Overall: great museum, super inclusive restrooms, lots to do and learn for all ages, lots of indoor and outdoor spaces, worth the price, kind employees My 1 year old was free. We went on a day with a Lego event and paid $20 per adult and $12 for our 4 year old and I found there was plenty to do for a morning and it felt worth the cost. We had been to a Trolley Museum and the B&O Museum in old Ellicott City and this was way better than either of those. There was plenty to explore for at least half of a day. For super young kids there was a kids indoor area and a small outdoor playground. There were tons of model trains, small and medium, indoor and outdoor. I would definitely go to this museum on days where it isn't raining because there is just as much to do outside as there is inside. They have tons of full size trains. You can explore the inside of some of them and they have different themes and things you can learn about. The Lego event we went to was super simple and run really well. All the kids were being super creative and persistent and having a blast building cars and racing them down a large ramp. We will definitely be back at some point. read more

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Very interesting museum and great train display! Enjoyed visiting and learning about the history of trains and how they shaped the American economy, social and business practices. read more

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Kids love it, adults enjoy it: fantastic little museum that caters to toddlers running around and older train aficionados alike. There's a nice play area with toy trains and train books for kids. There's the ride and lil' playground outside, and of course the miniature trains that roll around the tracks much to the children's delight. We went on dollar day and it was well worth it. I'd pay full price for this type of museum and entertainment. Lots of good history things to read as well. read more

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Got tickets here because my kid loves trains and as a museum , it's great. Incredible train displays and was pleasantly surprised by a special black history exhibit in one of the rooms. But for kids, I would almost say this is a miss. You can only go on a couple of the display trains and the train ride was a total disappointment. I appreciated the history but I would not consider this kid friendly. read more

The multi person, multi stall gender bathrooms create confusion, and discomfort for the many families that attend events here. I witnessed and experienced this personally with my family when we attended the polar express Christmas event. We will not be coming back. Women and female children should not be forced into sharing a bathroom with men. There should be a men's room, a women's room and an all gender bathroom which would create a space where everyone can be comfortable. read more

Today, I took my son and niece to the Mile One Express for Ice Cream Sundays, an event I discovered on Yelp. My son had been excitedly talking about trains and saying "choo choo" all week, so this seemed like the perfect activity. We boarded the Mile One Express and enjoyed a variety of ice cream treats, including Oreo bars, nutty buddy ice cream cones, popsicles, and ice cream cups. It was a delightful way to beat the heat. After indulging in our tasty sundaes, we toured the museum and let the children explore. They had a fantastic time, making it a great, inexpensive Sunday outing. Museum Admission: Adults: $20 Seniors (60+): $17 Children (2-12): $12 Discounts: $10 Admission Days: Second Wednesdays (check calendar for dates) Museums For All (with EBT or SNAP Card): $3 total for up to four family members Active Duty Military, Police, Firefighters, and CSX Employees (with ID):Free Military Veterans, Retired Police, and Firefighters (with ID):$3 off admission Maryland Teachers (with ID):Free Overall, the event was enjoyable and well worth the visit. The kids had a blast, and we appreciated the affordable admission options. read more

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This museum is so fun. The main building has a bunch of railroad history and a whole room full of model trains. The real star is the their giant, round, gazebo-like building that houses the historic train cars. It is a gorgeous space that has a rotating train track in the middle to move the trains around. It is very special. You can walk through a number of the train cars and touch all of the levers and buttons, which is very fun. Oh, and you can take a train ride. In addition to being a museum, it also does a ton of fun events, from a big Christmas experience for kids, to more historic lectures. This is a great place for kids and adults. read more

I had an amazing time visiting the B&O Railroad Museum with my partner. He works for an NGO that advocates for better public transportation so we had a fun time nerding out over the engineering of these trains. My favorite part of this museum was all the train models. I didn't think I was one to geek out over these, but I found myself screaming AWWW more than once and following the model trains as they moved. This museum is HUGE! I'd say we only did 40%. I got to see three train models and my favorite one was inside an actual train cart. I loved the exhibits within the train carts. My favorite was the dining cart. I loved seeing all the vintage dining ware. This is a hands-on museum. It was fun being able to tinker with things in one of the steam engines. I also adore how inclusive this museum is. They have gender neutral restrooms and offer monthly sensory nights. The tickets aren't cheap, but I'd highly recommend visiting if you like that sort of thing. They also host very cute birthday parties. We passed the birthday train cart and were obsessed with how cute it was. read more

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Learned a lot of the history regarding trains and Baltimore. How things advanced overtime and seeing some of the decommissioned trains was awesome as well read more

