Have any of you ever had the opportunity to visit a railway museum? No, I’m not one of them. The thought of being caught between railway cars or getting your head jammed between the train cars is probably the last thing on your mind. It’s not quite correct, to be honest. Actually, there is such a thing as a pretty wonderful train museum, and guess what? It is situated here in Paducah! A fantastic read.

 

The exterior of the home was renovated and reconfigured in order to accommodate the placement of refrigerated vehicles near the unloading doors. For many more years, the structure was responsible for a significant volume of train freight. It was necessary to utilize the Paducah freight house as a cross-dock loading and distribution center for shipping produce from growing regions to wholesale clients over a four-state area. Changing railroad rules for perishable freight industry, as well as new trends in the food distribution sector, prompted the majority of produce enterprises to transition to huge refrigerated trucks by the middle of 1980. When the P & L removed the lead tracks from the former L & N yards at 6th and Norton St. in 1992, the building became “land-locked” due to a lack of business, the building became “land-locked.”

 

Charles and Carolyn Simpson purchased the property from the Johnstons and Backus in 1993, after they had retired from the business. They restored the warehouse and turned it into a big antique mall. A portion of rooms on the second level of the freight building was improved by the Simpsons because of their interest in railroad history, and the National Railway Historical Society was given free use of the space to serve as a train museum.

 

For the management of the Paducah, Kentucky Railroad Museum, the Paducah Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society is responsible. The new building, located at 2nd and Washington Streets, is a half-block away from the historic NC & St L (Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis) Railway Freight Depot, which dates back to the late 1800s. Opening its doors for the first time in the spring of 1996, the museum later moved to its present location at the corner of 2nd and Washington Streets in 2004. The Paducah Chapter meets at the Museum meeting room on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. The chapter is open to everybody. The public is invited to attend the meeting. The museum welcomes visitors at any time of day or night.

 

Take my word for it that this museum is unlike any other, but don’t take it from me. One feature that distinguishes the Paducah Railroad Museum from other railroad museums is the presence of a cab simulator. The Paducah Railroad Museum provides visitors with the opportunity to have hands-on experience operating a train.

Oo-Choo-Choo, that’s the sound of a steam engine chugging along! Kchoo, kchoo, kchoo-kchoo! You are cordially welcomed to spend some time with us here at the Paducah Railroad Museum. We’re situated in the heart of downtown, where you can learn about the history of railways in and around our city. Please visit the museum, disembark from your train, and spend a few hours learning about and seeing the facility. Bring the whole family, prepare a picnic lunch, and bring your camera for some amazing photographs of old trains! They are only open by appointment, so make a date with your friends and family! Up next is The Shawnee National Forest >>>