of you are saying, “I know.  It is a lion that is red and is a mile long.”

Well, that is not the correct answer.  What is the Red Lion Mile?  It is a rail trail in the town of Red Lion in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.

Some of you are saying, “Wow.  I did not know that.  I bet the town got the name because a red lion was once here.”

Even though the ‘red lion’ is the symbol of the town, it is not named after an actual lion.  It is named after a pub when it was settled in 1852 called the Red Lion Tavern, and that tavern is still in business today.

Today, the town of Red Lion, Pennsylvania is not served by the railroad, but it was once a major railroad town on the York and Peach Bottom Railroad and later the Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad.  (It was commonly referred to as the ‘Ma and Pa Railroad’.”)  The town was a place of industry to include furniture and cigars.  As you walk along the rail trail, you will see some of the old factory structures.  The remaining structures have been converted into housing or businesses.  The old train station also remains, and it is the home of the Red Lion Historical Society.

The Red Lion Mile mainly runs west from the old train station located on Pennsylvania Route 24, and it is mostly paved.  Parking is available along the trail.  You can learn more about the town at https://redlionareahistoricalsociety.org/area-history/red-lion/red-lion-history/.

The Red Lion Mile: you may not see any red lions, but you will see the places that was once seen by those who once ran the trains through the town.

Fort James Jackson, Savannah, Georgia

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

The city of Savannah in the U.S. state of Georgia is a city that has much history.  Fort Jackson, located on the Savannah River east of the historic downtown area is a big part of that history.  It was the second defense from an attack from the Savannah River after Fort Pulaski, and the fort played a role in the War of 1812.  The fort is named after, of course, James Jackson, a British born officer who served in the American Revolutionary war and was later the governor of the U.S. state of Georgia.  It is the oldest standing brick fort in the state of Georgia and one of the oldest on the East Coast of the United States.  If you are ever visiting Savannah, you will want to make some time to visit this National Historic Landmark.

Now some of you are saying, “You know.  I am amazed to hear about Fort Jackson.  You see the history of the fort as a fortification for battle, and I see how it helped defend the ships going in and out of Savannah, but I am wondering where the railroads are at this fort.”

Fort Jackson was a fort built to defend Savannah from a sea attack.  It has much history as a fort itself, but you will not find any railroad history here at all.  In matter of fact, the fort itself has no history with the railroad at all.

Why visit Fort James Jackson if it has no history with the railroad?  You will see the answer to the question as soon as you arrive.

The first thing you will see when you arrive at Fort Jackson is the Visitor Center.  What is so special about the Visitor Center?  Many historic sites have visitor centers that show the history of the particular site.  What is special about the Fort Jackson Visitor Center?  The answer is that before it was the Fort Jackson Visitor Center, the structure was called the Tybee Depot.  Yes, it was located in downtown Savannah.  (This train depot was separate from the main train station that is now the Savannah Visitor Center.)  The Central of Georgia Railroad ran passenger trains from downtown Savannah to Tybee Island, an island on the Atlantic Ocean that was a resort town.  When the railroad no longer served Tybee Island, the depot was preserved and eventually brought to Fort Jackson to become the visitor center.

You now have a reason to visit Fort Jackson.  Once you see the visitor center, you will want to see the fort as well.  The fort is located at 1 Fort Jackson Road just minutes from the historic district.  It is a place worth seeing.

The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, Washington, Pennsylvania

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

The U.S. state of Pennsylvania is a state known for many things.  It was in this state where the United States of America was established in Philadelphia.  It is the home to the Chocolate Capital of the World in Hershey.  Oil was discovered in this state near Titusville.  It is a state known for coal mining, and it is also known for the steel industry in cities like Bethlehem and, of course, Pittsburgh.  It is also the home of many railroad sites of which one of them happens to be south of Pittsburgh.

Welcome to the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum in Washington, Pennsylvania.  Yes, it is a trolley museum in Pennsylvania hence the name.  What is special about the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum?  Of course, it has trolleys.  It was established by dedicated volunteers along an old trolley line that connected Washington with Pittsburgh back in the days when the trolley was in operation.  Much of the collection are trolleys that operated around the Pittsburgh region.  Yes, a few of the trolleys can be ridden year round when the museum is open weather depending.

