WORTHINGTON, Ohio — The Ohio Railway Museum was founded in 1948, which, backers say, makes it among the oldest railroad museums in the country.
The museum officially incorporated on Aug. 22, 1950, and operates over the former Columbus, Delaware, and Marion Railway right-of-way. The interurban electric railroad operated passenger and freight service from 1903 until it declared bankruptcy in 1933.
The museum is home to a collection of historic locomotives and rolling stock.
Ohio Public Service Interurban Car No. 21 is the first car the museum received. Built in 1905 by the Niles Car and Manufacturing Company in Niles, Ohio, in Northeast Ohio, the car is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Arguably the centerpiece of the museum’s exhibits is Norfolk & Western No. 578. American Locomotive Company built this 4-6-2 “Pacific” E2a steam locomotive built in March 1910 and is said to be one of the last surviving E2a locomotives built for the Norfolk and Western Railway Co.
The museum was previously known as the Central Ohio Railfan’s Association, according to records from the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office.
The photos in this gallery were taken on Sept. 4, 2011.
