Interpreting Through The Written Word
The Friends of RMP publishes the journal MILEPOST five times yearly, incorporating stories of museum events, extensive narratives about RMP's artifacts, and broader stories of Pennsylvania railroad history and experiences. Several have led to production of slide shows and expanded articles for national publications.

A rich resource is the museum's extensive library and archives, a storehouse of information which can be mined almost without limit. Whether it be old Reading Railroad construction prints, thousands of negatives and photographs, an incomparable book collection, or worldly reflections in old issues of the AMERICAN RAILROAD JOURNAL or RAILWAY AGE, much of the museum's success in railroad interpretation rests on meticulous research performed out of visitors' sight.

Partners in Presentation
Visitors frequently ask, "Does any of this equipment really work?" Though the museum would like to see its noble locomotives fired up and moving, the real answer is, "Sorry, but these relics are the last of their kind. We want to preserve them, not wear them out."

Yet this answer is not only a matter of financial and practical necessity, it is also a very real concern. People do like to see machinery operate. When RMP's 100-foot former Reading turntable rumbles around, people are mesmerized. Fortunately, aside from the occasional vehicle that operates at RMP, the museum is located across the street from one of America's premier steam tourist lines -- the Strasburg Rail Road. The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania intentionally located in Strasburg. A productive and happy synergy exists between the Strasburg-a for-profit corporation, and the museum -- an agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Historical and Museum Commission.

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Visitors can enjoy the thrill of riding behind live steam there, then see the Museum's preserved relics. Happily the Strasburg is committed to historical preservation as well as operation, and maintains first-rate steam railroad maintenance and restoration shops. The museum also performs restoration, albeit primarily cosmetic. The museum's new restoration shop, although off-limits for safety reasons, does allow visitors to observe the equipment and labors of a rail shop via closed circuit TV. The volunteer restoration crew's activities are not only of professional quality but are also greatly helpful in the understanding of artifacts. Taking an old parlor car down to its underflooring can reveal secrets of construction, maintenance, and change that eventually become part of the interpretive presentation.

Enhanced Interpretation
Without doubt, locomotives take up a lot of space. When the RMP doubled the size of its indoor exhibit hall, not only was added protection available to protect vintage locomotives that had previously been stored outside, but room became available for more interpretive exhibits.

Rather than focusing on the historical attributes of equipment, broader themes of history and function are now possible. The museum can now better tell the many stories of railroading in Pennsylvania, so that visitors may experience a greater interplay of exhibits, sounds and activities. Together, these will help to form a wonderful panorama of life, life that once was-and still is -- railroading.

When all is said and done, it is often the trained yard guide or docent who leaves the most lasting impression on the visitor.