Hays T. Watkins Research Library, dedicated to the history and preservation of American railroading

Hays T. Watkins Research Library 

Established in 1991, the B&O Railroad Museum’s Hays T. Watkins Research Library & Archives is dedicated to the history and preservation of American railroading, emphasizing the legacy of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and other significant railroads located in the region, such as the Western Maryland Railway, the Chessie System, and CSX Transportation. The bulk of the research library holdings document the history of the B&O Railroad from its beginnings in 1827 to the 1970s and place the history of the B&O in the broad context of social, cultural, political, and economic trends in the United States of America.  


Hours 

The Research Library is open Monday-Friday from 10 AM-3 PM by appointment only. Please complete the Researcher Registration Form to begin your research or to schedule a visit. 


Contact Information 

Email: Research@BORail.org 

Research & Donation Line: 443-627-2375 

Explore Other Areas of the Collection

Only at the B&O

Did You Know?

The United States Military Railroad was the first US government agency to hire African Americans.

Kristina R.
November 2024

This was such an awesome experience! The trains inside were phenomenal and all very well kept. But we went ahead and did the train ride also and that was just icing on the cake! This is a great experience for kids, teens, and adults like myself.

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