So, what is special about the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum?  It is run by people who dedicate their lives to keeping the memories of trolleys alive.  When you visit the museum, you will be truly glad that they did.  A ride on a vintage trolley takes you back in time.

With the opening of the new visitor center featuring interactive exhibits and a climate controlled trolley display center, you can now visit the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum all year round.

The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum is located at 1 Electric Way in Washington, Pennsylvania just minutes from Interstate 79.  The museum hours vary throughout the year, but the trolleys only run in the warm months.  Everything in the museum is wheelchair accessible.  You can get more information at https://pa-trolley.org/.

What is special about the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum?  The only way to truly answer that question is to visit.  During your visit, your questions will be answered.

The Savannah History Museum, Savannah, Georgia

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

The U.S. state of Georgia is the largest state east of the Mississippi River.  It is famous for many things to include its state capital, Atlanta, and it is home to the ‘Masters’ golf tournament in Augusta.  Another treasured city in the state is Savannah.  Located a short distance inland from the Atlantic Ocean, it is a major port city with much history that includes the American Revolutionary War and the American Civil War.  The downtown area includes glorious town squares with spectacular fountains.  A visit to the Savannah History Museum tells the story of a city that has so much.  When you visit the city of Savannah, Georgia, you must make a visit to the Savannah History Museum.

Some of you are saying, “That is amazing.  I have driven down Interstate 95 many times while on my way to Florida passing by Savannah.  I have heard about the great architecture of the city.  However, there is a big problem.  It is called the Savannah History Museum.  It is not a railroad museum.  Therefore, I am not making a history of visiting this museum.”

So, that is your reason to not visiting this museum.  Ladies and gentlemen, prepare yourselves for a Savannah history lesson.

As mentioned, Savannah is a major port city.  Two forts, Fort Jackson and Fort Pulaski, were built to protect the city.  The city is home to the birth home of Juliette Gordon Lowe, the founder of the Girls Scouts of America.  The city of full of great architecture and great town squares and their fountains.  What most people do not know is that Savannah is a big railroad city.  It is the home of the Georgia State Railroad Museum.

What about the Savannah History Museum?  Well, the museum itself is part of railroad history.

What is the first thing you will see when you arrive at the Savannah History Museum?  Well, you will immediately discover… that it is located inside the Savannah Visitor Center.

Some of you are saying, “Well that is no big deal.  There is nothing special about that.”

Oh yes it is.  The Savannah Visitor Center is located in the old train station.  Yes, it is inside the old passenger train terminal that was built by the Central of Georgia Railway.  When passenger service ceased in 1971, it was eventually converted into the visitor center it is now.

Some of you are saying, “Well, that is all.”

Nope.  We now enter the Savannah History Museum.

The story begins with the Indian tribes that once occupied the land to the colonial era and the American Revolutionary War to the present day, and the bench used in the famous movie ‘Forrest Gump’ which featured Tom Hanks is on display here.  (Sadly, you cannot sit on the bench.)  One of the main centerpieces of the museum is the Central of Georgia Railway Locomotive Number 403.  Yes, a steam locomotive is a centerpiece of the museum.  Other features include railroad lanterns and a model train from the Central Railroad of New Jersey on display.

Now you have a reason to visit the Savannah History Museum.  When you drive along Interstate 95, it is truly worth a detour.

The Savannah History Museum is located inside the Savannah Visitor Center, which is located at 303 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard just blocks from Interstate 16 and U.S. Route 17.  Parking is on the north side of the visitor center.  It is owned and operated by the Coastal Heritage Society.  It is open seven days a week from 9:00am to 4:00pm.  Admission is $10.00 from adults.  The museum is wheelchair accessible.  You can get more information at https://chsgeorgia.org/SHM. No more excuses.  Savannah, Georgia is a town full of railroad history.  The Savannah History Museum is a history museum with the history of the railroad.

