New Meets Old at Railway Museum This Weekend

New technology has been added to this year’s “Trains, Trucks & Tractors” weekend Aug. 4-5 at the in Duluth. A next-generation electric vehicle and charging station, courtesy of Siemens, will be featured along with vintage trains, antique tractors, and early and modern-day trucks.

“Transportation technology is in an important transition stage right now,” said Museum Administrator Randy Pirkle in a press release announcing the weekend festival. “Part of our job as a museum is to show people how transportation changes over time.”

“We’re very proud to be able to partner with Siemens to show this cutting-edge technology to the public. It stands as both a remarkable contrast and a rational ‘next step’ when seen next to recent-model trucks and the vintage vehicles folks expect to find at the museum. It’s worth remembering, too, that the steam locomotives and other antiques on display were the cutting-edge transportation technology of their day.”

The weekend festival is an annual event at the museum. In addition to the museum’s extensive collection of rail equipment and other transportation artifacts, the festival adds numerous limited time exhibits and demonstrations.

Included this year, in addition to the Siemens electric vehicle and charger, are vehicles from UPS, antique tractors, and both antique and modern trucks.

Festival activities include children’s crafts, temporary tattoos, and hayrides, as well as rides on a vintage train. Food and drink will be available for visitors.

In operation since 1970, the Southeastern Railway Museum is Georgia’s Official Transportation History Museum. Occupying a 35-acre site, the museum’s collection includes about 90 pieces of railroad rolling stock, including historic locomotives, passenger and freight cars, and maintenance vehicles.

Also on display are historic automobiles, firefighting equipment, and buses from MARTA and its predecessors.

The museum varies its hours seasonally beause many of the exhibits are outdoors. For current days and hours, exhibits and educational programs, visit the museum website at www.SoutheasternRailwayMuseum.org.