Whether you’re an avid railroad buff or simply curious about the history of trains and transportation, New Jersey offers a number of railway museums that offer a glimpse into the past. From historic train stations and steam-powered locomotives to model railroad museums displaying miniature fantasy-lands, these train attractions will delight both children and adults alike.
Dedicated to Preserving the Heritage and History of Railroads in New Jersey and the surrounding area, this museum features numerous historic railroad equipment and exhibits. Among the most popular attractions is the 1907 Southern Railway train, one of the oldest steam locomotives in America. The museum also hosts various excursion train rides throughout the year. Guests can enjoy the scenery of Morris and Essex Counties on a relaxing ride on this historic steam train.
The Whippany Railway Museum is a non-profit, operating heritage railroad and museum that was founded in the 1950’s by Parsippany resident Earle H. Gil, Sr. Gil envisioned a financially successful heritage railroad that would allow him to preserve classic trains for future generations to enjoy and experience the thrill of riding a steam-powered train. The Museum’s goal is to restore, interpret and operate historic railroad equipment and artifacts, to educate people about the history of railways and to offer a recreational opportunity for families to relive fond memories of yesteryear.
Aside from the large collection of rail cars and locomotives, the museum also has a variety of other historic railroad items including an authentic freight station building, a caboose, a working freight scale and much more. The museum is constantly expanding its railroading collections to better serve the public.
Another interesting attraction at the museum is the Aviation Innovations exhibit, which showcases the development of aircraft from its first incarnations to today’s sleeker jets. The exhibit even includes pictures of famous aviators such as Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart.
The Museum is located at 1 Railroad Plaza in the heart of Whippany, NJ and is easily accessible via Routes 24, 80, 280 and 287. There is ample parking on-site.
There is no admission charge to view the Museum and its displays. Excursion train tickets are sold in addition to Museum admission and are offered as a fundraiser for the Museum.
While the rail museum nj is not as big as other museums, the layout is quite organized and the displays are very well documented. The railcars are very detailed and are set up to give you a sense of what it was like living on the train in the old days. There are all kinds of different things on display such as railroad tools, railway dining and indoor dining, menus and the manners of a time when trains were a luxury mode of travel. The museum also has two operating model train layouts, both indoor and outdoor. The Museum is open every Sunday from April through October. For more information, please visit their website. The museum is also available for groups, school and church visits.
