0-4-0 Minnetonka, the Northern Pacific's first locomotive, and SD45 No. 3617, both significant pieces of railroad history, share a prominent spot at the museum. Photo by Brian Schmidt
I had a great time visiting the Lake Superior Railroad Museum in Duluth last week – twice. The first visit, on Monday, I toured the museum just after opening and was able to enjoy a relatively quiet facility in a contemplative manner. There were no loud conversations, no rowdy children, just track after track of cold hard history.
Friday, however, I returned for a reception at the museum following a conference in Duluth. The mood was much different. The room was abuzz with railroad discussion: history, news, and the future. That made all the difference.
My first visit was quite personal, it was largely just me and the machines. I could interpret the displays at my pace. But when I returned, I felt I learned much more. We talked about the fallen flags represented in a boxcar display, we tried to relate to the fireman or brakeman who had to climb out on the Yellowstone's running boards on the main line, and we contemplated the technology represented by a lowly 0-4-0 and SD45 displayed side-by-side.
So I encourage you to take a friend, a railfan friend, on your next museum visit. Talk about what you see and its significance to railroading, and don't just lament what's lost. The extra boost that it provides can make the visit truly extraordinary.
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