The Brunswick community due to its location and proximity to large areas like the City of Baltimore as well as the District of Columbia has many local attractions that are just a day trip away. One of these attractions is the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum.
Founded in 1953 by the Baltimore and Ohio railroad (B&O), the museum would hold some of the railroad’s oldest engines on display for the public. The museum would continue to operate following the merger of the (B&O) with the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad (C&O) which would form the Chessie System.
The museum would continue running as a department of the Chessie System until its merger with the Seaboard Central to create CSX Transportation (CSXT) in 1980. (CSXT) would operate the museum until 1990 when the museum was split off as a non-profit.
Today the museum is a non-profit organization with a board of directors as well as volunteers who help keep the historic locomotives alive through restoration and public education. Things are looking bright for the museum with the 200th anniversary of American railroading and a renovation on the horizon.
One of the most unique features of the museum is the wide variety of motive power showcased there. Visitors can view steam, diesel as well as some electric locomotives. There are also many locomotives and car manufacturers. They vary from Electro Motive Division (EMD), to American Locomotive Company (ALCO), to General Electric (GE) and even the Pullman Car Company.
In addition to the exhibits and many pieces of history on display, the railroad also has The Mile One Express which is a tourist train that uses historic rail equipment built in the 1940s and 1950s pulled by a historic diesel locomotive. The route covers the first mile of track built by the (B&O). After reaching the end of the mile stretch, the train turns around heading back to the museum. On the way back though, the train makes a brief stop at the President Train Station which is a small platform conveniently located by the the former Baltimore Police Mounted Police stables, which up until the end of 2025 would stop there for visitors to experience a tour of the facilities.
Many visitors including some Brunswick High School (BHS) students put an emphasis on the ride, like sophomore Ethan Maldonado, who loves the trip on a local train.
“My favorite part of the experience was defensively the train ride,” Maldonado said.
Some of the museum’s most favorite motor power includes the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad No.490. Built in 1926 by (ALCO) it served the railroad for many years before receiving a rebuild in 1946 where it was given the streamlined look we see today. The locomotive served on many routes for the (C&O) passenger and freight.
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad No.51. Built in 1937, the locomotive would serve on some of the (B&O)’s most predestine routes such as the capitol limited which would run through Brunswick Md. The locomotive would continue to serve the B&O even after passenger service was dissolved pulling freight and executive trains before being donated to the museum and undergoing a full restoration.
Domino Sugar Refinery No.50 is another favorite of museum visitors. Built in 1950 by Plymouth Locomotive Works, the locomotive was acquired by Domino Sugar in 1992. The locomotive would be named “Sweet Toot” by the public and would be painted by Domino Sugar in its unique paint scheme. The locomotive would serve Domino Sugar until 2019 when it was donated to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum.
The museum has even more unique and historic pieces on there website with a great deal of history and records. To access them visit https://www.borail.org/explore-learn/collections/locomotives-rolling-stock/.
