Best railroad museum for photography

[steelbird]

I'm looking for a railroad museum that gives me really good photo ops- where there is a wide variety of subjects ( mainly steam locomotives ).  Interior displays would be nice ( don't want to travel from Florida and have our rains follow me to the location), but not necessary.  I know about Steamtown, and the National museum in Green Bay, but I'd like to know which of these, or any other suggestions, on where to go to.  Would like a place that is tripod-friendly, but also not completely necessary.  Does anyone have any suggestions?

        Thanks!

             Matt 

[DMUinCT]

The State of Pennsylvania Railroad Museum.   Located in Strasburg PA, it has a vast new building to house a large part of the collection. The rest is out in the yard next to the turntable.    Civil War period trains, the first GG1 (4800) as well as a second welded body type GG1. The Lindbergh E6s Atlantic #460, box cab electrics, earl;y steam, they have it all.

Across the street is the Strasburg Steam Railroad.  One of the few operations that rebuild steam locomotives for other tourist lines.  They run tourist trains from Strasburg to an Amtrak line at Paradise PA.

Strasburg Railroad

Also across the street, a little further down, is the National Toy Train Museum, owened and operated by the "Train Collectors Association".

A short trip south from Strasburg puts you in Baltimore MD.  The B&O Railroad Museum is one of the best in the country.

B&O Museum

 

 

[henry6]

Don't forget electric: NYC Subway Museum; Brandford, Seashore, and Warehouse Pt., trolley museums in Connecticuit and Kennbunkport in Maine to name a few....and while in Maine, all the two foot narrow guage lines (bout 5 of 'm; one even has two model T's on rails!)..  New Hampshire is rife with tourist lines with hundreds of cars and locomotives up and down and across the  State.  Then there is VT with a few gems, too.  Back down in CT is the Essex Rairoad and the New England RR Museum in Danbury.  I know I've left about half of what's available out.  Driving up from the Sunshine State?  Don't forget Spencer Shops. Out on LI there are two museums...Riverhead and Greenport...with important LIRR memorabilia and equipment.  Whippany River in NJ...and THe Catskil, the D&U RailRide, The Cooperstown and Charlotte Valley, Arcade and Attica, NYS Museum at Industry all in the Empire State!  And I've missed over 75% of what's probably out there...Get Kalmbach's Tourist Guide or check out the Trains and Classic Trains classifieds!

And for more fun and surprises, take time to ride any of the commuter and transit and light rail lines from D.C. to Boston: you never know what you'll find!