Arizona Railway Museum in Chandler, Arizona

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Chandler, Arizona · Updated October 19, 2026 · 13 min read

Railroad museumOpen weekends September to May; closed June, July and August

The Arizona Railway Museum has been saving the railroads of Arizona and the Southwest since 1983, and today its volunteers open a yard full of locomotives, freight cars and walk-through passenger cars in Chandler every cool-season weekend.

  • Founded as a nonprofit in 1983
  • Walk-through Santa Fe passenger cars
  • Three National Register listed pieces
  • 100% volunteer run
  • Party caboose for birthdays
  • Closed in the summer heat

Arizona Railway Museum at a glance

Hours
Saturdays and Sundays 10 am to 4 pm, September 5, 2026 to May 30, 2027; closed weekdays and all summer
Admission
Adults (12 and up) $15, children 2 to 12 $10, under 2 free, family of up to 2 adults and 3 children $40, active military free with ID
Seasonal events
Fall Rail Festival, Arizona Railway Day, Used Book Sale Fundraiser
Plan for
About 1.5 to 2 hours
Best for
Families with walking-age kids and passenger car fans
Best ages
Ages 4 and up
Parking
Parking details are not posted online; recent event notices mentioned parking construction, so call ahead before a festival day
Accessibility
The yard is crushed rock, and the historic cars have original narrow doors and require climbing stairs; they are not configured for wheelchairs.

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Arizona Railway Museum? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Chandler.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

Four decades of volunteers saving Arizona's railroads

The Arizona Railway Museum was founded and incorporated as a nonprofit in 1983 with one clear focus: the railroads of Arizona and the wider Southwest. The copper mines, the Santa Fe and Southern Pacific main lines, the short lines that hauled ore and the passenger trains that crossed the desert all left equipment behind, and the founders set out to save what they could before it was scrapped.

More than four decades later, the museum is still 100% volunteer run. Nobody is paid. The volunteers restore cars, staff the gate, write the placards and keep the yard open because, as they put it, preserving and presenting Arizona's railroad history matters. The museum sits on land leased from the City of Chandler, and when lease costs went up in 2017 the group reluctantly ended a 34-year tradition of offering a free admission option so the work could continue.

The roster they have built is wide. It runs from small industrial engines that worked for the Arizona Copper Company, Kennecott Copper and the Homestake Mining Company to a Magma Arizona Railroad Baldwin diesel and a Toronto PCC streetcar. On the passenger side, the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe is the star, with Hi-Level cars, a dome, lounge observation cars and business cars, joined by sleepers and diners from the Union Pacific, New York Central, Frisco and Southern Railway.

Three pieces in the collection are listed on the National Register of Historic Places: Southern Pacific steam locomotive 2562 with its tender 8365, a steam wrecking crane with its tool car, and Tucson, Cornelia and Gila Bend Railroad caboose No. 15. The museum's main building is a re-creation of the original Chandler depot.

A desert yard of engines and open passenger cars

Admission covers a self-guided walk around the open-air yard, where a placard beside each piece explains its history. The ground is crushed rock and there is no shade cover over the yard, so this is a walking-shoes visit. The display building holds the smaller artifacts, such as railroad china and glass, along with the gift shop and the restroom.

The highlight for most families is climbing into the passenger cars. For the 2026 to 2027 season the museum lists twelve cars open for walking through, among them Santa Fe Hi-Level lounge 576 and coach 708, the observation cars Vista Canyon and Denehotso, the dome car Plaza Taos, Superintendent's car 405, a 1910 Santa Fe coach, a Southern Pacific horse car and a South Carolina business car built in 1879. Outside, Southern Pacific 2-8-0 No. 2562 and the copper country engines anchor the locomotive line, and freight cars from sugar beet cars to ore hoppers fill out the yard.

Don’t miss

  1. Southern Pacific No. 2562A Baldwin-built 2-8-0 steam locomotive that, with tender 8365, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
  2. Santa Fe dome car Plaza TaosOne of the walk-through cars this season; climbing up into a dome is a different way to picture desert travel by rail.
  3. Santa Fe Hi-Level carsLounge 576, coach 708 and transition car 543 show the tall double-deck cars Santa Fe built for its western passenger trains.
  4. Steam wrecking crane and tool carThe big crane that cleaned up wrecks is another of the museum's National Register listings.
  5. Tucson, Cornelia and Gila Bend caboose No. 15A caboose from a southern Arizona line, and the third National Register piece in the yard.
  6. South Carolina business car of 1879The oldest car in this season's walk-through lineup, a private car from the nineteenth century.

