Museum Exhibits
The Museum seeks to tell the story of railroads in the central Virginia area over the past 150 years through artifacts, equipment, paper memorabilia, maps and photographs displayed in the Freight Room and the Station Master’s Office. The story is also told with restored railroad rolling stock on track adjacent to the museum building.
Steam Locomotive
Our 0-4-0 tank engine built by Porter has been cosmetically restored. This engine was built in 1924 and was used by the David M. Lee &Co. in South Richmond. Visitors can enter the locomotive cab and inspect the engine exterior. Of note are the combination knuckle and link and pin couplers on this engine which permitted it to handle cars with either type of coupler.
Motor Car
The Motor Car is a powered vehicle capable of carrying several people and towing one or two trailer cars. Track tools are displayed on the trailer behind the Motor Car. These vehicles operated on the mainline as unscheduled –if a scheduled train was approaching, the operator(s) had to manually remove the track car from the mainline to clear the way for the train.
Rolling Stock
Railway Express Car #185 was built in 1937, and was used on the RF&P Railroad until 1969. This car carried an Express Messenger as denoted by the star on the side above the REA logo. This is an example of a “heavy weight, head end” car. The car is currently used for storage and office space. The Seaboard Coastline Box Car represents a typical “house car” of the 1960’s-1990’s period. This car is used for storage and is not open to visitors.
Freight Room
There are several display cases containing artifacts and memorabilia such as dining car china, railroad annual reports and company passes, cloth items from sleeping cars, lantern and marker lights, oil cans,and models. There are displays of pictures and maps showing stations and other railroad facilities in the Richmond area, both past and present..
Rail Tech Scoot
The Rail Tech “Track Scoot” is a one person vehicle powered by a small gasoline engine.
Railroad Maps
Reproduction 1867 maps display a thirty mile area around the City with historically significant features such as rail lines, coal mines, arsenals and foundries, as well as the Confederate fortifications. Other late 19th century and 20th century maps catalog the changing railroad scene throughout the metro area. There are pictures of renovation work and equipment, including the collection’s operating 0-6-0 steam engine.
Signals and Lanterns
The museum contains a large collection of signals and lanterns used on various railroads. Our working display demonstrates how electric signaling was used along track right-of-ways.
Station Master’s Office
This room reflects the typical furniture and equipment found in this type of office in a station of this size. There is a working telegraph equipment display as well as an antique telephone,typewriter, and telegraph key.
Station Master’s Desk
Authentic station master's office desk with vintage railroad equipment including scissors phone, telegraph and messaging hoops.
Railroad China
The museum houses an extensive collection of railroad china from the great days of the railroad dining car.
Station Heating System
C&O No.3 coal burning "Pot Belly" stove with coal scuttle.