TRAINS!

All aboard for the Reading Public Museum's TRAINS! Exhibit. This incredible journey embarks August 4, 2002 and ends April 13, 2003. TRAINS! is included with regular Museum admission of $5 adults, $3 children 4 to 17. Members and children under 4 are free. Museum hours are Tuesday, Thursday-Saturday 11am to 5pm, Wednesday 11am to 8pm and Sunday 12pm to 5pm.

TRAINS!, a collaborative exhibit among several members of the Reading Society of Model Engineers and the Museum, will capture the essence of mechanical engineering of a bygone era within the technology of steam locomotives. TRAINS! will also focus on the history and science of train models and the role that trains played in the early history of Pennsylvania and the Reading/Berks County area until the mid 50s. The models are recreated replicas of vintage trains from original blueprints, many of which were painstakingly created by these local train enthusiasts. The models range in size from the smallest commercial train models up to 1/8th full size there is even a special caboose that is 1/3 scale size. Two exhibit highlights are the Reading Company Passenger G-1 Locomotive on loan from the Franklin Institute which was built in 1939 by the Reading, PA shop apprentices for the purposes of training (pictured here), and the Pennsylvania K-4 Locomotive.

Other items on exhibit include numerous railroad artifacts, photos, blueprints, and paintings by local artists. A computer station will offer the visitor an opportunity to create simulated 3-D locomotives and scenery - two software packages will be loaded, one geared toward children and another geared toward adults. Plus, visitors will be able to view the video "Pennsylvania Railroad," an original WHYY production examining the railroad's days as a giant of industry and transportation and its impact on the growing nation in the late 1800s. The Museum will also present various discovery lectures and children's entertainment about railroads throughout the duration of the exhibit.

The Museum Shop will feature material relating to trains, which will include a painting commissioned by the Museum by John Dusko that will feature the Camel Back train of the Reading Railroad. The Museum will have exclusive rights to reproduce this painting for note cards and signed reproductions by Mr. Dusko.

The steam locomotive has been said to be the closest invention to a living thing that man ever created - The Iron Horse. They require solid nourishment (coal), liquid water to produce steam, air for their fires and they produce a rhythmic breath when running that gets faster as speed increases and slower at rest. They have lights for sight in the dark and could be found working any time of the day or night. So, come climb inside their world and go for ride with TRAINS! at the Reading Public Museum!