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About

MISSION STATEMENT

To preserve, honor, and celebrate the contributions of Railroaders throughout Central Pennsylvania.

ADMINISTRATION
  Joseph A. DeFrancesco | Executive Director

Brendan Betts | Director of Operations
 Candy Holliday | Director of Outreach
Matthew Wolff | Curator

STAFF

James "JP" Prough | Funicular Supervisor
Teresa Feathers | Site Supervisor
Jim O'Rourke | Site Supervisor
Derek Sisto | Site Supervisor
Tom Scanlon | Site Assistant
Brittany Betts | Site Assistant
Kailyn Betts | Site Assistant

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Wick Moorman | Chairman
Bennett Levin | Secretary
Mark Ritchey | Treasurer
Joseph A. DeFrancesco | CEO

DIRECTORS

Donald Graab
Jason Lamb
Frank Givler
Matt Pacifico
Todd Hunter
Financial Advisor
Jendy Maines | CPA


Organizational background


Founded in 1980, the Railroaders Memorial Museum was established by Altoona leaders who sought to preserve the accomplishments and legacy of railroaders who founded the city in 1846 and the industry that turned Altoona into a renowned railroad city with over 3 miles of shops, foundries, yards, and Test Plant. The railroad was the heart of the city and its center; businesses, neighborhoods, and life were synchronized to the schedules of trains and work shifts. As the shops and yards expanded, so did the city. A need for a workforce meant an opportunity for immigrants from England, Ireland, Germany, Italy and other minorities to create a melting pot of culture in Railroad City. Altoona supported a network of 26,000 miles with freight cars, passenger cars, and over 17,000 steam locomotives constructed by Altoona workers.  After the steam era, Altoona transitioned its industrial purpose. As a result job reductions and reassignments in the workforce occurred when the steam era ended in 1957. 


The commonwealth of Pennsylvania established a commission to select a home for an official state railroad museum, Altoona was considered; however Strasburg was selected. For local leaders and rail enthusiasts (members of the Horseshoe Curve Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society) it was the decision that ignited a movement to create a railroad museum for Altoona. Grassroots efforts lead to the creation of Railroaders Memorial Museum which opened in 1980. The collection was humble, being formed of collectables of local residents. Privately funded, and privately sanctioned; the Railroaders Memorial Museum obtained its collection organically over the succeeding 43 years. The founders of the museum saw the apex of the Pennsylvania Railroad in the 1930’s and 1940’s to the fall of the industry in 1968 with Penn Central to the rebirth with Consolidated Rail Corporation. They saw the railroad change in a course of a generation and with it the City. To them, the museum was a beacon of hope to celebrate the legacy of railroaders past but also inspire railroaders of today. Showcasing what ordinary people did, how they overcame physical and social barriers to create the backbone of the world’s largest railroad corporation.


The organization outgrew its humble 1980 built exhibit hall and in 1998 opened the restored PRR Master Mechanic’s Office Building on the adjacent land (site of the first PRR shops in Altoona). Built in 1882, this structure was the reflection of the railroad in Altoona. It started as a simple office and stores building for the Altoona Machine Shops, eventually expanded both in length and additional floors, it housed the first test department, railroad police department, engineering, Middle Division headquarters, dispatching, and the C&S department. Today, this building serves a purpose for exhibitions, programs, collections, and museum administrative offices. When opened in 1998 it was the only interactive (displays) railroad museum in the country and has been a source of inspiration for newer museums. 


In the early 1990’s the museum acquired the Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark from the City of Altoona and Conrail to operate the visitor’s center and observation park, this was after a partnership with the National Park Service and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania renovated the site into what it is today. 


The organization acquired 1361 a Pennsylvania Railroad K4s class pacific locomotive in 1987 from Conrail and returned to its brief operation. This opportunity in the 1980’s has established a longing by local residents and enthusiasts for its return to operation. This locomotive has been named “The Spirit of Altoona”. The K4 led to the need for the museum to develop a plan to construct a facility to house and maintain the locomotive and the museum’s rolling stock. The K4’s restoration effort went through phases and when the new Harry Bennett Memorial Roundhouse was complete the project was relocated and then relaunched in 2021. 


Since 2020, a refreshed team of museum professionals and board members have dedicated their efforts to build upon a mandate to preserve and promote the legacy of Central Pennsylvania railroaders past and present.. The organization has developed four core components to fulfill the mandate: Preservation, Promotion, Education, and Engagement. Through these core mandates, the Railroaders Memorial Museum will continue to appeal to tourists, donors, preservationists, educational institutions, and the rail industry by linking past with present. 


Collection's General Information


Archives: 

At present the Collections of the Railroaders Memorial Museum are undergoing relocation. During this time of transition the Archival team is processing through forty years of acquired collections. Evaluating mission appropriateness, condition, and railroader connection. This opportunity allows for the physical space to be rearranged to better maximize available space and optimize the collection’s environment. 


The repository is housed in the Master Mechanic’s Office building which is entirely climate controlled. The collection and archival space is located on the fourth floor of the Master Mechanic’s Office building and is currently the space being reorganized to better accommodate the archives. The space was originally laid out in 1998 when the building was renovated, since then the collections have grown. 


During this process each artifact is being checked for cataloging and cross checked for provenance. This is a very time consuming process and once complete, the archival team will begin digitizing the collection database. Objects will be photographed with prints, documents, negatives, and film being scanned. The digital archive will be housed on a professional museum software platform that offers online accessibility for research. 


