It's official: As a result of a reorganization announced by CSX Transportation Inc., Baltimore will cease to function as a headquarters city for a major railroad for the first time since the 1827 founding of the Baltimore & Ohio.

The memories linger on, however, as new generations of train buffs take a renewed interest in Baltimore's role as the home of this nation's first commercial railroad. Many of them make a regular pilgrimage to the B&O; Railroad Museum at Mount Clare, which remains one of America's premiere depositories of railroad memorabilia.

Recently, the museum has sponsored popular day-trips in period trains. More innovations are planned. With the opening of the new Orioles baseball stadium nearby, things are looking up.