Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society in Lowell, Massachusetts
Rail preservation groupLocomotive 410 and combine exhibit on Dutton Street in Lowell, staffed by volunteers in summer; archives open for research
Formed in 1971 by Boston & Maine employees and railfans, the Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society cares for B&M steam locomotive No. 410, a combine full of artifacts on Dutton Street in Lowell, and a deep archive of New England railroad history.
- Formed in 1971
- About 975 active members
- B&M steam locomotive No. 410
- Summer exhibit in combine No. 1244
- Research archives in Lowell
- Monthly meetings September to June
Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society at a glance
- Hours
- Combine exhibit staffed by volunteers in summer months; hours not posted
- Admission
- Locomotive viewable from the street; no admission listed
- Seasonal events
- Lowell Folk Festival, Monthly membership meetings, Annual Christmas holiday party
- Plan for
- About 15 to 30 minutes at the 410 display
- Best for
- Rail fans, researchers and families exploring downtown Lowell
- Best ages
- Ages 4 and up for the 410 display
- Parking
- Free parking across the street from Rogers Hall for meetings
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
- AddressMerrimack and Dutton Streets, Lowell, MA (locomotive 410 display); mail: P.O. Box 9116, Lowell, MA 01853(opens in a new tab)
- Emailinfo@bmrrhs.org
- Alsoarchives@bmrrhs.org
- Alsobulletin@bmrrhs.org
- Websitebmrrhs.org(opens in a new tab)
Follow Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society? Bring Rally along.
In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Lowell.
Rally Takes the Train
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Railroaders and railfans keeping the B&M story
The Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society was formed in 1971 by a group of B&M employees and railfans who wanted to share what they knew about the railroad and learn more. Today it is a nonprofit with about 975 active members, all volunteers, and its interest reaches beyond the B&M to the Maine Central, the lines that came before them and the companies that followed.
Much of the society's work happens on paper and screens. Members receive the B&M Bulletin, a glossy magazine of feature articles on B&M equipment, places and service, and a newsletter six times a year with news, Modelers Notes and a sales catalog. The Online Committee produces the web series Minuteman Tales and the podcast High Green, films society meetings and runs the Facebook and YouTube pages, and the society has posted railroad valuation maps and an online photo archive for researchers.
Volunteers also look after real objects. The Hardware Committee preserves signs, signals, tools, lanterns, builders plates and other items that illustrate 175 years of New England railroading, donated by members and friends since the society's earliest days. The 410 Committee maintains steam locomotive No. 410 and combine No. 1244 in downtown Lowell, the society's public face for anyone walking by.
The society is careful to say it has no tie to today's railroad companies: the Boston and Maine Corporation was acquired by Guilford Transportation Industries in 1983, later became Pan Am Railways and was bought by CSX in 2022.
Locomotive 410 and the combine on Dutton Street
The society's display sits at the corner of Merrimack and Dutton Streets in downtown Lowell. B&M 0-6-0 steam locomotive No. 410, a switcher, is coupled to combination coach and baggage car No. 1244. In the summer months, society volunteers staff the combine, where an interpretive exhibit of B&M history draws on the archives and the Hardware Collection: lanterns, station signs, tickets, uniforms, dining ware and builders plates among them.
The full Hardware Collection is not open to the public, since the society lacks the resources for regular visits, but its website shows illustrated inventories by category. Researchers can use the archives in Lowell, which hold photographs, books and records on the B&M and the railroads that formed it, for study or general browsing.
Don’t miss
- B&M steam locomotive No. 410A Boston & Maine 0-6-0 switcher on display in downtown Lowell, cared for by the society's 410 Committee.
- Combine No. 1244A combination passenger and baggage car that houses a summer exhibit of B&M history staffed by volunteers.
- Lowell Folk Festival weekendVolunteers welcome visitors at the 410 and the combine during the festival each July.
- The society archivesPhotographs, books and records of the B&M and its predecessors, open for research or browsing.
- Minuteman Tales and High GreenThe society's web series and podcast, researched and produced by members.