The Savannah Visitor Center, Savannah, Georgia

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

When you think about the city of Savannah in the U.S. state of Georgia, the last thing you will think about is the city’s railroad history.  Yet, the Savannah Visitor Center was once a railroad station.  This is not one of those tiny depots made into a visitor center.  This was a major passenger terminal for the Georgia Railway until 1972.  Today, it is the first place you will want to visit when you arrive in Savannah.

As you arrive, you can see a structure preserved with some old passenger cars and a caboose in the areas where the passengers boarded the trains.  Inside, you will see the information desk, a gift shop, a café, and the Savannah History Museum.  Across the parking lot, you will find old warehouses that were served by freight trains.  The structure is now part of the Savannah College of Art and Design.

The Savannah Visitor Center is located at 301 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard across the street from the Georgia Railroad Museum, and it is the first structures you will see as you arrive in Savannah from Interstate 16.  You can also park your car here and take a beautiful walk through this very his very historic and lovely city.

This is amazing.  You come to Savannah today, and you first see the Visitor Center.  This is no different that the visitors who arrived here before 1972 by train.

Alberta Caboose, Alberta, Virginia

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

The small town of Alberta is located in the southern region of the U.S. state of Virginia.  Yes, the name of the town is Alberta.  (Whether it is named after the Canadian province is unknown.)  In this small town in the center of the town is a caboose.  How is the caboose here?  This town has no railroad.  Well, the town was once served by two railroads, and there was heavy rail traffic in its heyday.  Like many small towns, service declined, and the railroads were forced to abandon the town.

Some of you are saying, “This is nice, but many small towns in the United States of America have declined from the lack of the railroad.”

Even though Alberta, Virginia looks like a ghost town today, the Alberta Caboose reminds everyone about the railroad heritage.  The caboose is from the Virginian Railway and sits near the old railroad bed of the Virginian Railway which is now the Tobacco Heritage Trail which runs across the southern region of Virginia as a reminder of how the Virginian Railway and, later, the Norfolk and Western Railway was a big part of the tobacco industry.

What about the caboose itself?  As mentioned, it was used by the Virginia Railway.  It was donated to the town in memory of Earl Walter Wilkinson.  Who is Earl Walter Wilkinson?  He was a devoted employee of the Norfolk and Western Railway.  Like many cabooses that you once saw on the end of freight trains, it was preserved and put on display.

The Alberta Caboose is located in the Town Square in Alberta, Virginia at 123 First Avenue.  It is one block from Virginia Route 136 and minutes from U.S. Route 1 and Interstate 85.  There is a small parking lot for parking.

If you ever visit the town of Alberta, Virginia, it may appear to be a ghost town, but it comes alive with the memory of the railroad.

The South Carolina Railroad Museum, Winnsboro, South Carolina

by jbcowgill, posted in Uncategorized

When people think about the U.S. state of South Carolina, they mainly think about the beaches.  You have Charleston and Fort Sumpter where the first shot of the American Civil War was fired.  You have the beach towns of Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head.  As many treasure the beaches, this state has a history with the railroad as well.

Welcome to the South Carolina Railroad Museum in Winnsboro, South Carolina.  Yes.  It has railroad cars on display.  As you arrive, the first thing you will notice is the train with steam locomotive number 44 on the front, freight cars, a baggage car, rail post office, and the ‘Norfolk’ parlor car.  There is also a caboose.  Yes, many railroad museums have that, but there is also a gallery with railroad artifacts and model trains.

I know.  Many railroad museums have all of this.  Oh, they have train rides.

You have all of this at a museum that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Yes, it is a National Historic Site.  Therefore, if you think that this is just another railroad museum, you will discover that it is not.

The South Carolina Railroad Museum is located at 110 Industrial Park Road in Winnsboro, South Carolina just off of U.S. Route 321 and South Carolina Route 34.  It is open from Wednesday to Saturday from 10:00am to 4:00pm.  Trains rides take places from June to September plus on Easter, Halloween, and Christmas.  The museum is free, but there is a cost to ride the train.  Parking is on site.

Next time you think of South Carolina, do not just see the beach.  May your way to the South Carolina Railroad Museum, another state treasure.