Ohio Railway Museum

06/05/2026

Railroad property is private property. That includes tracks, trains, bridges, tunnels and rail yards. Walking, biking or taking photos on or near them is dangerous and illegal.

06/02/2026

What Do You Want Out of Your Ohio Big Boy Experience?

Here are some tips for both the June and July visits of the world's largest locomotive.

If you know the hobby, you know how to find quieter crossings and less crowded spots along the route. Stay off roads that run parallel to the tracks and shift down a few roads instead. It takes a bit more planning, but you will get ahead of the train without the chaos, and there is no need to speed. Remember, there is also a return trip with a scheduled break, so stay patient, think ahead, and you will have plenty of opportunities for a great experience.

Please respect the railroad right-of-way and private property at all times. Do not trespass, and always be courteous to landowners and the communities along the route. A simple, polite ask goes a long way. You would be surprised what kind of access it can get you. How we conduct ourselves out there reflects on every railfan.

As always, stay back 25 feet and keep your head on a swivel. Not everyone out there is paying attention, and that is when things go wrong.

Not sure where to watch? Feel free to ask. For those set on Fostoria, keep in mind that the static viewing event later in July will be the only place in Ohio where you can see Big Boy standing still. Before you commit to a spot, think about what you actually want out of the day. Standing 25 feet from the locomotive in a crowd of tens of thousands on a hot afternoon is a very different experience from sharing a quiet spot with four or five other people. Measure your expectations, plan smart, and you will have a much better day.

At the end of the day, Big Boy is meant to be experienced. There is nothing quite like standing trackside as 1.25 million pounds of steam locomotive rolls past you, or taking your time walking alongside it while the Union Pacific steam crew shares the story behind it. Whether you have followed steam power your whole life or this is your first time, it is the kind of moment that stays with you.

If your child has sensory sensitivities, please reach out before the visit. We are happy to walk you through what to expect.

From all of us at the Ohio Railway Museum, we hope everyone out there, whether chasing or viewing, has a safe, fun, and unforgettable experience.

Look, Listen, Live!

Learn More - https://www.up.com/about-us/history/steam

05/30/2026

Be a part of history and sponsor a bridge tie today! Our regular bridge refresh is underway, and this is your chance to be part of the project.

Since 1963, our rail bridge over Highway 161 has stood as a proud landmark on the edge of Columbus and Worthington. Over the decades, it has safely carried magnificent historic railway equipment and hundreds of thousands of happy guests.

To keep everything in top shape, the wooden portion of the bridge requires a standard maintenance cycle every 25 to 30 years. It is now time for this routine upkeep!

To prepare the bridge for the next generation of riders, our upcoming work will:
• Replace all of the aging bridge ties
• Touch up the paint and lettering
• Replace the handrails
• Install a brand-new catwalk
• Add new clearance markers

You can be a part of this exciting milestone! Support this necessary initiative by sponsoring a bridge tie or making a donation to the project.

As a special thank you, your name will be proudly displayed on a permanent plaque mounted directly to the bridge. You will also be invited as our honored guest to an official rededication ceremony, where you'll get to ride across the newly refreshed bridge and locate your sponsored tie!

We have so many exciting things happening at the ORM right now. Come out any Saturday this summer and see us in action!

Click here for more info - https://bit.ly/49xsk6B

05/29/2026

Sometimes you just have to have a little fun.

It has been raining a lot lately, but the sun finally came out today. We had the model with us, so we snapped two fun pictures of a brass HO scale version of N&W No. 578 with the real No. 578.

People have done this before with other models and locomotives. However, we are pretty sure this is the first time it has happened here at the Ohio Railway Museum.
Have you done something similar? We’d love for you to share.

05/23/2026

Train Rides, Speeder Rides, Cab Rides Oh My! 🚂

It might be a little grey outside, but it is still a great day for trains. The Ohio Railway Museum is open today from 11 am to 5 pm, and we want you to join the fun!

Bring the family to learn about our rich railroad history and check out everything we have going on. Our team has so many exciting new projects and updates we want to share with you.

Grab the kids and come spend a few fun hours with us today! 🎟️✨ The Ohio Railway Museum is located at 990 Proprietors Road in Worthington, Ohio.

05/16/2026

Discover a hidden gem right in the heart of Ohio for your next weekend adventure. The Ohio Railway Museum is the perfect family outing!

Join us on Saturdays from May through September, between 11 am and 5 pm, to spend a few fun-filled hours with us. We have activities for everyone to enjoy:

• Explore rich railroad history
• Take an exciting train or speeder ride
• Ride in the cab of a real locomotive
• Prospect for treasures at the sluice
• Grab a tasty treat at the snack caboose

Plan your visit this Saturday and make some great memories with the whole family!

Ohio Railway Museum
990 Proprietors Rd
Worthington, OH 43085

Step back in time and experience the golden age of railroading at the Ohio Railway Museum. Perfect for train enthusiasts, history buffs, and families!

05/15/2026

- Several Norfolk & Western locomotives sit idle on the former New York, Chicago & St. Louis turntable lead in Bellevue, Ohio, on a cold, snowy day in April 1982.

The former NYC&StL roundhouse still stands today, though the roof is gone, the bays are in disrepair, and the turntable is no longer functional. A shame, as it was once an impressive structure. If you find yourself in Bellevue, be sure to stop and take a look. While you're there, visit the Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum, which has an excellent collection of artifacts and rolling stock.

Pictures from the ORM collection...

05/12/2026

What a wonderful day we had on Saturday! This year's National Train Day season opener was a tremendous success, and we are so grateful to everyone who came out to visit us. It was a record breaking day for the ORM! We also want to extend our sincere thanks to our amazing volunteers for all of their hard work and support.

A special thank you to Mr. Kennedy from Operation Lifesaver and the wonderful folks from All Aboard Ohio for spending the day with us at the ORM. We are grateful for the support of our incredible community and hope to see you again soon! 🚂 Just a reminder that we are open Saturdays from May 9 through September 26, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. We look forward to welcoming you to the museum.

Donate - https://bit.ly/4jdBnLX
Volunteer - https://bit.ly/4m0H5Co

05/10/2026

Fort Smith Trolley Museum! Well done and on National train day! Another one of our favorite museums just found one of our calling cards. 🚂

We truly enjoy leaving these behind when we visit other organizations. There are still many more out there waiting to be found, and we are continuing to hide more as our team travels beyond the Ohio Railway Museum.

Ohio Railway Museum, we appologize it took this long to find ORM! If it was a snake it would have bit me several times. I'm almost embarrassed, I missed it when riding and moving #1 & 1/2 around.
-Murphy Jenkins

05/08/2026

It is Favorite Railroad Friday! This past weekend, our President left the team behind and headed to the mountains of West Virginia for a little fun. While the rest of us were hard at work at the Ohio Railway Museum, he was out photographing steam engines.

One of the best parts of Favorite Railroad Friday is sharing our adventures beyond the museum. Here is what he had to say about his trip:

"I had the pleasure of attending the "Titans of Logging" photo weekend. What a blast! Walter and the crew certainly know how to put on a great show. It was a weekend filled with crisp mountain air, coal smoke, camaraderie, and good fun. It is always refreshing to get out and do some photography. It is good for the soul. I would recommend this trip to anyone who enjoys railroad photography, mountain scenery, steam engines, and train rides. Cass Scenic Railroad is a must-visit and should be on everyone's bucket list."

He also left behind one of our fun little calling cards. We know it is out there, and now we are curious to see if anyone finds it!