I had the pleasure of a family weekend in the Strasburg area for the winter Day Out with Thomas event. It is always nice to visit the Strasburg Rail Road, as no matter how many times you go, the gang always has a neat twist or two planned. This year, the “speeder train” went INSIDE the locomotive shop on its regular runs. That was a hit with the kids. The NS exhibit car was also on display, and its hands-on cab simulator was another home run. We rode the dinner train Saturday night in a snow squall. What a time warp!

The Rail Road is a classy operation, hands down.

It seemed the crowds were a little light. We encountered few lines, especially at the ancillary attractions like the TCA museum and the Choo Choo Barn.

The crowds did look good at the Railroad Museum of PA, where my gift shop journey was cut short by my unwillingness to wait in the long line. They will get my $$$ later, but it was great to see so many folks shopping.
The volunteers set up hot chocolate and cookies for free to all patrons, not just those attending the special Polar Express event. We did not have tickets for that.

The hands-on play room/learning room continues to be the best kid experience I have ever seen in a railroad museum. New this year is a reconfiguration of the G gauge layout into 5 or 6 switching zones. Kids and parents get their switch list and are then off to run the trains and get the cars in the right place. My son ran the engine as Daddy threw turnouts and gave him hand signals. What fun!!!!! And, in a genius move, all bumpers are padded with foam. Seems kids don’t always understand “two cars… one car… half a car… stop!”

The kids area was so complete and entertaining, we never made it out into the hall or the yard to see the real trains!

Rob

Lots of valuable lessons here.

I am a member of the Friends organization and can count on receiving a mailer almost every month advertising special events, tours, promotions, special project donation requests, etc.

Granted, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania benefits greatly from a high volume market with a popular synergistic attraction across the street, but they seem to do an outstanding job of capitalizing on their strengths.

Alan Maples

I've also got to give the museum a thumbs up. The children's activity area is second to none, the new museum store is top notch and the place always seems to have something special taking place weather it's a new exhibit or special event.

The place also has a fantastic archives that is well managed and easy to use. I've been working on a book project titled "Scranton's Railroads" due out next year and I'm very impressed with their set up.

Dave Crosby

What are the RRMP's fees for using images in published works? At some archives I've been at the fees can be upwards of $100 PER IMAGE just for reproduction permission which would make writing a book with numerous illustrations almost a guaranteed money loser given the limited demand for industrial history books.

contact Kurt Bell, he's in charged of the archives at the RR Museum of PA.

Len.