For the train lover in your family there’s no better way to spend Sunday afternoon than at the Whippany museum. Located at 1 Railroad Plaza, this museum has everything from an old freight house to a miniature train set and has been around for over 30 years. The museum is open from April through October on Sunday afternoons and costs $1.00 for adults and $0.50 for children.
Preserving New Jersey’s railroad heritage is the mission of the Whippany Railway Museum which opened to an enthusiastic public on October 26, 1985. The Museum site became the home of privately-owned railroad equipment, including passenger cars and cabooses which have been donated to the Museum for restoration and display. The Museum has also restored its own Lackawanna Subscription Car #2454, and is working on another major restoration project, the Central Railroad of New Jersey Coach #1001.
The Museum also displays many railroad artifacts in its green and red Museum building which is the former Morristown & Erie freight house which was saved from demolition in 1967 and moved to its present location across the tracks from the stone passenger station. The Museum also houses a large G-scale model railway, which is in operation (weather permitting).
Not only does the Museum preserve railcars and exhibit railway memorabilia but on certain days of the year you can buy a ticket to ride one of their train rides. The excursion trains are a blast from the past and will leave you with memories of railroading that will last a lifetime. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and incredibly friendly. You can tell that they take their jobs seriously and love what they do.
This is a great place to take the kids, as the staff will make it a fun experience for all. They will show you how to operate a locomotive and what life was like on board. From the conductors last words to the car furnishings it’s all there to see. You can even get to board the Polar Express for a special holiday experience!
The outdoor equipment displayed at the Museum includes a Lackawanna Railroad semaphore, a Susquehanna railroad order board and several cast iron signs from various railroads. A historic water tank from which Morristown & Erie steam locomotives quenched their thirst is on display as well.
The Museum is open to the public on Sunday afternoons, from April through October, from noon until 4:00 PM. Admission to the Museum building, grounds and rolling stock collection is $1.00 for adults and $0.50 for children. Donations are welcome and encouraged. For more information visit the website. The Museum is dedicated to preserving the rich history of rail transportation in the northern New Jersey area and beyond. We are grateful for the support of our many visitors and volunteers and look forward to seeing you soon.