Climbing aboard real passenger cars

Kids get to do what most museums do not allow: walk the aisles of real passenger cars, peek into a dome, and stand inside a caboose. The placards help older kids connect each car to a story, and the sheer size of a steam locomotive like No. 2562 up close tends to do the rest.

Practical notes: the yard is open to the sun and surfaced in crushed rock, which is hard going for strollers, and getting in and out of the cars means climbing the original steps. The cars were never adapted for wheelchairs, with doors and hallways at their original width. Bring water and hats even in the cooler months. The party caboose, with one large open room, tables and chairs, can be booked for a child's birthday.

Plan your visit: tips for Arizona Railway Museum

  • The museum is closed June through August because of the heat; plan a fall, winter or spring weekend.
  • Wear comfortable closed shoes for the crushed rock yard.
  • The family bundle ($40) covers 2 adults and 3 children.
  • Private and student photography is free, with one camera, flash and tripod.
  • Closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Easter Sunday.

The museum's big day is the Fall Rail Festival, set for November 14, 2026 from 9 am to 4 pm, an everything-open event timed for cooler weather and winter visitors. In past years it has also hosted Arizona Railway Day in late February and used book sale fundraisers. For holiday rides elsewhere in the state, see our list of Christmas train rides in Arizona.

Run entirely by unpaid volunteers

The Arizona Railway Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit run 100% by volunteers, on land it leases from the City of Chandler. Admission fees, gift shop purchases, memberships, donations and fundraisers like the used book sale keep the restorations going, and the museum's site lists its board, newsletter and membership details for anyone who wants to help.

More rail stops around the Valley

The McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park in Scottsdale is about 19 miles north and adds train and carousel rides. The Phoenix Trolley Museum is also about 19 miles away, and the Superstition Narrow Gauge Railroad at Goldfield is about 24 miles east. See all of Arizona's train museums to plan a longer trip.

Every train museum in Arizona

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi looking out an arched train window at the ocean and a white bird
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

A dome car like Plaza Taos was built for looking out, and I love that kids can climb up into one here. In our book, Rally presses his nose to an arched window, watches the ocean roll by and says hello to a white bird. Dome cars crossing the desert offered that same feeling of the whole world sliding past the glass. If your little one wants to color their own view, try our coloring pages.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Arizona Railway Museum?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Arizona Railway Museum: 20 questions before your visit

Where is the Arizona Railway Museum in Chandler?

The Arizona Railway Museum is at 330 E. Ryan Road, Chandler, Arizona 85286. Ryan Road runs south of Germann Road and east of Arizona Avenue. Mail goes to P.O. Box 842, Chandler, AZ 85244, not the street address. Call (480) 821-1108 if you need help finding the gate on a weekend.

What are the Arizona Railway Museum hours?

As of October 2026, the museum is open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 4 pm during its season, which runs September 5, 2026 to May 30, 2027. It is closed Monday through Friday and closed all of June, July and August because of the summer heat. It also closes Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Easter Sunday.

How much are Arizona Railway Museum tickets?

As of October 2026, admission is $15 for adults 12 and up, $10 for children 2 to 12, and free for infants under 2. A family bundle covering two adults and three children is $40. Active military members get in free with ID, as the museum is a Blue Star Museum. Tickets are bought at the museum on open days.

Is there free admission at the Arizona Railway Museum?

Only for infants under 2 and active military with ID. The museum offered a free admission option for 34 years, but ended it in 2017 after its landlord, the City of Chandler, raised the lease cost. The fees now help the all-volunteer group keep preserving and showing the collection.

Why is the Arizona Railway Museum closed in summer?

The yard is open air and uncovered, and the museum says it is simply too hot in June, July and August to welcome visitors safely. It closes for those three months each year and reopens in early September. For the 2026 to 2027 season it opened September 5 and runs to May 30.

What will I see at the Arizona Railway Museum?

You walk a crushed rock yard of locomotives, passenger cars and freight cars, each with a placard explaining its history, then visit the display building with smaller artifacts, the gift shop and a restroom. Highlights include Southern Pacific steam locomotive 2562, copper mine engines, and Santa Fe Hi-Level, dome and observation cars.

