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Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania Breaks Ground on Roundhouse Restoration project
The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania has officially commenced a notable restoration project focused on its historic roundhouse,a move hailed as a major advancement for the institution and the preservation of pennsylvania’s industrial legacy. The initiative includes the refurbishment of the Reading turntable, along with the rebuilding of surrounding tracks and the installation of safety fencing around the turntable pit.
This undertaking is supported by the Friends of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, which has successfully raised over $300,000 through its “Ready for the Roundhouse” campaign. These funds are earmarked for the restoration of several key locomotives currently displayed outdoors, with the exception of No. 450. The locomotives slated for attention include the K4s Pacific No. 3750 (built at Juniata Shops in 1920), L1s No.520 (a Baldwin 2-8-2 from 1916), E6s No. 460 (a 4-4-2 built at Juniata Shops in 1914), H10s No. 7688 (a Lima 2-8-0 from 1915), and B6sb No. 1670 (an 0-6-0 switcher constructed by PRR in 1916). The PRR class G5s No. 450,a 4-6-0 built at Juniata Shops in 1930,is the only locomotive not currently displayed outdoors.
Andrea Lowery, executive director of the pennsylvania Past and Museum Commission, emphasized the project’s broader meaning in a press release, stating, “This roundhouse project is a monumental step forward for the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania and for preserving our state’s rich industrial heritage. This project is about more than bricks and mortar, it’s about preserving the stories and engineering marvels that helped to shape and build our Commonwealth.”
Further details regarding the museum’s locomotive collection can be found on the museum’s website.
