Apr 21, 2017

Photos and text by Barbara Haddock Taylor

: Visitors walk through the Baldwin Roundhouse at the B&O Railroad Museum. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Charlie Nash, 3, left, and his brother Jack, 2, leave the train after a ride at the B&O Railroad Museum. They are from Catonsville. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Duncan Keir, a retired federal judge who volunteers as a conductor, beckons passengers onto a train for their ride at the B&O Railroad Museum. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Built in 1902 for the Cincinnati, Richmond and Muncie Railroad, the 377 is a ten-wheeler steam locomotive that is on display at the B&O Railroad Museum. This is a detail from the smoke box door on the locomotive front. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Erica Kaiser, of Baltimore, holds her 2-year-old son Flynn on their train ride at the B&O Railroad Museum. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Duncan Keir, a retired federal judge who volunteers as a conductor, chats with passengers on their train ride at the B&O Railroad Museum. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Duncan Keir, a retired federal judge who volunteers as a conductor, looks out of a train door as it returns to the station on a passenger ride at the B&O Railroad Museum. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Two-year-old Jack Nash of Catonsville looks out a window during a train ride at the B&O Railroad Museum. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Three year old Charlie Nash of Catonsville looks out a window during a train ride at the B&O Railroad Museum. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Trains are viewed through a passenger car window during the train ride at the B&O Railroad Museum. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Alex Granados, 3 1/2, and his mother Megan Granados of Rockford, IL, look in the engine room of the Clinchfield #1 train in the roundhouse at the B&O Railroad Museum. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: The roof of the Baldwin Roundhouse at the B&O Railroad Museum was destroyed in a snowstorm in 2003 and then rebuilt. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Aaron Zimenoff, left, and his 10 month old son Raylan, who are from Fort Collins Colorado, play in the Thomas-themed children’s play area in the roundhouse at the B&O Railroad Museum. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: The B&O Railroad Museum’s iconic roundhouse roof was rebuilt after being damaged in a 2003 snow storm. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Mama, left, a formerly stray cat, wandered into the rail yard at the B&O Railroad Museum around 12 years ago. She has made a home with the trains ever since. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: The B&O Railroad Museum’s 1884 Baldwin Roundhouse houses several one-of-a kind Civil War era trains, an exhibition gallery, gift shop and a Thomas-themed children’s play area. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: A place setting from the “Dinner In The Diner” exhibit is displayed on one of the trains at the B&O Railroad Museum. The exhibit highlights the work of African American chefs and waiters who made dining on B&O trains an “exceptional experience. ” (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: The 5300 President Washington is a Pacific-class locomotive that was built in 1927. It pulled passenger trains between New York and Washington, and is the only one of its class that was saved from the scrap heap. It is on display in the North Car Shop at the B&O Railroad Museum. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: The crew door on the C & O 4-6-0 ten wheeler steam locomotive is painted red. It is one of the oldest existing steam locomotives and is on display in the North Car Shop at the B&O Railroad Museum. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Coupling rods and wheels are seen on the C & O No. 490, a Hudson streamlined locomotive that was built in 1926 to pull passenger trains. It is on display at the B&O Railroad Museum’s North Car Shop. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: The Western Maryland 1803, a steel caboose dating from 1936, is on display outside at the B&O Railroad Museum. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: The Roundhouse at the B&O Railroad Museum is decorated with American flags. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Duncan Keir keeps his hand on the emergency brake in case he sees someone on the tracks ahead. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Duncan Keir, a retired federal judge who volunteers as a conductor, looks down the tracks on a passenger train ride at the B&O Railroad Museum. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: The family activity area is popular with visitors at the B&O Railroad Museum. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Rocking chairs are available for guests in the roundhouse at the B&O Railroad Museum. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

: Rain falls on the passenger terminal roof at the B&O Railroad Museum. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)

One of the most iconic buildings in southwest Baltimore also claims the distinction as the “Birthplace of American Railroading.”

Since July of 1953 the B & O Railroad Museum has honored its place in history with the oldest and most extensive American railroad collection in the world. The 1884 roundhouse contains an extensive collection of locomotives and cabooses as well as artifacts, railroad clocks and model trains.

Over 200,000 people visit the museum each year, where they can see and even climb aboard one-of-a-kind locomotives and passenger trains. Inside the dramatic 125-foot tall roundhouse, a sampling of Civil War trains share space with luxury passenger rail cars and “rolling stock” from a different era.

Outside, a conductor shouts “All Aboard!” as he guides visitors into passenger train cars for a round-trip ride along the first commercial mile of railroad right-of-way that was laid in America. Train trips are offered April through December.

Time traveling at the B&O Railroad Museum

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