My favorite is the Illinois Railroad museum. Huge collection of vintage railroad equipment, including a variety of old passenger car sleepers, diners plus a 7 mile track where they run trains like the Burlington Zephyr. When we were there we caught the demonstration of the mail car pickup of mail bags on the fly. They even allowed us into the mail car to see them put out the hook and witness the process.
Second favorite Tie : Pennsylvania Railroad Museum Strasburg that has a good amount of restored/repainted equipment indoors but no running trains that you can ride and Steamtown, Scranton, PA. where vintage equipment is all over, train rides are not always long but on trolley days you can take a 10 mile journey. Lackawanna Station (now a hotel) is close by. You can have lunch there.
Third B & O railroad Museum in Baltimore. Nice collection, roundhouse, stations and lots of trains indoor and outdoor. Features historical B & O equipment but only a very short train ride.
