I discovered that building or working on railroads required and probably still requires some serious muscle. As I held a few heavy antique tools in my hands, I could almost imagine what it must have been like to be out in the hot Texas sun working on a railroad with grit under my nails, straining muscles, and looking around at the treeless desert that was San Angelo, Texas in the late 1800's and early 1900's.
There was a case showing off the china that was decorated according to the train it belonged on. There was even an old menu listing what was available for those in the ritzier portion of the train. 45 cents for a cup of coffee. For those not traveling first class, there was an old refrigerator in which you put ice at the top and your food at the bottom.
Upstairs, orginally the headquarters of the Texas branch of the KCM&O, are several elaborate model trains. One was a model of Coleman, Texas and another was a model of a portion of the KCM&O down in Mexico where they built a monument from the remains of a train wreck. This monument is built up into the side of a hill/mountain and is made up of several train cars stacked on top of each other. I have to say, I think Hannah liked the model trains the best. Her little legs started wiggling when a train would come zooming past her and she would reach out, desperately wanting freedom to rain terror on small model cities and the little trains running around them.
The final portion of our museum trip included climbing onto real train cars and engines. Despite the heat, we had a marvelous time and took quite a few pictures.
If you're interested in the museum, I encourage you to check out their website at http://railwaymuseumsanangelo.homestead.com/index.html
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| This was a replica of an actual train that a man made and rode around in on his ranch. |
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