Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum

Long on my "to do" list, today I to DID it. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum is located a couple of blocks west of the inner harbor on West Pratt Street around a beautifully refurbished roundhouse. I've always loved trains--what kid doesn't? So once again I tooled my way up to Baltimore, just over 30 minutes from my home, and spent the later morning and early afternoon exploring what the place had to offer.

Your tour will be "self-guided," although there are docents to help answer any questions that you might have. Mostly retired train enthusiasts who are eager to engage.

Immediately inside you encounter an homage to Charles Carroll, Maryland patriot and signer of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. The last of those men to die and the man who ceremonially drove the first shovel into the ground in the construction of the B & O Railroad, on....wait for it: July 4th! 1828--talk about putting on a show. The symbolism of America's last founding father inaugurating the hottest new technological creation at its inception on the birthday of the nation was pure genius.

The inside exhibition space includes train models in glass cases.

I didn't realize that the first passenger cars were just glorified stage coaches!

In a small room a focus exhibition highlights the role of the railroad in the Civil War.

Then you enter the main space of the Mt. Claire roundhouse. It is a grand experience no less amazing for the effect created by all of the over-sized American Flags hanging from the ceiling.

All I could think was top heavy this looked!

I also didn't realize that before steam engines a railroad had been conceptualized and that steam power had been preceded by horse power! The drawback was that no horse could pull the thing more than 6 or 7 miles before giving out and needing to be replaced with a fresh animal. Could you imagine PETA back in that day!?

Of course, examples of the classic early steam engine were also on display.

There were also trains and train cars that you could enter and walk through.

Behind the roundhouse was a little playground, a classroom space, a snack bar and this G Scale model train layout.

G Scale enthusiasts typically create their layouts out of doors in garden settings.

Beyond this there are more trains to see!

Inside one is another meticulously detailed N Scale model.

Another displays some of the china sets custom designed for various railroad and rail routes.

Finally, the mystery is solved. Here is where old trains come to die!