STRASBURG PA – All aboarrrrd!

Inside the museum

The 2012 edition of the calendar of planned events at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 Gap Rd., Strasburg PA, was released this week (Jan. 9, 2012), and indicates the year there will open with President’s Day (Feb. 20; Monday) activities geared to vacationing school children.

The entire events list appears below:

Presidents’ Day
Monday, Feb. 20, 2012. Regular museum hours.
School’s out! Take advantage of the day to view our premier collection of trains, reflecting this nation’s history, growth and development. Regular Museum admission.

Charter Day
Sunday, March 11, 2012. Regular museum hours.
Observe the 331st birthday of the Commonwealth, amid Pennsylvania made and operated historic rolling stock, here at the Keystone State’s official railroad museum. Open to the public free of charge.

Role of Railroads in Pennsylvania during the Civil War
April 21 through December 30, 2012

Conrail Days. May 11 – 13, 2012.
The Consolidated Rail Corporation arose from a federal bail out of the railroad industry in the 1970s to become a profitable and successful private enterprise. The equipment, history and spirit of Conrail will be highlighted, in partnership with the Conrail Historical Society. Information.

Norfolk Southern Days
June 2-3, 2012.

Reading Railroad Days
July 3 – 8. Regular museum hours.
Enjoy the remarkable Reading Railroad trains of eastern Pennsylvania history through tours of Reading Company equipment, a huge, operating model railroad and special presentations. Details.

Barons and Builders Day Camp
July 9-13, for ages 9 and 10.
July 23-27, for ages 11 and 12
Kids build, create, learn and play as they explore railroads and railroad history through a program of unique tours, innovative hands-on projects, field trips by train and special demonstrations. A limited number of openings are available for each day camp. Details.

Hogwarts Express Parties
Aug. 12-13
Hogwarts Express parties August 10 & 11. Details.

Members Day  Sept. 22.
Special presentations and other events for members of the Friends of the Railroad Museum. Details.

Garden Railway Tour. Oct. 7, 1-5 p.m.
Enjoy a self-guided tour of several private homes which feature beautiful garden railways, operating layouts and special model train collections.   Garden Railways tour tickets are $10 per person for ages 6 and over. In cooperation with the National Toy Train Museum. Information.

Trains and Troops
Saturday, Nov. 3; and Sunday, Nov. 4. Regular museum hours.
Greet our guys and gals in uniform, experience many splendid railroad and military archival displays, enjoy the patriotic spirit.  Details.

Ride the troop trains on the Strasburg Rail Road with living history reenactors on both days of the Railroad Museum’s Trains & Troops program. Troop train tickets are sold separately by the Strasburg Rail Road online.

Taking The Swing Train ‘40s Dance
Saturday, Nov. 3. 7-10 p.m.
Details and tickets.

Home For The Holidays
Saturday, Dec. 1; and Saturday, Dec 8. Regular Museum hours.
Take a nostalgic glimpse at holiday rail travel. Meet costumed engineers, conductors, ticket agents and passengers representing the past century and enjoy seasonal music, festive decorations, more, among our world-class collection of trains. Included in the regular Museum admission. Details on Home for the Holidays.

Ride the Santa trains on the Strasburg Rail Road with the jolly old elf on both days of the Railroad Museum’s Home for the Holidays program. Santa train tickets are sold separately by the Strasburg Rail Road online.

Polar Express Parties
Saturday, Dec. 1; and Saturday, Dec. 8.
The conductor calls all aboard for a reading of Chris Van Allsburg’s new classic holiday story in an historic passenger coach. Kids who believe are welcome to dress in their pjs and will delight in creating their own seasonal take-home craft and receiving a small bag of goodies. Advance registration, with a $10 per child fee ($5 per child for Museum members), is required and is offered on a first come basis. Recommended for children ages 3 and over. Registration begins in October.

Photo from Google Images