Railroaders Memorial Museum in Altoona, Pennsylvania

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Altoona, Pennsylvania · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Railroad museumClosed Mondays, Tuesdays and federal holidays; check Facebook or Google for current hours

The Railroaders Memorial Museum honors the men and women who built and ran the Pennsylvania Railroad in Altoona, telling their stories in the 1882 Master Mechanic's Building, the last survivor of the city's machine shops, and in a roundhouse that is home to K4 locomotive No. 1361.

  • Established as a tribute in 1972
  • 1882 Master Mechanic's Building
  • Home of PRR K4 No. 1361
  • Working 105-foot turntable
  • Wall with about 2,500 railroader names
  • Combo tickets with Horseshoe Curve

Railroaders Memorial Museum at a glance

Hours
Closed Mondays, Tuesdays and federal holidays, and from a few days before Christmas to a few days after New Year's; check Facebook or Google for current hours. Admission stops 30 minutes before closing
Admission
Tickets sold online; combo ticket with the Horseshoe Curve when both sites are open. See railroadcity.org for prices
Seasonal events
Along the Broadway lecture series, Twilight at the Curve
Plan for
About 2 hours; most of a day with the Horseshoe Curve
Best for
History lovers and families with railroad roots
Best ages
Ages 5 and up

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Railroaders Memorial Museum? 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 Altoona.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

A museum for the people of Railroad City

Altoona was founded in 1849 as the Pennsylvania Railroad pushed its tracks into the Allegheny Mountains, and by 1850 the PRR had finished its western terminal here. For more than a century it was a company town: the railroad built or sponsored its schools, libraries and hotels, and its shops were celebrated as the Standard of the World. After World War II that work began to fade, and later chapters were written by Penn Central, Conrail, Norfolk Southern and Amtrak.

The Railroaders Memorial Museum was established in 1972 as a tribute to those railroaders and first opened in 1980. In April 1998 it moved into the PRR's former Master Mechanic's Building, built in 1882 and used for a century of railroad work: first as the railroad's physical and chemical laboratories, later for medical offices, storage and the railroad police headquarters, which had an indoor firing range in the basement. It is the only surviving building of Altoona's Machine Shops.

The growing collection of rolling stock needed a home, so the museum designed a quarter-roundhouse. The first wedge was finished in the summer of 2002, and funding in 2007 and 2010 completed it. Los Angeles patron Robert Bennett paid for it in honor of his grandfather, William Henry "Harry" Bennett, the first foreman of the Juniata Locomotive Shops in 1889 and master mechanic from 1901 to 1921. Harry Bennett oversaw the building of K4 No. 1361 and more than 6,000 other locomotives, and the roundhouse now carries his name.

Life-size shop scenes, films and a roundhouse

Inside the Master Mechanic's Building, exhibits mix railroad artifacts with immersive settings and life-size dioramas of workers doing the jobs typical of the Altoona Shops. Orientation films set the scene of the people and the way of life in Altoona's railroading community, and the museum keeps a digital database and a well-stocked gift shop. Lectures in the Along the Broadway series are held in the Dave Seidel Memorial Auditorium.

Out back, the Harry Bennett Memorial Roundhouse has a working 105-foot turntable, indoor storage bays and outdoor spurs for the museum's rolling stock. It is home to K4 No. 1361 and, since early 2024, a restored 1947 Mack fire truck that once protected the PRR's 12th Street Shop area. Part of the roundhouse is closed to the public to protect stored equipment from the weather.

Don’t miss

  1. Pennsylvania Railroad K4 No. 1361The museum's most prized possession, built under master mechanic Harry Bennett's watch, and the reason the roundhouse was completed.
  2. The Master Mechanic's BuildingBuilt in 1882, it is the sole surviving structure from Altoona's Machine Shops and once held the PRR's labs and railroad police headquarters.
  3. Life-size worker dioramasFigures shown at work on tasks from the Altoona Shops bring the people behind the trains into focus.
  4. The Patterson Family Memorial WallAbout 2,500 railroad workers' names line this wall in the roundhouse, and families can add a permanent plaque for an ancestor.
  5. The 105-foot turntableA working turntable at the center of the Harry Bennett Memorial Roundhouse.
  6. 1947 Mack fire truckIt fought fires for the PRR in the 12th Street Shop area, was restored in PRR colors by the Altoona Fire Department and donated to the museum in 2024.

