About B & O Railroad Museum
World-renowned B&O railroad collection at the 1884 Mt. Clare roundhouse; operates short Mile One Express demonstration train rides on weekends April-November.
History
The museum traces its origins to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad’s Mount Clare site, where the company began America’s first railroad in 1829 and opened the brick passenger station in 1851; the adjacent roundhouse was constructed in 1884. On July 4 1953 the B&O opened the Baltimore & Ohio Transportation Museum at the former car shop, and the institution later adopted the name B&O Railroad Museum. After the railroad’s corporate successors—the Chessie System and then CSX Corporation—deeded the property to an independent, not‑for‑profit organization in 1990, CSX provided a $5 million endowment, and the museum became a Smithsonian affiliate in 1999. A roof collapse caused by the Presidents’ Day snowstorm on February 17 2003 damaged half of the roundhouse; the structure reopened on November 13 2004 following extensive repairs. The museum claims the largest collection of 19th‑century locomotives in the United States and the most historic mile of railroad track in the country.
The Trains
The museum operates the Mile One Express on the historic one‑mile stretch of track that runs between the restored Mount Clare Station building and the 1884 roundhouse, offering rides on weekends from April through November. Its active roster includes Baltimore & Ohio 4‑4‑0 #25 William Mason (built 1856), Baltimore & Ohio 0‑4‑0 #8 John Hancock (1836), and Baltimore & Ohio 4‑6‑0 #305 (constructed in 1869 at Mt. Clare). Additional preserved pieces such as the 0‑4‑0 replica “Tom Thumb” (1927) and the 2‑6‑0 #600 J.C. Davis (1875) remain on static display in the roundhouse.
Nearby
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Where to Stay
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Rent a Car
Most heritage railroads sit well off the interstate. Picking up a rental at the nearest airport is usually the easiest way in.
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