A real steam engine on a city corner
For kids, the draw is simple: a real Boston & Maine steam locomotive sitting on a downtown Lowell corner. It is an easy stop during a day at Lowell National Historical Park or the Lowell Folk Festival, and in summer the combine exhibit gives a short, close look at lanterns, signs and tools from the railroad.
Society meetings and archives are aimed at adults and serious rail fans, but older kids who love trains may enjoy a meeting presentation or the December holiday party.
Plan your visit: tips for Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society
- Plan a visit to the 410 during the Lowell Folk Festival, when volunteers are on hand.
- Email archives@bmrrhs.org for research, genealogy and donation requests.
- The society is not the railroad; questions about current operations go to CSX.
- Allow 2 to 3 weeks for online store orders.
975 members and a lot of committees
Every part of the society is volunteer run, from the 410 Committee and the archives to merchandise, shows and the online team. Membership brings the Bulletin and newsletter, and members staff the society's table at train shows across New England. Volunteers are welcome to help manage the Hardware Collection, and donations of artifacts go through the Hardware Committee or the archives chairman.
Pair it with more Lowell and New England rail stops
The Lowell National Historical Park trolley exhibits are about a mile away and make an easy pairing. North of the state line, the Heritage Rail Trail in Nashua is about 12 miles off, and the Contoocook Railroad Museum is about 46 miles. More ideas are on our list of train museums in Massachusetts.
- Lowell National Historical Park trolley exhibitsLowell, MA · about 1 mi
- Heritage Rail Trail / historic railroad exhibitsNashua, NH · about 12 mi
- Boston Street Railway Association historic collectionBoston area, MA · about 22 mi
- Portsmouth Historical Society railroad exhibitsPortsmouth, NH · about 41 mi
- Woonsocket Depot historic railway siteWoonsocket, RI · about 45 mi
- Contoocook Railroad MuseumContoocook, NH · about 46 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
The combine on Dutton Street carried passengers and their bags in the same car, and I imagine a conductor walking its aisle checking tickets. In our book, Mr. Conductor wears a blue uniform and holds out his hand to help Rally, Mom and Dad aboard. Kind railroaders like him are why I love these old cars. Our story page tells how my mom first imagined him.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.
Get the free coloring pages
A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)More for train families
- Train museums in Massachusetts: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Massachusetts
- Halloween train rides in Massachusetts
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society?
We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.
Sources
- Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society official website(opens in a new tab)
- Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society on Facebook(opens in a new tab)
- Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society on YouTube(opens in a new tab)
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society: 20 questions answered
What is the Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society?
It is a nonprofit, volunteer-run society formed in 1971 by B&M employees and railfans to share and learn about the history and operations of the Boston & Maine Railroad, its predecessors and successors, plus the Maine Central. It has about 975 active members and is based in Lowell, Massachusetts.
Can I visit the Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society?
Yes, in part. The society's B&M steam locomotive No. 410 and combine No. 1244 are on display at Merrimack and Dutton Streets in downtown Lowell, and volunteers staff an exhibit inside the combine in summer. The full hardware collection is not open for public visits, but the archives can be used for research.
Where is B&M locomotive 410 in Lowell?
Boston & Maine 0-6-0 steam locomotive No. 410 is on Dutton Street in downtown Lowell, at the corner of Merrimack Street, coupled to combine No. 1244. The society's 410 Committee maintains both. It is a short walk from other downtown Lowell attractions.
When is the B&M combine exhibit in Lowell open?
Society volunteers staff the combine during the summer months, but the society does not post set hours online. Volunteers are on hand during the Lowell Folk Festival, which in 2026 ran July 25 and 26. Email info@bmrrhs.org or check the society's Facebook page for current open days.
What is inside the Boston & Maine combine on Dutton Street?
The combine holds an interpretive exhibit on B&M history, with material from the society's archives and items from its Hardware Collection, such as lanterns, signs, tickets, uniforms and builders plates. The society's website has an illustrated summary of the combine's contents.
Is the Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society the same as the B&M railroad?
