Arizona State Railroad Museum in Williams, Arizona

Oct 19

Williams, Arizona · Updated October 19, 2026 · 9 min read

Rail preservation groupMuseum under development; no regular public hours posted

The Arizona State Railroad Museum Foundation, founded in 2009 in Williams, preserves historic railroad equipment once used across Arizona and is working toward a 21-acre museum and Arizona Railroad Heritage Park.

Founded in 2009
Planned 21-acre museum campus
Cornerstone boxcar at Glassburn Park
Collection under development

Arizona State Railroad Museum at a glance

Hours: No regular public hours posted; contact the foundation
Admission: Not posted
Best for: Rail fans following a museum in the making

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

Contact and directions

Museum website(opens in a new tab)Directions(opens in a new tab)Email

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Arizona State Railroad 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 Williams.

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.

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

A statewide rail museum taking shape in Williams

The Arizona State Railroad Museum Foundation is a nonprofit, founded in 2009, whose main work is preserving historic railroad equipment that once served across Arizona. It is based in Williams, the town where the Grand Canyon Railway begins, and its long-range goal is a 21-acre museum, which the foundation calls the Arizona Railroad Heritage Park, built to draw visitors from around the world to a collection of locomotives and rolling stock.

That museum is still being built, and the foundation describes its collection as under development. Pieces it has gathered include Shay No. 5, a replica of an original 1923 Saginaw & Manistee Lumber Company locomotive, an Arizona & California derrick, No. 199794, built by Industrial Works in 1927, and Santa Fe Ce-1 caboose No. 999060, along with other rolling stock at the north end of the museum campus.

The public can already see one piece: the foundation's cornerstone boxcar, displayed at Glassburn Park along Route 66 in Williams. The foundation does not post visiting hours for the rest of the collection, so contact it before you plan a stop.

What you can see today

The easiest piece to visit is the cornerstone boxcar at Glassburn Park on Route 66 in Williams. For the Shay replica, the derrick and the caboose, email foundation@azstaterrmuseum.org to ask whether any of the collection can be viewed.

Don’t miss

The cornerstone boxcarOn public display at Glassburn Park along Route 66, the most visible sign of the museum to come.
Shay No. 5A replica of a 1923 Saginaw & Manistee Lumber Company Shay geared locomotive.
Santa Fe caboose No. 999060A Ce-1 class caboose from the railroad that built the line through Williams.

A boxcar stop on a Williams day

There are no kids' programs posted yet. Families in Williams for the Grand Canyon Railway can make a short stop at Glassburn Park on Route 66 to see the foundation's boxcar up close.

Plan your visit: tips for Arizona State Railroad Museum

See the cornerstone boxcar at Glassburn Park on Route 66 in Williams.
Email foundation@azstaterrmuseum.org before planning a visit to the collection.
Do not confuse it with the Arizona Railway Museum in Chandler, a separate museum.

A foundation building from the ground up

The Arizona State Railroad Museum Foundation is a nonprofit working to raise a 21-acre museum in Williams. Anyone who wants to help it grow can reach the foundation through the contact page on its website or by mail at 204 W. Railroad Ave., Williams, AZ 86046.

Rail trips around Williams

The Grand Canyon Railway departs from the historic depot in the same town, and the Verde Canyon Railroad runs canyon trips from Clarkdale, about 49 miles away in the Verde Valley. The Kingman Railroad Museum is about 105 miles west. For the full list, see train museums across Arizona.

Every train museum in Arizona

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor view from inside a dark tunnel looking out at a sunny beach and cliffs — From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

A museum still being built reminds me of the tunnel in our book. Rally rides through the dark with Mom and Dad, not sure what comes next, and then there is a big bright light and everyone cheers. My mom dreamed up Rally's story but died in 2021 before she could write it, so I have a soft spot for people who keep going on a project they believe in. You can read more on our story page.

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

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.

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Work or volunteer at Arizona State Railroad 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 State Railroad Museum: 20 questions answered

What is the Arizona State Railroad Museum?

The Arizona State Railroad Museum is a museum being developed in Williams, Arizona by the Arizona State Railroad Museum Foundation. The foundation preserves historic railroad equipment that was once used throughout Arizona and plans a 21-acre museum campus, also called the Arizona Railroad Heritage Park.

What is the Arizona State Railroad Museum Foundation?

It is a nonprofit organization founded in 2009 that primarily preserves historic Arizona railroad equipment. It is based in Williams and is working to build the Arizona State Railroad Museum. You can reach it by email at foundation@azstaterrmuseum.org or through the contact page on its website.

Is the Arizona State Railroad Museum open to the public?