B&O Railroad Museum - Museums Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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The Polar Express I enjoyed the polar express exhibit at the B&O railroad museum. I like that the kids were able to enjoy the museum following the train ride. My daughter loved looking at the trains. I do feel they could clean the outside of the museum to make it more inviting for the event as well as better decorations it was very basic for the price you pay this whole experience should be magical.... Outside of the special event the space is very packed with history and information. I want to bring my daughter back when it's warmer and solely for the museum so we can spend the time focused on the exhibits .... The employees were all very pleasant. read more

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The only miniature train exhibit is broken. You can only see inside a few trains. Mostly DO NOT TOUCH walking around old trains. Disappointed. My 4 year old train enthusiast wanted to leave within 20 mins. read more

Loved this museum. Lots of onsite free parking, we arrived early and had a nice time walking around the old rolling stock adjacent to the parking lot. The building itself is beautiful, the old Mount Clare Station and it's old roundhouse along with some of the shops. The tour prices were reasonable, It came to around $56 with discounts for two kids and two adults. We also bought first class tickets for a train ride that came to $32. There were some nice exhibit areas as you first come in with interesting historical information. You can see an HO scale layout with models of famous sites in Baltimore, read about the Mt Clare Station being part of the underground railroad network and browse around the inside of an old train station .... Of course my three year old wanted to go right into the round house and see the trains! Steam engines greet and surround you in the round house. My sons spent most of their time pretending to drive one of the locomotives that you are allowed access to the controls. The cars located outside of the round house were full of information. I've never seen a dynamometer car before, but they have one and the kids really enjoyed hanging out in the caboose. The old passenger car works building had even more trains including some gorgeous streamlined locomotives. They had the nicest staff and clean updated bathrooms. The train ride was fund and although the scenery isn't the greatest, you are riding on what is considered the most historic mile of railroad track in the US. The first class car was roomy and clean and they provided a drink and bag of chips/pretzels to each passenger. On the way out I bought my youngest a wooden B&O replica locomotive for his collection from the giftshop and we called it a day. If your a railfan or hanging out in Baltimore, make this museum part of your trip!! read more

B&O Railroad Museum - Inside the old passenger car works - Museums Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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I have been to B&O a couple times for a few different experiences and each time it's been unique and fun. The first time I did a self guided tour and kind of wandered on my own just reading placards and looking at things. Then I went for a breakfast and the food was great and it came with an abbreviated tour of the Underground Railroad area. They also have really fun events like the Taste and Tour that have a guided tour of a few areas and tied them with food and drink along with a ride on the first mile of commercial track. All that to say anyway you want to experience the B&O it will be a great experience! read more

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This was my first time here and it was to attend the Crab Festival. It was nice to see the train collection, but did not get a chance to take a tour because of the festival. They do have a covered shelter for events which is pictured. read more

B&O Railroad Museum - Band playing at the CrabFest - Museums Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

This was my first time visiting the B&O Railroad Museum. I didn't expect much, I thought I would be in and out. This museum is absolutely incredible, especially for kids. They have so many engaging activities, we stayed until they closed. There are so many trains to see up close in person, exhibits, a cafe and a play area. The kids were fully engaged and entertained the entire visit. My favorite exhibit was the Underground Railroad, the kids loved the Henry Box Brown and the Ellen and William Craft stories to freedom. The asked to come back. I would check the museum's event schedule to check out any upcoming activities. They were doing train rides when we stopped by. Prices are good, $20 for adults $12 for kids and there is plenty of parking. I highly recommend if you are looking for an engaging weekend activity with the family. read more

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Over the years, I've been to a variety of train museums, and enjoyed them all. Usually there are one or two nice locomotives, and a variety of rolling stock, typically whatever kinds of specialty cars that were used locally. The B&O is another thing altogether - it is pretty much the birthplace of railroading in this country, and the collection here is magnificent - they have locomotives that are veterans of action in the Civil War, and examples of every type of steam locomotive that I've ever heard of. Standing in the center of the roundhouse and looking at the history literally surrounding you is an extraordinary experience. A wide variety of specialized rolling stock can be wandered through on platforms outside, and the massive maintenance shed contains spectacular newer locomotives that are in the process of being restored. Model railroads can be found in multiple places, including an HO replica of downtown Baltimore, and exploring side corridors in the roundhouse leads to things like an amazing display of railroad clocks. This museum is on the scale of visiting the Baseball Hall of Fame - it is vastly bigger and more impressive than any similar content that you'll find anywhere else. Getting to stand next to a massive 2-6-6-6 Allegheny is an experience you will not forget. read more

