US Army No. 101, a Consolidation Class 2-8-0, on display at the National Railroad Museum on April 26, 2004. This locomotive was built for use in France during WWI but never made it there. The original European style cab was replaced by an American style one.The Bauer Drumhead Collection. These drumheads were saved from scrapped locomotives and other railroading equipment.
Founded in 1956 by community volunteers, the National Railroad Museum is one of the oldest and largest U.S. institutions dedicated to preserving and interpreting the nation's railroad[3] history. Two years later, a joint resolution of Congress recognized the Museum as the National Railroad Museum. The museum has been a Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization since 1958.[4][5]
A museum building houses a wide variety of railroad artifacts, an archive, and photography gallery. A standard gauge track rings the grounds. An 80-foot (24 m) wooden observation tower has views of the Fox River and Green Bay.
The museum hosts an annual Day Out with Thomas event, where Thomas the Tank Engine pulls young friends past the exhibited rolling stock; and in October, "Terror on the Fox": Green Bay Preble Optimist Club's haunted attraction that includes "haunted" train rides after dark. The Frederick J. Lenfesty Center, an enclosed and climate-controlled structure was recently added that houses several of the unique and rarer locomotives and cars.[7]
LNER/British Railways A4No. 60008 "Dwight D. Eisenhower" on display at the National Railroad Museum on September 16, 2010.The backhead (controls) of Big Boy 4000 Class No. 4017.
Expansion
A $15 million expansion project plan has been released that includes plaza along the Fox River and an additional display building.[8] The state of Wisconsin, through the use of American Rescue Plan Act funds is contributing $7 million to this project.[9]
Only A4 class steam locomotive in the United States, and one of two displayed in North America; the other being 4489 Dominion of Canada. It was temporarily displayed in England for the reuniting of the remaining six A4s. In 2014, the locomotive was returned to the museum. During its display in England, the locomotive was repainted to the accurate shade of Brunswick green.[10]
First of ten E1 Class Santa Fe type (2-10-2) locomotives built for the Duluth Missabe & Northern by Alco in 1919. No. 506 was in service with the DM&IR until 1962 and was donated to the museum the same year.
This locomotive was used in Korea, and the Korean name of this is 'Consolidation type no. 2-101'. It was since returned to the United States and is placed on display in a climate controlled shed.
Green Bay and Western 106, a former Southern Pacific ALCO S-6 restored into GBW livery and used for museum excursions.Wisconsin Central 715, a GP30.PRR GG1 4890The interior of observation car Silver Spirit
This observation car once served the Burlington Route, and has been recently restored. It is only used for the Polar Express line, and is displayed outdoors.
The museum's archives hold corporate records and documents, annual reports, maps, mechanical and engineering drawings, oral histories, and ephemera. The holdings represent various railroad companies, labor unions, and fraternal organizations.
Its library holds works on the social, economic, political, and cultural aspects of U.S. railroading history.
The National Railroad Museum holds over 5,000 artifacts, including textiles, uniforms, tools and personal items.
Its photograph collection includes 15,000 photographic prints, slides, and film negatives of U.S. railroading since 1890.
Capital campaign
As of 2019, the museum was working to raise money to build a roundhouse to surround its current buildings (except the train station) to shelter from the weather the locomotives and cars displayed in the open pavilion.[18]
^Foster, Gerald L. (1996). A field guide to trains of North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. p. 50. ISBN0-395-70112-0.
^Foster, Gerald L. (1996). A field guide to trains of North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. p. 18. ISBN0-395-70112-0.
^Burns, Adam (October 18, 2023). "GM's "Aerotrain" of 1956". American-Rails.com. Archived from the original on 13 May 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
^Foster, Gerald L. (1996). A field guide to trains of North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. p. 40. ISBN0-395-70112-0.
^staff@nationalrrmuseum.org (29 February 2024). "Welcome the CN 103 locomotive home today!". www.facebook.com. Green Bay, Wis. 54304: National Railroad Museum. Retrieved 29 February 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: location (link)