No. The society is a historical group with no tie to the Boston and Maine Corporation, which Guilford Transportation Industries acquired in 1983. That company later became Pan Am Railways and was bought by CSX Transportation in 2022. Questions about current rail operations or rights of way should go to CSX.
When does the Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society meet?
The society meets monthly from September through June, with no meetings in July or August. Lowell meetings are usually Saturdays from 3 to 5 pm at Rogers Hall, 196 Rogers Street, with free parking across the street. Members share news and hear presentations by railroaders and historians.
What are upcoming Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society meetings?
As of October 2026, the November 14 meeting features rail photographer Justin Winiarz, and the December 12 meeting is the society's annual Christmas holiday party with member entertainment and refreshments. Both are at Rogers Hall in Lowell from 3 to 5 pm. Check bmrrhs.org for later dates.
Can non-members attend B&M Railroad Historical Society meetings?
The society does not state a guest policy on its events page, though its meetings are listed publicly and include a sales table and presentations. Email info@bmrrhs.org to ask before you go. Meetings are also filmed by the Online Committee and shared online.
How do I join the Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society?
Membership is annual and includes the glossy B&M Bulletin and a newsletter six times a year with Modelers Notes. Membership matters are handled by the membership secretary at P.O. Box 1438, Tewksbury, MA 01876. The society's website and online store have current membership details.
Where are the Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society archives?
The society's mission page places its archives at 40 French Street in Lowell, while some older listings mention UMass Lowell. The collection of photographs, books and records is open for research or browsing. Email archives@bmrrhs.org to arrange a visit or send a research request.
Can the B&M Railroad Historical Society help with genealogy research?
Yes. Historical, archives and genealogical requests go to the archives chairman, Earl Tuson, at archives@bmrrhs.org. The archives hold records about the Boston & Maine and the railroads that formed it, which can help when tracing a relative who worked for the railroad.
Does the Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society accept donations of artifacts?
Yes. Members and friends have donated hardware items since the society's earliest days. Contact the Hardware Committee chairman through the society's website for objects such as signs, lanterns or tools, or email archives@bmrrhs.org for photographs, papers and records.
Does the B&M Railroad Historical Society have a store?
Yes. The society sells B&M books, DVDs, clothing and souvenirs through its online store and at its train show table. All volunteers process orders, so the society asks buyers to allow two to three weeks for delivery. Proceeds support the society's work.
What is the B&M Bulletin?
The B&M Bulletin is the society's glossy members' magazine, with feature articles and high quality photographs covering all aspects of Boston & Maine equipment, locations and service. Members also receive a bimonthly newsletter with railroad news, society events, Modelers Notes and a sales catalog.
Does the Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society have a podcast?
Yes. The Online Committee produces the podcast High Green and the web series Minuteman Tales, both researched and written by members, plus virtual presentations and videos of society meetings. Find them through the society's YouTube channel and Facebook page.
Is the B&M locomotive 410 display good for kids?
Yes, as a quick stop. A real steam locomotive on a downtown corner is a thrill for young train fans, and in summer the combine exhibit adds artifacts to look at. Pair it with Lowell National Historical Park and its trolleys for a fuller family day.
Does the Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society attend train shows?
Yes. Members staff the society's table at train shows and events throughout New England, offering information, membership applications and merchandise. The events page lists upcoming shows, such as spring shows in New Hampshire, along with society meetings.
How do I contact the Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society?
Email general questions to info@bmrrhs.org, archives and genealogy requests to archives@bmrrhs.org, and Bulletin matters to bulletin@bmrrhs.org. The general mailing address is P.O. Box 9116, Lowell, MA 01853. As an all-volunteer group, the society may take a little time to reply.
What train museums are near the Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society?
The Lowell National Historical Park trolley exhibits are about a mile away. In New Hampshire, the New England Southern Railroad collections are about 9 miles, the Heritage Rail Trail exhibits in Nashua about 12 miles and the Contoocook Railroad Museum about 46 miles. The Boston Street Railway Association is about 22 miles away.
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