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My friend told me about this railroad museum. We came and were pleasantly surprised. There were many trains on display, both indoor and outdoor. We went inside some of the trains, including the first refrigerated one. It's amazing to learn about the birthplace of American railroad, transportation, and technology changes over the years. The connection between railroad and the industrial revolution. It's a fun museum. I came just one hour before closing, I wish I had more time. I probably missed the guided tours if there were any. read more

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Went to this museum for a party and it was just awesome ! Really awesome place .. inside was super cool. Lots of engines and nice photo ops . Parking was good outside ... acoustics Inside the hall was challenging but it sounded great . Nice restroom facilities. There are also some rails outside .. loved it overall. read more

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We've been to a few train museums, but this is def a fave. My 3 year old was amazed. They have so many trains and a cute kids section! Def go during the time when they offer train rides! You can ride the first track ever laid down in the US. Not a super scenic route since it's not a good part of Baltimore, but you're able to stop and visit the police horses. The staff was friendly. It was very clean. There is free parking as well, it's worth the money! read more

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The museum is an absolute treasure. The trains are enormous and informative. The facilities are well maintained and thoughtfully arranged. I went to a party and I cannot recommend this event space if you have an opportunity to book it. Whether you are a child or adult, this is a worthwhile experience! John, on the team, is a superstar. read more

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I used to live across the street from this museum for 2 years and never visited. I've lived in the general area for 8+ years and still never checked out this museum. Then in the past 3 weeks, I've been 2x and I have to say, this place is pretty cool! Since I've been for events recently, I've not perused the museum as well as I would like, but I've been in the main indoor area with the rotating floor. I've peered inside the train cabins and looked up at the amazing ceiling. The outdoor space is nice as well. The events I attended were mostly held under the covered space behind the museum. All the views from there are spectacular. I'm glad I was finally able to go, but next time, I want to be there to learn all I can about the trains. read more

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Bottom Line: A Smithsonian Affiliate museum focused on the B&O railroad and trains with great artifacts largely housed in a historic roundhouse. As a train enthusiast I really like the B&O Railroad Museum. This is one of those places that I have to use self-control to not excitedly skip from the car to the entry. The heart of the museum is the circa 1880s roundhouse. The volume of this historic building is as impressive as its contents. The 22-sided roundhouse was originally built for working on passenger cars but today it is the home of various locomotives, passenger cars, mail cars, rolling stick, stage coaches and such. Beyond the roundhouse there are various other indoor and outdoor exhibits about railroad related topics. My most recent visit was to see the newly restored circa 1930s B&O diesel-electric No. 51 locomotive. I have a fairly extensive collection of model trains and this B&O loco is similar to one of my most favorite model locomotives (an early 1940s B&O diesel-electric A-B-A combo). Part of me wanted to hug the beautifully restored No. 51 but as a rule follower I kept my hands to myself! Here are some of my favorite characteristic and exhibits at the B&O Railroad Museum: - The 22-bay, beautifully restored, 135+ old roundhouse inclusive of its working turn table - The newly restored 1930s B&O diesel-electric No. 51 locomotive - The Ma & Pa #35 Railroad Post Office (RPO) car and the videos that plays inside about using the mail catcher and sorting the mail on the road. I love that video! - The New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore Royal Blue passenger car. It's a pretty blue with some lovely ornate details on the doors and inside. If only Amtrak was that glamorous today. - The collection of B&O china. I would love one of those divided grill plates. - Some great books in the gift shop. The B&O Railroad Museum is one of three Smithsonian Affiliate museums in Baltimore. As a Smithsonian Affiliate the B&O Railroad Museum and the Smithsonian Institution collaborate, share artifacts, and such. (The other affiliates being the National Museum of Dentistry and Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture.) My two most recent visits to the B&O Railroad Museum were right before the COVID shutdown in early 2020 and again in February 2021. For those wanting to explore during the pandemic, I found this museum a great choice. The huge roundhouse makes it easy to social distance and there are outdoor exhibits. Aside from the B&O diesel-electric No. 51 locomotive, the other thing that was new to me on my most recent trip was the open-door, multi-stall, all gender bathrooms. The museum has their own parking lot which is very convenient and parking is included in the price of admission. Baltimore often gets a bad rap but there is some great history and culture in the city and the B&O Railroad Museum is certainly an example of that. read more

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I was surprised by how good this museum was for my kids! I went with my dad and my 2 kids for one of the Christmas train rides. The holiday decorations were very nicely done, and the museum itself has way more in it than I expected. Just fyi, if you're going to do one of their train rides, read the fine print carefully. The ride was just a mile out in an industrial area, and then coming back. Still nice to go out on the train, but my older child was disappointed that it wasn't more extensive or scenic. We will definitely be back as the kids get older. This is fun, educational, and a great way to spend a few hours on a rainy day. read more

This was much better than I expected. Great place to go. There are a lot of a trains and well displayed.