Real people, big engines and a turntable

Kids can walk among life-size figures of railroaders at work, watch short films about Altoona's railroad families and then head to the roundhouse to see K4 No. 1361, the turntable and a bright 1947 fire truck. The museum calls itself an interactive experience, and the scenes of shop work help children picture what their great-grandparents' jobs might have looked like.

Pets are not allowed, so leave the dog at home. For a bigger day, combine the museum with the Horseshoe Curve, where kids can watch real trains climb the mountain.

Plan your visit: tips for Railroaders Memorial Museum

  • Check the museum's Facebook page or Google listing for hours before you go.
  • Buy the Railroad City combo ticket to add the Horseshoe Curve, offered when both sites are open.
  • Arrive at least 30 minutes before closing, when admission stops.
  • Groups of 10 or more can book Wednesday to Sunday at group rates through groups@railroadcity.org.
  • No pets are allowed.

Keeping Railroad City's memory

The museum depends on members, sponsors, donors and volunteers, and it is raising money for K4 No. 1361 along with projects like a Penn Central N10 caboose and a World's Fair light restoration. You can help by becoming a member, volunteering, giving to a project, shopping the museum store, renting its spaces for an event, or adding a $100 plaque for a railroader ancestor to the Patterson Family Memorial Wall.

More of Railroad City

The Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark is run by the same organization and pairs naturally with a museum visit. About 6 miles away, the Everett Railroad offers train rides, and the Gallitzin Tunnels Park and Museum is about 8 miles west. For more, see our page of Pennsylvania train museums.

Every train museum in Pennsylvania

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of a conductor in a blue suit shaking Rally's paw on the train
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

This museum is about the people who made the railroad run, and that is what I love most about train stories. In our book, Mr. Conductor in his blue uniform holds out a hand to Rally at the door, and I love that a person, not a machine, is the one who welcomes him aboard. The wall here holds about 2,500 railroaders' names. Read how our own family story became a book on our story page.

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
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

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

Work or volunteer at Railroaders Memorial Museum?

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

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Railroaders Memorial Museum: 20 visitor questions

Where is the Railroaders Memorial Museum in Altoona?

The museum is at 1200 9th Ave, Altoona, PA 16602, in the Pennsylvania Railroad's former Master Mechanic's Building in the old 12th Street Shop area. The phone number is (814) 946-0834, extension 2102. The Horseshoe Curve, run by the same organization, is at 2400 Veterans Memorial Hwy.

What are the Railroaders Memorial Museum hours?

As of October 2026, the museum asks visitors to check its Facebook page and Google listing for current hours. It is closed Mondays, Tuesdays and federal holidays, and from a few days before Christmas until a few days after New Year's Day. Admission stops 30 minutes before closing, and the store is open until 4 pm.

How much are Railroaders Memorial Museum tickets?

Prices are shown at checkout rather than on the museum's main pages. Tickets can be bought online through the Purchase Admission link on railroadcity.org, which also offers a Railroad City combo ticket covering the museum and the Horseshoe Curve when both are open. Groups of 10 or more get group rates.

Is there a combo ticket for the Railroaders Memorial Museum and Horseshoe Curve?

Yes. The Railroad City combo ticket covers both the Railroaders Memorial Museum and the Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark. It is only offered when both sites are open, and the Horseshoe Curve closes from November to April, so combo tickets are a spring through fall option.

What upcoming events does the Railroaders Memorial Museum have?

The museum hosts the monthly Along the Broadway lecture series in its Dave Seidel Memorial Auditorium, with doors at 6 pm, talks at 7 pm and a $5 donation. It also runs Twilight at the Curve, summer Saturday evenings from 4 pm to 10 pm at the Horseshoe Curve. A downloadable event calendar is on railroadcity.org.

What is the Along the Broadway lecture series?

It is the museum's 2026 monthly history lecture series, with talks by local historians and documentary premieres. Topics have included the Wreck of the Red Arrow, Dr. Charles Dudley of the PRR, Conrail's 50th anniversary, East Broad Top archives and railroading during the Civil War. Admission is a $5 donation.

Does the Railroaders Memorial Museum have fireworks?

