The World Wide Web is a wonderful resource for people who enjoy railroading. While browsing through a website can't match the experience of riding a train or walking through museum exhibits, there seems to be no end to the number of people and institutions eager to share information with you online.
The following is the beginning of a small collection of links to little treasures that may be interesting to children (and older enthusisasts, too).
Steam Train Video Clips of British Trains that look like those in Thomas videos.
On the Haworth Village site, West Yorkshire, UK
See inside a locomotive cab and enjoy several other 360 degree Virtual Reality panoramas.
On the Haworth Village site, West Yorkshire, UK
Railroad Slang
On the KATY Depot site, Sedalia, Missouri.
Creating Steam (Animation)
On the Haworth Village site, West Yorkshire, UK
Creating Motion (Animation)
On the Haworth Village site, West Yorkshire, UK
Various online exhibits including photography, posters, Japan's "bullet Train" and more.
On the National Railway Museum site, York, UK
Heritage Railway Association
Use this site to reach dozens of preserved railway and rail museum sites in the United Kingdom.
Temporary Link
Brief History of New York City Transportation
This is a page on a New York City sightseeing website. It contains links to a variety of sources about different forms of transportation in the Big Apple. It may be best for middle schoolers but is worth a look by anyone. Recommended to us by 5th Grader Lucas A.
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There are many excellent museums devoted to railroading and many great preserved railways. This is a short list of some we have visited and enjoyed. As our travels take us to other parts of the country and as we explore other museum and tourist line websites, we will add more listings. Visit the museums and tourist lines in your part of the world to help keep these resources open for coming generations.
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
Durango, Colorado (http://www.durangotrain.com)
Spectacular may be the best description for the trips into the mountains on these historic trains. Take something warm to put on as you climb toward Silverton.
Scenes along the route
Kentucky Railway Museum
New Haven, Kentucky (http://www.kyrail.org)
This popular museum features L&N No. 152, a well-preserved 4-6-2 Pacific type locomotive that operates on weekends in the summer and fall.
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
Chattanooga, Tennessee (http://www.tvrail.com)
This may be our favorite. It offers many excursions and has a working turntable. We've been several times and always enjoyed it.
Take a Virtual Train Trip.
Puffing Billy
Puffing Billy Railway
Belgrave, Victoria, Australia (http://www.puffingbilly.com.au/)
Puffing Billy is a marvelous railway that we've had the pleasure of riding twice. Go to our Puffing Billy page to see photos and videos.
The Zig Zag Railway
Lithgow, New South Wales, Australia (http://www.zigzagrailway.com.au/)
The Zig Zag Railway zig zags up and down steep sides of the Blue Mountains west of Sydney. Riders are treated to spectacular views while busy little steam locomotives push and pull colorful coaches through several switchbacks. Lots of fun. We were even invited into the tower to help throw turnouts.
The Henry Ford
The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village
Dearborn, Michigan (http://www.thehenryford.com)
Railroading is not the focus of this museum, but there are good exhibits and you can ride a steam train on the grounds of Greenfield Village.
White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad
Skagway, Alaska (http://www.wpyr.com)
This is a beautiful, steep, and historic route from the Alaska seaport of Skagway up Canada's Lake Bennet.
Cass Scenic Railroad State Park Railroad
Cass, West Virginia (http://www.cassrailroad.com)
The ride behind a fascinating Shay locomotive on this century-old logging railroad as it climbs through the West Virginia mountains is a real treat!
National Railroad Museum
Green Bay, Wisconsin (http://www.nationalrrmuseum.org/)
This museum has an interesting collection that includes an incredibly large "Big Boy" locomotive. It is stored indoors, in a climate controlled environment. You're welcome to climb into the cab and imaging driving this giant that once hauled heavy freight for the Union Pacific Railroad.
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