Came here for the polar express experience. We had silver tickets. I will say it is expensive about $80 per person but it was a really good experience. My kid loved the whole thing. Even waiting in line was fun. They had a dance floor and tables with stuff to buy. We had tickets at 230. We waited for about 30 minutes before things began. They had excerpts from the polar express and then some live action to invite the everyone all aboard the train. On the train was a blast. They had 3 crewman in our car who were really entertaining. They passed out hot chocolate and cookies. They danced to Christmas songs and were very friendly. The train took off and they started to play an audio of the polar express and the crewman walked around with really big Polar express books to see the pictures. Santa Claus also comes out and gives everyone a silver bell and also comes around to take photos. When the train ride is done, you can go into the museum and they have additional Christmas stuff going on. All in all a great experience!!! read more

Fun for a two year old and grandparents. The inside is clean. Some parts have air conditioning. The train was fun. We paid extra for that first class seat and got to sit in the first train which was a lot of fun. read more

My son and I visited for a special event, Day Out with Thomas. He loved seeing all of the large trains in the roundhouse as well as walking through the outside trains. Some of the trains inside you could go into and sit in the driver's seat. The inside activities for kids were limited to a train table, ring toss, and books. There were not enough toys for the number of kids. Outside was the majority of the event. While it was mostly photo ops, there was an opportunity to ride on "Thomas". It was a really old train-believe it is the oldest operating track in the country. There were also two rides-a tame blue train and a ride similar to the magic carpet ride at amusement parks. If you drive to the museum the parking is free! I believe parts of the museum were closed off for this event, so I would love an opportunity to return and check out those areas in the future! read more

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Note: this review relates to their Polar Express Christmas experience. I have never enjoyed a holiday activity more. My brother, my nephew's mom, and I took my nephew to the polar express on a Thursday during the 7 PM slot. When we arrived, parking was a bit removed from the entrance of the exhibit, so we walked up hill. Inside, there was a small dance floor after check in where kids danced excitedly. It took awhile to queue everyone up for the experience itself but once it started, it was absolutely immersive. Real actors, video footage of some of the movie, and a walk to the train used for the ride. The train goes back and forth on the same track and performers danced just like they do on the Polar Express. My nephew (age 4) had an absolutely amazing time and I strongly recommend it for families and Polar Express movie fans alike. At the end of the ride, the museum itself was stunningly decked out in Christmas lights and winter train exhibits. My primary critique is that the exit was next to impossible to find. The experience is pricey ($100+ per person) but well worth it. Accessibility: not mobility-aid friendly as there is a lot of walking and steps before you get to the train; I don't believe the train itself has accessible seating either. From an allergy perspective, there are cookies and hot chocolate served on board - unsure what allergens the cookies had or whether the hot chocolate was water- or milk-based. read more

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We had not been here in a while and my kids are now 11 and 8. We just got a train for under our Christmas tree and we thought, what a great way to celebrate, but go see the big trains (and some smaller displays). We were greeted and quickly paid up to enter the museum. There were no student or military discounts, and it can be costly to go. But the staff was nice. We entered and the docent at the entrance of the round house was so nice and explained so much to us. He was most helpful. We walked around it all and the kids loved going in the trains and seeing the small holiday displays. There was only two holiday displays. The docent had informed me that they had 12 groups that canceled because of COVID. Sad but understandable. The outside trains were awesome too. There is a car with a train display that is amazing and huge and depicts Maryland places. In the car house outside there are some huge trains that you can go into the driver's seat and check it out. You can touch the levers and see where the conductor did their work. The parking is private and easy (included in admission) and it was easy to get around (I was on crutches). There were benches everywhere to take breaks. There is even a train you can ride on at and additional cost. Fun place, we highly recommend it! read more

We chose to take the guided Underground Railroad tour. We could not hear the guide's voice. When we asked him to speak louder he said, "There's one in every crowd and laughed at us". My elderly husband and I are hard of hearing. We were embarrassed and left the tour. Loved the train exhibits in the roundhouse. So much to see. The model train exhibit was closed. There is also a museum which displays the evolution of railroad equipment, and a restoration of the original old train station. The gift shop was a disappointment. Very little stock, mostly geared to kids. We had wanted to purchase adult sized train tee shirts and there were only a few in small sizes. The cafe was very crowded with not enough tables and very long lines. Good prices but very slow service. We were hungry but had to leave after a long wait and no food. It is worth it to go see the trains, but skip the tours, and avoid the cafe. read more