The museum's event calendar does not list a fireworks show. Its regular events include the Along the Broadway lectures and Twilight at the Curve evenings at the Horseshoe Curve. For any holiday or fireworks events, check the museum's Facebook page or downloadable event calendar.

Does the Railroaders Memorial Museum have a Big Boy locomotive?

No. The museum's signature locomotive is Pennsylvania Railroad K4 No. 1361, kept in the Harry Bennett Memorial Roundhouse. The museum's materials do not mention a Union Pacific Big Boy. For Big Boy questions, call (814) 946-0834 to ask whether any visiting equipment is planned.

What is K4 No. 1361 at the Railroaders Memorial Museum?

K4 No. 1361 is a Pennsylvania Railroad steam locomotive and the museum's most prized possession. It was built under master mechanic Harry Bennett, and the museum's roundhouse was completed in part to house it. The museum runs an ongoing K4 1361 fundraising effort, with history and plans on its website.

What is the Master Mechanic's Building?

Built by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1882, it first held the railroad's physical and chemical laboratories, then medical offices, storage and the railroad police headquarters, which had a firing range in the basement. It is the only surviving building of Altoona's Machine Shops, and the museum has been inside it since 1998.

When did the Railroaders Memorial Museum open?

The museum was established in 1972 as a tribute to railroaders and first opened to the public in 1980. It moved into the Master Mechanic's Building in April 1998, and the first section of its Harry Bennett Memorial Roundhouse was finished in the summer of 2002.

Can I add a name to the Railroaders Memorial Museum wall?

Yes. The Patterson Family Memorial Wall in the roundhouse holds about 2,500 railroad workers' names, and families can add a permanent plaque for a railroader ancestor with a one-time $100 enrollment. Send questions about plaques to curator@railroadcity.org.

Is the Railroaders Memorial Museum good for kids?

Yes, especially for school-age kids. Life-size dioramas show railroaders at work, orientation films explain Altoona's railroad life, and the roundhouse has K4 No. 1361, a turntable and a 1947 fire truck. Pair it with the Horseshoe Curve, where kids can watch real trains.

Can I bring my dog to the Railroaders Memorial Museum?

No. The museum says no pets are allowed at the Railroaders Memorial Museum or at the Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark. Plan to leave dogs at home or with someone outside the museum during your visit.

Does the Railroaders Memorial Museum offer group tours?

Yes. Groups of at least 10 people qualify for group rates and can be booked Wednesday through Sunday during operating hours. For a Monday or Tuesday, email groups@railroadcity.org and the museum will see if it can help. The same address handles groups that cannot pay by card.

Is there a gift shop at the Railroaders Memorial Museum?

Yes. The museum has a well-stocked gift shop, open until 4 pm on operating days, and an online store on railroadcity.org. Purchases support the museum's work, including projects like K4 No. 1361 and the Penn Central N10 caboose.

Can you see the roundhouse at the Railroaders Memorial Museum?

Yes. The Harry Bennett Memorial Roundhouse has a working 105-foot turntable, indoor bays and outdoor spurs that display the museum's rolling stock. One section is closed to the public to protect stored equipment, and the museum is seeking grants to keep upgrading the building.

Why is Altoona called Railroad City?

Altoona was founded in 1849 and grew around the Pennsylvania Railroad, which finished its western terminal there by 1850. The PRR built or sponsored much of the town's schools, libraries and hotels, and its Altoona shops were called the Standard of the World. Penn Central, Conrail, Norfolk Southern and Amtrak followed.

How can I support the Railroaders Memorial Museum?

You can become a member, sponsor, donor or volunteer, give to the K4 1361 fund or projects like the Penn Central N10 caboose and the World's Fair light restoration, rent the museum for an event, or add a plaque to the memorial wall. Details are under Support on railroadcity.org.

What else is near the Railroaders Memorial Museum?

The Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark and the Altoona Works railroad exhibits are both in Altoona. The Everett Railroad is about 6 miles away, the Gallitzin Tunnels Park and Museum about 8 miles, and the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site about 9 miles.

Keep exploring

More family train guides from Rally

Kelsey Cecil
Previous

Railway Museum of Greater Cincinnati in Covington, Kentucky
Next

Chattanooga Choo Choo Historic Terminal Station, Tennessee