All Aboard! The Wilmington Railroad Musem

Dave, Kathy, Eric & I
visited the Wilmington
Railroad Museum.







The museum is located in an Atlantic Coast Line Railroad freight building.

With its wreath, this train reminds

me of The Polar Express.

Get your tickets here....

Oops... There's one too
many arms in this photo.

The Engineer, who controls a multi-ton

train, knows every switch, curve &

 uphill grade along his or her route.

My Uncle Paul was an Engineer on

 the New York Central Railroad

 for many years.

The locomotive crew on steam powered trains include a Fireman.  He works with the engineer to run the train by tending the steam locomotive's boiler to provide power for different conditions - uphill grades, stops at stations.   Uncle Paul's first job on the railroad was Fireman.

Stopping at stations.... The Brakeman ensured that the train stopped.  This job changed dramatically from the 1800s to present time,  During the 1800s, the Brakeman walked the length of the train while it was in motion to turn the brake wheel on each car,  Other duties included checking couplings, lining switches, signaling the Engineer while performing switching operations.   Automatic couplings and air brakes changed the Brakeman's job.  Today, the Brakeman works in the rail yard throwing hand switches, detaching rail cars or adding them.  On passenger trains, the Brakeman helps Conductor collect fares, make announcements etc.

Everyone knows that the Conductor
makes sure all passengers pay the
correct fare for their train ride.

Other duties include: supervising
other train crew, keeping track of
paperwork involving freight cars
& looking out for the safety of all
on board.





Railroad passengers, freight and property are protected by Railroad Police.  In the 1850s railroads hired private detectives to do this work.  After the Civil War, railroads hired their own police agents to work with local law enforcement agencies to combat train robberies, which were on the rise. Today, Railroad Police are certified officers who arrest people breaking the law on trains (pick pocketing), thieves in railroad stations and rail yards.

The ticket counter & waiting

room of a railroad station in

the early 1900s

A typical railroad business

office in the 1900s

Railroads were a major asset

during the Civil War, as they

were the major supply routes

for the opposing armies.

Trains delivered troops to from bases to departure points during World War I and World War II. Supplies were brought to ports to be shipped to fronts in North Africa, Europe and the Pacific Theaters.  Passenger and freight rail traffic fell off during the 1960s and 1970s.

Amtrak provides passenger

service from coast to coast

across our country.

A fun play area for

small children.

The Wilmington Railroad Museum

holds the Guinness World Record 

for the longest model train.

This section of the model

train is covered with a

dusting of snow.

Take me out to 

the ball game!

Kathy's hand looms in front

of the train locomotive's

camera.

The train rushes past
The Carnival.

Eric, the Destroyer pops

up in front of the

locomotive's camera.

Dave & Kathy at the back

of the Caboose.

Off to see the Hobos...

The majority of Hobos were

& are men who ride trains,

often in freight cars, without

purchasing tickets.

Many young men used train hopping to travel from one area to another in search of work.  My Uncle Andy rode the rails to Pike's Peak in Colorado in the early 1920s.  He returned with many adventurous stories and apologies to my grandparents, Stanislaw and Rosalia, for causing them worry.

Eric has his hands up.

He's been caught jumping

onto a railroad car.

After the Railroad Cop kicks

Eric off the car, he rousts the

other Hobos who are riding

the train.

The Wilmington Railroad Museum showcases the history of the Atlantic Coastal Line and engages visitors of all ages in railroad history.