Can you go inside the train cars at the Arizona Railway Museum?

Yes. For the 2026 to 2027 season the museum lists twelve passenger cars open to walk through, including Santa Fe dome car Plaza Taos, observation cars Vista Canyon and Denehotso, Hi-Level cars and an 1879 business car. Its hours page notes the number of open cars can vary, so the lineup on your day may differ.

Can I take photos at the Arizona Railway Museum?

Yes. Photos and video for personal or student use are free, as long as you do not get in the way of other visitors, with gear limited to one camera, flash and tripod. Commercial shoots are handled separately. The museum's website also hosts an online photo collection you can browse before or after your visit.

What do visitors say in Arizona Railway Museum reviews?

Families and rail fans tend to mention the chance to walk through real passenger cars and the size of the collection for a volunteer museum. The common practical advice is to wear good shoes for the gravel yard, bring water and come in the cooler months, since the yard has no shade cover.

Is the Arizona Railway Museum good for toddlers?

Toddlers can enjoy the big engines, but the visit takes some effort with little ones. The yard is crushed rock, which is tough for strollers, and each passenger car requires climbing its original steps. A carrier works better than a stroller. Children under 2 get in free.

Is the Arizona Railway Museum wheelchair accessible?

Only partly. The yard is surfaced in crushed rock, and the museum states that its historic cars are not configured for visitors with disabilities: doors and hallways are original width and entering the cars means climbing stairs. Call (480) 821-1108 before your visit to talk through what will work for your group.

Can I have a birthday party at the Arizona Railway Museum?

Yes. The museum rents a party caboose with one large open interior, tables and chairs, which suits a kids' birthday, and a larger passenger car for bigger parties. Contact the Party Coordinator at party@azrymuseum.org for dates, fees and details, and remember the museum is closed June through August.

Does the Arizona Railway Museum offer group tours?

Yes, on a limited basis for a small fee. Because the museum is run entirely by volunteers, group tours must be scheduled in advance rather than arranged on the day. Email the Tour Coordinator at tours@azrymuseum.org with your group size, ages and preferred date during the September to May season.

What events does the Arizona Railway Museum hold?

The main one is the Fall Rail Festival, scheduled for November 14, 2026 from 9 am to 4 pm, an everything-open day for the cooler season. Past years have also included Arizona Railway Day in late February and used book sale fundraisers. Check the events page at azrymuseum.org for the current calendar.

Which steam locomotive is at the Arizona Railway Museum?

The museum's steam headliner is Southern Pacific No. 2562, a Baldwin 2-8-0. With its tender, No. 8365, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Smaller steam engines include Arizona Copper Company Porter No. 7 and Homestake Mining Company Porter No. 5.

When was the Arizona Railway Museum founded?

The Arizona Railway Museum was founded and incorporated as a nonprofit in 1983. It is dedicated to the railroads of Arizona and the Southwestern United States, and has grown into a large collection of rolling stock and artifacts, still run entirely by unpaid volunteers.

Is the Arizona Railway Museum the same as the Arizona State Railroad Museum?

No. The Arizona Railway Museum is the volunteer museum in Chandler that has been open since the 1980s. The Arizona State Railroad Museum is a separate foundation in Williams, in northern Arizona, which is developing its own museum. People often mix up the two names when searching.

Is the Arizona Railway Museum the Arizona Street Railway Museum?

No. Arizona Street Railway Museum is the incorporated name of the Phoenix Trolley Museum on Grand Avenue in Phoenix, which preserves Phoenix streetcars. The Arizona Railway Museum in Chandler covers full-size railroad equipment, though it does own one streetcar, Toronto PCC No. 4607.

How can I support or volunteer at the Arizona Railway Museum?

The museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit run 100% by volunteers, so help is welcome. Its website has pages for membership, its newsletter, donations and the board of directors. You can also support it by visiting, shopping in the gift shop, and sharing its festival flyers, which the museum asks fans to do.

What other train attractions are near the Arizona Railway Museum?

McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park in Scottsdale and the Phoenix Trolley Museum are each about 19 miles away, and the Superstition Narrow Gauge Railroad at Goldfield Ghost Town is about 24 miles east. Tucson's Southern Arizona Transportation Museum is about 89 miles south.

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Kelsey Cecil
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