The goal is to minimize long-term handling and exposure to light in general. Some paper documents such as blueprints are in poor condition due to the composition of the material. We feel it is vital to digitally preserve the content because the material will continue to degrade naturally. The same goes for slides, negatives, film, or other mediums. 


The goal once digitized is to have a working partnership with related repositories and institutions so that each can cross reference collections. If a researcher goes to one site that site can then forward a request to the partnering organizations to find the requested item or subject. 


While the archives are under redevelopment inquiries can be made to our archivist who will be able to conduct research on behalf of the researcher. When the archives are digitized research will be conducted online and by request. 


Rolling Stock:


Much of the rolling stock is viewable from around the roundhouse complex. There are several tracks around the former RF&P Potomac Yard Bethlehem turntable built in 1923, which is operable. There are additional pieces of equipment stored in the roundhouse that are inaccessible by the public but can be accessed via an appointment. The roundhouse does have a public viewing area where visitors can view the Memorial Wall plaques and observe from a safe distance the restoration area where currently K4 1361 and the Penn Central cabin car is being restored. The museum does offer guided tours of the rolling stock and restoration shop areas by scheduling in advance. 

Collections


Rolling Stock


Locomotives:

PRR K4: 1361 4-6-2

PRR GP9: 7048

PRR GG1: 4913

CR, NS, RMM SD60i: PSU 2020 

AEP, RMM GE 45 Tonner: 5 Berwind White Coal Company: Nancy 0-4-0


Freight Cars:

PRR N5 Cabin Car 477577

PRR N5 Cabin Car 477802

Penn Central N10 Cabin Car 

PRR Ore Jenny 501273 

PRR X29 2136

PRR FD2 470245

PRR F30a 473908

PRR R50b 2561

REA Refrigerator Car 7375

NS Horseshoe Curve 150th Boxcar 658265


Passenger Equipment:

PRR Broadway Limited Observation Car: 

Mountain View

PRR D78FR Dining Car 4468

PRR Pullman Solarium Observation: Union League Club 

PRR B60b 9004

PRR B60b 9055

PRR BM70m 6571

PRR BM70n: Robert E. Hannagan 5239


Vehicles: 

Railway Express Agency 1940 Delivery Truck

Conrail Marplex 


Historic Structures: 

PRR, PC, CR, NS: Alto Tower 

PRR, PC, CR, NS: Horseshoe Curve Signal Bridge

PRR, PC, CR: Master Mechanics Office Building 
PRR: Crossing Shanty from Huntingdon, PA. 


Archival 


Photos: 

PRR: Company Photos

PRR, PC, CR, NS: Various photo slides from numerous photographers covering Central PA. 

PRR: Several William H. Rau prints. 


Film: 

Various films from the 1940s through the 1970s of railfanning in the Altoona area. 


Paintings: 

J1 West on Horseshoe Curve: Grift Teller 1986

K4 East on Horseshoe Curve: 

Grift Geller 1977

Spirit of Altoona: Joseph W. Woltcheck 1987

PRR Tug Boat: Robert L. Hunt 1996

PRR East Altoona: Robert L. Hunt 1997

PRR GG1 at night by T. Hollobaugh 1980

PRR K4 1361 on Main by S. Tremmel

Pride of Altoona by J. Craig Thorpe

PRR Altoona Station at night 1900 by Johnston 1989

PRR M1 by T.M. Davis 1930


Blue Prints and Tracings:

PRR, PC, CR: Various equipment, structures, track charts, and real estate prints dating to the 1870s through 1950s. Large Collection


Employee Records: 
Altoona Works Employee Records from 1890 through 1980: Company Files.
RMM Call Board: Visitor/Contributor based Railroader database. 


Objects: 

Hand Tools, watches, safety gear, textiles, electronics, patterns, test equipment, communication equipment, PRR, CR ID badges, lanterns, china, silverware, PRR policemen objects, PRR athletic artifacts, and print objects: timetables, advertisements, calendar prints, pamphlets. 


Library: 

PRR Test plant reference books, industry periodicals, The Pennsy Magazine, Penn Central Post, CR’s Mechanically Speaking, PRR, PC, CR technical reference books, PRR, PC, CR, historical reference books, various publications, PRR corporate histories, local NRHS newsletters. 


Oral History 

From 1988 through 1998 the museum interviewed 100’s of railroaders from the Altoona area asking questions about life, work, and memorable moments. The repository consists of transcripts, audio recordings, and video recordings. 


Memorial Program

Memorial Wall: Patrons can purchase plaques to have engraved, years of service, jobs, and railroads served. Located in the Roundhouse. 


Equal Opportunity Employer


The Railroaders Memorial Museum is fully committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action.

To ensure that all employees and applicants for employment are provided Equal Employment Opportunity, the Authority will:

  • Recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, national origin, or veteran status. 
  • Base decisions of employment to further the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity .
  • Ensure that promotion decisions are in accordance with principles of Equal Opportunity by imposing only valid requirements for promotional opportunities
  • Ensure that all other personnel actions such as compensation, benefits, transfers, layoffs, return from layoff, company sponsored training, education, tuition assistance, social and recreational programs will be administered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, national origin, or veteran status.

 

Equal Opportunity is the responsibility of the entire RMM workforce. All employees are responsible for complying with the spirit and intent of this policy. All administrators are required to become familiar with the contents of the Affirmative Action Plan and take an active role in implementing its policies and practices. 


Nondiscrimination Statement


The Railroaders Memorial Museum values diversity and seeks talented staff and volunteers with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. RMM does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class status in the administration of employment or volunteer practices.


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