Oldest daughter and I spent an afternoon at this amazing museum. It is affiliated with the Smithsonian but I don't know if admission is free or discounted for members. My daughter and I paid $20 each, but it was worth every penny. We enjoyed reading the history of B&O railroad, THE Underground Railroad, and railroad itself. We were memorized by all the displays. Plan on spending at least 3 to 4 hours to fully appreciate this grand museum. Plenty of parking spaces. Be sure to check out the small gift shop. read more

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We came here for a family visit which included two small kids, 2 and 3.5 years old. The museum is well thought out but I was disappointed that you can't go into more of the trains themselves or it was more hands on. Also the train that gives rides wasn't working the day we went. It was just kind of underwhelming for an average day visit, but I think it is has potential to be amazing during a holiday or event. read more

This was such a fun outing with my kids! It was a blast seeing all the different types of train and being able to go inside of them. They also loved riding the first mile of the first commercial railroad track. Wish they had a better selection in their gift shop, but no biggie. A great place to visit! read more

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The B&O Railroad Museum was the perfectly unique venue we were looking for for our wedding. Kathy was incredible attentive and helpful throughout the whole process, and we couldn't be happier with how the night went. This venue is so full of rich history, has plenty to explore for guests, and is simply beautiful. Thank you to Kathy and the B&O Railroad Museum team for making our wedding truly incredible! read more

We had the best time ever! It is a beautiful museum and the staff members were very friendly and accommodating. We enjoyed an Easter train ride with the Easter bunny. My nephews and I fully enjoyed ourselves. B & O Railroad Museum is a must when in Baltimore! read more

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Very nice museum for train or transportation buffs. Location is easy to find, plenty of gated parking and reasonably priced. Trains are well kept, beautiful model train sets throughout. Highly recommended. read more

If you enjoy the rails as much as I do make it a point to pay a visit. A tad bit on the pricey side at $20 but it's easy to spend a good 2 plus hours if this is your first time visiting. The exhibits go beyond just what's inside the roundhouse as you can see other rail cars in an outdoor yard. There's also another indoor area where you can view other vintage and original B&O steam trains. You can also see some civil war stuff as well. If you have kids there's also an outdoor miniature train exhibit. Much of the focus is of course the history of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad giving this museum a good local flavor. read more

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Lovely place for all train lovers to spend a day. Something for all ages to look at. Playground for kids and rocking chairs for adults read more

B&O Railroad Museum - Nice engines and lots of history - Museums Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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The B&O Railroad Museum is a hidden gem! I attended Baltimore Homecoming here, and was impressed with the venue. I took the Mile One Express, a 20-minute roundtrip train ride on the first commercial mile of track laid in the US. We visited the Baltimore Police's stables, and saw one of the world's oldest and most comprehensive collections of railroad history. Located in West Baltimore, the museum boasts the largest assemblage of Civil War railroad equipment in the world, including eight locomotives and cars that served during the war. read more

B&O Railroad Museum - Museums Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

This is a VERY impressive museum - and not just if you're a rail fan like me. The indoor exhibits here are full of a range of information. Just to name a few things: there's history about the founding of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the development of standard time, the roles of different engines and rail cars, and especially about the Civil War. I had no idea how integral the B&O Railroad was to the Civil War, and reading about their involvement was nothing short of fascinating. Don't worry: there's more to do than read at this museum! One of the first things you can see here is a model train room, with models of locomotives and rail cars galore. And there is an entire indoor roundhouse full of cars and locomotives that each played a role in the development of the area, the nation, and the Civil War. Parents will also find a section of kids activities to enjoy in the roundhouse; in addition to being able to play with different toys and train layouts, there's a small carousel in here to ride. As if that wasn't enough, there's more to see outside. Leave the roundhouse and you can wander through the outdoor car and train yard. Some of cars out here have even been set up as stationary exhibits, housing a model railroad, a theater for kids, and an unexpected but beautiful railroad china display. Before returning to the roundhouse, you'll want to cross the yard and check out this museum's old workshop as well. It houses their most enormous collection pieces - and I do mean enormous. We're talking "the wheels on the train are as tall as I am" enormous. If you're lucky you may spot the shop cat that keeps the volunteers company; she took quite the liking to me and I actually got to talk to one of the gentlemen here while giving their kitty lots of love. I spent hours here and loved every second of my visit. There's just so much to see and appreciate, from the models to the fascinating information to the ability to walk in some of the cars and engine cabs. Definitely check this place out - and check their website before visiting if you can, as I believe they do special events and train rides seasonally. read more

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