Train enthusiasts of all ages will enjoy a day at the museum, where they can view exhibits featuring railroading artifacts and memorabilia. They can also take in the sights of a fully restored 1904 freight house and a classic wooden water tank. The museum is dedicated to preserving the heritage and history of the railroads of New Jersey and the immediate vicinity through the Restoration, Preservation, Interpretation and Operation of Historic Railroad Equipment and Artifacts.
While most museums focus on artifacts and photographs, a few places in the state offer visitors the opportunity to step aboard a real locomotive. Morris County Central Railroad (MCC) in Parsippany-Troy Hills is an all volunteer, non-profit operating heritage railroad that features standard gauge steam locomotives and other historical railcars. Its excursion trains operate on weekends from Easter through Christmas, with special trains during the foliage season.
A little farther afield, Pine Creek Railroad in Allaire State Park offers an authentic narrow-gauge railroad experience. Its trains churn along the Delaware River and provide fun train rides for all ages, including the annual Great Pumpkin Train and Warren County Winery Excursions.
If you’d rather see a large model railway in action, then head to the Friar Mountain Model Railroad Museum in Sparta. The impressive model railway here covers 50,000 square feet and features over 8 miles of track. There are around 260,000 figures, 100 bridges, and over 1,000 buildings to admire. The railway even has a desert and ocean section, so it really is a sight to behold.
The MCC was founded by New Jersey aerospace technician Earle H. Gil, who wanted to revive a form of transportation that was slowly disappearing from the modern world. His vision was to run a well-managed, quality heritage railroad that would appeal to both railroad enthusiasts and general tourists. He was successful in his quest, and the MCC continues to thrive today.
While the MCC’s main goal is to keep the historic steam engines and other historic equipment on display, it also carries out other activities such as educational presentations, operating excursions and maintaining a car barn. The car barn is a storage area for a number of rail cars that are in various stages of restoration. There’s also a large assortment of maintenance equipment that was once used in the railroad industry.
If you’re a fan of trains, then you’ll want to make sure you plan a trip to New Jersey soon. The state’s many rail museums showcase an incredibly diverse collection of memorabilia and equipment that is sure to delight both the young and old at heart. There’s plenty to explore, so be sure to set aside a day to discover all that’s offered at one of these top rail museums in nj. And don’t forget to bring the kids – they’re bound to love it too!
