The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania has announced that in addition to regular interpretation of the museum's rolling stock, visitor services staff will expand programming with a consistent schedule this summer, allowing guests to plan their visits around recurring programs. The schedule of recurring programs will run from Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7.

A daily 15-minute orientation tour will be available at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. The tours will be subject to staff and volunteer availability on Saturdays and will not be available on Sundays. Depending on visitation volume and interest, group sizes may be limited. During the tours, which will depart from the museum's lobby and traverse the observation bridge, a trained guide will share information about the history of the museum, the museum's collection, and what equipment may be available for guests to step inside. The guide will also answer any questions regarding the museum or its collection. The tours are free with museum admission.

Tours of the museum's restoration shop will be available on Thursdays at noon and Sundays at 1 p.m., and they will depart from the museum lobby. During the 60-minute tours, a trained guide will tell visitors about the process of restoration, what it takes to successfully restore historical equipment, the plans for future restoration, and previously completed restoration projects. Visitors will get an up-close view of the current projects, as well as a peek into the outdoor yard, subject to weather conditions. The tours are restricted to visitors age 12 and over, and group sizes are limited. The tours are available for a fee separate from museum admission.

Outdoor yard tours will be available daily and are free with admission. They will depart from the museum lobby. Due to the ongoing construction of the museum's new roundhouse, access to the outdoor yard is currently restricted. To provide access to the yard for visitors, staff members and volunteers have been trained to provide escorted tours within the accessible area of the yard. The tours will vary in length and will typically last between 15 and 20 minutes. Tours are subject to the availability of both staff and volunteers, as well as the conditions of the yard and the weather. The museum recommends calling in advance to inquire about tour times and availability.

A new weekly program, Trackside Chats: A Lecture Series, will be offered on Fridays at 1:30 p.m. and is free with admission. A member of the visitor services department will host a 15- to 20-minute presentation on one of the museum's locomotives or railroad cars. The presentation will discuss the equipment's history; how it helped in transforming Pennsylvania and America in terms of connecting people, moving goods, or innovation; any cultural relevance today; and additional insights or stories connected to the piece. Visitors should ask a staff member where the location of the presentation will be each week.

For more information, visit http://www.rrmuseumpa.org or call 717-687-8628.