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My favorites are: B&ORRM in Baltimore, MD. Strasburg Rail Road in Strasburg, PA RRM of Pennsylvaniain Strasburg, PA Western Maryland Ry HS in Union Bridge, MD. East Broad Top in Orbisonia, PA. B&O Museum is probably the very best one in the USA. Historical equip in an historical roundhouse, great scale models, layouts, memorabilia. It's #1. Strasburg RR is tops too. The quality of their restoration work is beyond compare. The ride is short but it's an awesome place to visit and experience. #90..WOW!!!! Across the street is the RRMofPA which should be the model all museums follow. They have spent the money to not only restore equipment but to preserve that excellent condition inside and out of the elements. Tracks are wide enough apart to enjoy seeing a good view of the engines and cars and lighting is very good. It doesn't hurt that it's mostly PRR steam either! WMRHS is pretty classy too. The buildings themselves are gorgeous and the historical info inside is a wonder to behold. The WMRHS has it's restored equip outside and the Maryland Midland operates from the station area. Very nice place. EBT is one of the best operating museums in the world! It's almost impossible to find original equipment operating in the original area and using original structures. What a treasure! EBT has had some difficult times but the Friends are doing a great job getting the numerous structures back in shape. I think it's a shame the Government has spent so much on Steamtown and ignored the EBT. EVERYTHING at the EBT is original and shows how it was. Nothing at Steamtown is original except the roundhouse. It can't compare to the authenticity of EBT. Primarily a good museum needs to have well preserved and hopefully operational equipment for us to see. They need interesting displays and accurate descriptions of items. Paper collections, memorabilia and that sort of thing always help too. Good lighting really helps and having enough space between displays to actually see the equip helps. Many museums have great collections but they are in a sad state of repair, are too close together to see them or they are so dark only a bat can enjoy them. One's I feel need help are : National Museum of Transportation in St.Louis, MO Ohio Ry Museum in Worthington, OH Roanoke Museum of Transportation in Roanoke,VA. Age of Steam Museum in Dallas, TX. I haven't been to these places in several years but when I visited they were crowded or the equipment was in terrible shape. I'd rather see them sell some equip to someone that can repair and appreciate it rather than let it rust into the earth. ORM has the perfect example of neglect. N&W E-2b 4-6-2 #578. That engine has been so neglected it's a crime. ORM is a trolley museum so I'm sure a steam engine is a low priority so why not sell it and use the money for trolleys? I'm sure there is another museum that could do better with it and appreciate it. NMT has a lot of great equip but when I was there everything was exposed to the elements and so close together you couldn't take any decent photos. The work they had done on some items was already deteriorating due to exposure. The Roanoke Museum naturally moved from their otherwise great location in Wasena Park after being flooded a few times. Their new location is just too crowded to enjoy all the great stuff they have there. I appreciate them building the shed over the J though. At least she has a chance of surviving the elements. Age of Steam Museum has some really super equip but it mostly suffers neglect and from exposure. It also needs more room to see the displays. It's a crime what's happened to the Russian and the Frisco 4-8-4! Don't know if they still have the whistle display hooked up to steam but it's very cool to be able to blow so many whistles! Anyway, good luck with your project, Hope things work out. My 2¢ Roger
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