ORM Steam Roster
The Ohio Railway Museum, located in the Columbus suburb of Worthington, was at one time the premier railroad museum of the Midwest. Started in 1948, ORM grew quickly and by 1960 it rostered a number of beautifully restored interurban cars, electric locomotives and streetcars, plus a running Erie Railroad motor car and two operating steam locomotives (Norfolk & Western 4-6-2 578 was steamed up nearly every Sunday afternoon, pulling three matching heavyweights over the museum’s 1.5 miles of track – the former Columbus, Delaware & Marion Electric). ORM’s first thirty years were very successful, but the past forty-five years have been challenging, to say the least. The story is complex, but poor decisions in the 1970s and 1980s, plus a lack of maintenance, has left the collection in disrepair. Today, as the ORM celebrates its 75th year, there is a small but dedicated group of volunteers that are diligently working to right the wrongs of the past. An interurban car, former Ohio Public Service Company 64 (G. C. Kuhlman, 1924) returned to operation a few years ago, and there is also a 65-ton GE in service. An original Columbus streetcar, 703, is under restoration where the ORM carbarn used to stand. There is a lot of work to do, and the volunteers have an uphill battle, but judging by the people I met during my visit, they will get there.
ORM Steam Roster
The Ohio Railway Museum, located in the Columbus suburb of Worthington, was at one time the premier railroad museum of the Midwest. Started in 1948, ORM grew quickly and by 1960 it rostered a number of beautifully restored interurban cars, electric locomotives and streetcars, plus a running Erie Railroad motor car and two operating steam locomotives (Norfolk & Western 4-6-2 578 was steamed up nearly every Sunday afternoon, pulling three matching heavyweights over the museum’s 1.5 miles of track – the former Columbus, Delaware & Marion Electric). ORM’s first thirty years were very successful, but the past forty-five years have been challenging, to say the least. The story is complex, but poor decisions in the 1970s and 1980s, plus a lack of maintenance, has left the collection in disrepair. Today, as the ORM celebrates its 75th year, there is a small but dedicated group of volunteers that are diligently working to right the wrongs of the past. An interurban car, former Ohio Public Service Company 64 (G. C. Kuhlman, 1924) returned to operation a few years ago, and there is also a 65-ton GE in service. An original Columbus streetcar, 703, is under restoration where the ORM carbarn used to stand. There is a lot of work to do, and the volunteers have an uphill battle, but judging by the people I met during my visit, they will get there.