A ceremonial groundbreaking took place on Tuesday in Strasburg Township, Lancaster County, marking the start of construction on a new $15 million building that will expand the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. The project, developed through a partnership between the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and the Department of General Services, has been planned for more than a decade and is expected to play a vital role in preserving the state’s rail history.
The upcoming facility will be a modern, state-of-the-art structure designed to house up to six historic steam locomotives, including several listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Railroad Museum Director Patrick Morrison expressed excitement about the milestone, noting how long the public and museum staff have been anticipating this expansion. The new building will serve primarily as a restoration space, protecting and housing locomotives while they undergo preservation work, with the goal of making it fully operational by early 2027. Established in 1963, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is dedicated to telling the stories of railroading throughout the Commonwealth, highlighting its railroads, manufacturers, industries, workers, and travelers, both past and present.