Entertainment, Culture and More

Attention builders: bids will be accepted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of General Services (DGS) for construction of a roundhouse at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania

By Steven Brodsky

This news release was issued by the Friends of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania on February 26, 2025:

Strasburg, Lancaster County, PA — The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC) recently announced the opening of the bid process for contractors to undertake the building of a 16,000 square-foot, six-stall roundhouse at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. Bids will be accepted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of General Services (DGS).

Erdy McHenry Architecture of Philadelphia designed the roundhouse-style exhibit building. The PHMC, the DGS and the Strasburg Township Planning Commission judged the concepts to be in compliance with stated guidelines. 

A major source of inspiration for the new structure was the historic design created in the late 1920s for the Reading Company roundhouse that once stood in Cressona, Pennsylvania. The classic fan-shaped layout also proved to be the best solution to the space constraints in the Museum’s outdoor yard. The roundhouse design will utilize brick, steel and glass, as well as a clerestory-style roof, which maximizes the use of natural lighting. “The design both complements the historical architecture of neighboring Strasburg and relates to the more modern architectural styles already employed here at the Museum,” states Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania director Patrick Morrison. 

“The main purpose of the roundhouse building is to protect and exhibit six historic Pennsylvania Railroad steam locomotives, which have resided outdoors and experienced deterioration due to exposure to the elements.” Morrison adds, “This new climate-controlled space will showcase these historic steam locomotives in the best possible setting. When the time comes and as resources permit, we will be able to remove each one into the Museum’s restoration shop for more extensive preservation work.”

One of the six locomotives, Pennsylvania Railroad E6s Atlantic No. 460, has undergone a comprehensive cosmetic restoration, with significant funds raised by the non-profit Friends of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, and is currently on display inside the Museum’s Rolling Stock Hall. A Ready For The Roundhouse fundraising campaign, spearheaded by the Friends, has already raised more than $250,000 to media blast, paint, stabilize and prepare the B6sb No. 1670, H10s No. 7688, L1s No. 520, K4s No. 3750 and M1b No. 6755 for exhibit in the roundhouse.  

Stabilization work has already been completed on the B6sb No. 1670 and the H10s No. 7688, and has begun on the L1s No. 520. Work on the K4s No. 3750 and the M1b No. 6755 will follow. The full cosmetic restoration of the B6bs No. 1670 is making good progress toward its eventual completion. Stabilization and preservation efforts will continue unabated during the roundhouse construction period, as well as after the structure is complete.

A hard surface, ADA-accessible pathway leading from the Museum will allow visitors to easily access the roundhouse. The interior layout of the facility will provide a safe and adequate space for visitors to view and photograph the exhibits. Additionally, it will feature a climate-controlled environment to aid in visitor comfort and in the long-term preservation of the historic steam locomotives. 

During the construction of the roundhouse, the Museum’s 1928 Reading Company turntable will be completely refurbished and updated to ensure its safe and dependable operation for years to come. The tracks surrounding the turntable will be rebuilt and enhanced safety fencing will be added around the turntable pit. 

“The roundhouse design represents a unique approach to displaying and preserving our collections,” says Morrison. “It is, first and foremost, an exhibit building, and it needs to function in that way for the Museum. It is an innovative solution to the challenge of saving more of our historic artifacts for posterity. We have used the project’s long delay to our advantage in getting the new roundhouse building we both need and want. A lot of hard work has gone into this design, and we are proud of the tremendous efforts of everyone involved. Our members, volunteers, visitors, donors, partners and staff all look forward to the addition of the roundhouse to enhance the experience and heritage of railroading for today’s and future generations.”

A Smithsonian Affiliate, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is home to a world-class collection of more than 100 historic locomotives and railroad cars, a vast research library and archives, an immersive education center, a working restoration shop, distinctive special events and programs and a Museum store. 

The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is one of 14 historic sites and museums administered by the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission as part of the Pennsylvania Trails of History^®, with the active support of the non-profit Friends of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. For more information, visit RRMuseumPA.org or call (717) 687-8628.

Posted 3-10-25

The liquefying of a song character’s emotional state on Christmas Eve

By Steven Brodsky

… parallels weather conditions after he meets an “old lover in the grocery store” in a Dan Fogelberg song that was released as a single in 1980.

You’ll hear this in the song’s final words: “The snow turned into rain.”

For many years, the song has prompted me to recall an old lover of my own; I can’t say that I’d like to have a chance encounter with her in a grocery store or anywhere else.

Pre-Christmas Eve revisits to the song have become a tradition for many of us, myself included.

The tradition continues.

Posted 12-18-24

The speaker in this poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay

By Steven Brodsky

Photo by Steven Brodsky

… expresses that she (the speaker) is very much moved by the beauty of an autumn day: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/51862/gods-world.

Some of us have been cultivating attentiveness to what is taking place this autumn in the natural world.

Attentiveness can transform an ordinary autumn day into an especially beautiful day.

Posted 10-18-24

A peaceful and restorative moment in the wilds

By Steven Brodsky

Photo by Steven Brodsky

This post appeared in the Conversations About Nature section of this column.

Reposted 9-19-24

Thick-skinned

By Steven Brodsky

Thick bark
Photo by Steven Brodsky

I was five or six years old when an old woman sitting on a lawn chair outside of a tenement building asked me, “How would you like it if someone picked at your skin?”

She had seen me trying to pick a fleck of tree bark off of a thickly-barked tree near where she was sitting.

This took place decades ago.

The tree and the old woman are gone.

I miss the tree.

Not the old woman.

Evidence, perhaps, of having developed thick skin.

Posted 8-23-24

No shrinking violet

By Steven Brodsky

… nor wallflower pictured between fence posts:

Photo by Steven Brodsky

The “outgoing” rose brings to mind the experience of shyness and the experience of overcoming shyness.

Posted 7-17-24

A venue for quietude

By Steven Brodsky

Photo by Steven Brodsky

… Words are unnecessary.

Posted 7-12-24

Steven Brodsky hosted a radio show for 3 and a half years. The show focused on coverage of entertainment, the arts, and all manner of culture. He is widely known for his many live on air interviews with guests such as: Rodney Crowell, Charlie Louvin, Richie Havens, Eric Whitacre (composer, conductor), Solomon Burke, Janis Ian, Percy Sledge, Billy Joe Shaver, Jack LaLanne, Gene Shay, Bruce Morrow “Cousin Brucie,” Jerome “Little Anthony” Gourdine, Pat Cooper, Jett Williams (daughter of Hank Williams), Steve Forbert, Chris Smither, Lukas Nelson, Dr. Temple Grandin, Dan Fante, Harold Camping (Harold Camping was the radio broadcaster and Bible teacher who famously proclaimed that Judgment Day and the Rapture would take place on May 21, 2011. Harold Camping passed away on December 15, 2013.), Pulitzer Prize-winning authors, curators, historians, scientists, and newsmakers. He welcomes email.