Archive Collection
The Archives Collection includes corporate records and documents, annual reports, maps, mechanical and engineering drawings, oral histories, and ephemera. The holdings of the collection represent various railroad companies, labor unions, and fraternal organizations.
Library Collection
The Library Collection and the Archives Collections of the National Railroad Museum represent a variety of topics that allow researchers to interpret the social, economic, political, and cultural aspects of U.S. railroading history.
Items held within these collections are non-circulating. To access these collections, please contact the curator to schedule an appointment.
The Museum accepts requests for reproduction of materials held within these collections as long as doing so will not cause irreparable damage to the item. Furthermore, the Museum may assess a fee for this service. The National Railroad Museum reserves the right to refuse any request for reproduction.
Artifact Collection
The National Railroad Museum houses over 5,000 artifacts including textiles, uniforms, tools and personal items.
The Museum's artifact collection is accessible by appointment only. Application for access should be directed to the Curator of Collections. The Museum will assist and provide access to groups or individuals whose purposes fall within the mission of the National Railroad Museum. Access may be limited by policy restrictions, space, staff time, or care and security of the collections.
Photograph Collection
The Photograph Collection includes 15,000 photographic prints, slides, and film negatives representing railroading in the United States geographically from 1890 through the present day.
Rolling Stock Collection
The National Railroad Museum houses some of the nation’s most significant examples of rolling stock including the Union Pacific 4017 Big Boy and the Pennsylvania GG-1 electric locomotive. Over 70 locomotives and railcars are on exhibit.