Not as a regular museum yet. The foundation describes its collection as under development and does not post public hours or admission. The cornerstone boxcar can be seen at Glassburn Park along Route 66 in Williams. Email foundation@azstaterrmuseum.org to ask about viewing other pieces.

Where is the Arizona State Railroad Museum located?

The foundation is in Williams, Arizona, the town where the Grand Canyon Railway begins. Its mailing address is 204 W. Railroad Ave., Williams, AZ 86046. It does not post a street address for visitors to the collection, so contact the foundation before you go.

What are the Arizona State Railroad Museum hours?

The foundation does not post regular visiting hours, since the museum is still under development. The boxcar at Glassburn Park on Route 66 is on public display. For anything else, email foundation@azstaterrmuseum.org before you plan a visit to Williams.

How much does the Arizona State Railroad Museum cost?

No admission price is posted because the museum does not yet have regular public hours. Seeing the cornerstone boxcar at Glassburn Park along Route 66 does not require a ticket. Contact the foundation by email to ask about any open house or tour.

When was the Arizona State Railroad Museum Foundation founded?

The foundation was founded in 2009. Since then it has been collecting historic railroad equipment from around Arizona for its planned 21-acre museum in Williams, from a Shay replica to a Santa Fe caboose, and it describes that collection as still under development.

How big will the Arizona State Railroad Museum be?

The foundation's goal is a 21-acre museum in Williams designed to attract visitors from around the world with a collection of locomotives and rolling stock. It calls the project the Arizona Railroad Heritage Park. No opening date is posted.

What is in the Arizona State Railroad Museum collection?

The foundation lists pieces such as Shay No. 5, a replica of an original 1923 Saginaw & Manistee Lumber Company locomotive, Arizona & California derrick No. 199794 built by Industrial Works in 1927, Santa Fe Ce-1 caboose No. 999060 and its cornerstone boxcar, plus other rolling stock.

Where can I see the Arizona State Railroad Museum boxcar?

The foundation's cornerstone boxcar is on display at Glassburn Park along Route 66 in Williams, Arizona. It is the easiest piece of the collection to see today, and makes a quick stop during a day in Williams.

What is Shay No. 5 at the Arizona State Railroad Museum?

Shay No. 5 is a replica of an original 1923 Saginaw & Manistee Lumber Company Shay locomotive, part of the foundation's collection in Williams. The foundation does not post when it can be viewed, so email foundation@azstaterrmuseum.org to ask.

Does the Arizona State Railroad Museum have a caboose?

Yes. The collection includes Santa Fe Ce-1 caboose No. 999060, along with other rolling stock at the north end of the museum campus. Viewing details are not posted online, so contact the foundation before you visit Williams to see it.

Is the Arizona State Railroad Museum part of the Grand Canyon Railway?

No. The foundation is a separate nonprofit, located in Williams alongside the Grand Canyon Railway. The Grand Canyon Railway runs its own train trips to the South Rim, while the foundation works to build a museum of Arizona railroad equipment.

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

No. The Arizona Railway Museum is a separate, long-running volunteer museum in Chandler, open on weekends in the cooler months. The Arizona State Railroad Museum is the foundation in Williams still developing its museum. The similar names often get mixed up in searches.

Can kids visit the Arizona State Railroad Museum?

Families can see the foundation's boxcar at Glassburn Park on Route 66 in Williams, which is free to look at. No children's programs or regular tours are posted yet. Pair the stop with a Grand Canyon Railway trip if you are spending the day in town.

How can I donate to the Arizona State Railroad Museum Foundation?

The foundation is a nonprofit and accepts contact through its website and by email at foundation@azstaterrmuseum.org. Mail goes to 204 W. Railroad Ave., Williams, AZ 86046. Reach out to ask about donations, membership or volunteering on the museum project.

Can I volunteer with the Arizona State Railroad Museum?

The foundation does not list a volunteer program online. If you would like to help build the museum, email foundation@azstaterrmuseum.org or use the contact page on its website to offer your time or skills and ask what kind of help the project needs right now.

Does the Arizona State Railroad Museum have a phone number?

The foundation does not list a phone number online. Email foundation@azstaterrmuseum.org, use the contact form on its website, or write to 204 W. Railroad Ave., Williams, AZ 86046. Email is the quickest way to ask about the collection.

What is the Arizona Railroad Heritage Park?

The Arizona Railroad Heritage Park is the name the foundation uses alongside the Arizona State Railroad Museum on its website. It refers to the planned museum campus in Williams, where the foundation hopes to display its locomotives and rolling stock.

What train attractions are near the Arizona State Railroad Museum?

The Grand Canyon Railway departs from its historic depot in Williams, the same town as the foundation, with daily trips to the South Rim. The Verde Canyon Railroad runs four-hour canyon rides from Clarkdale, about 49 miles away, and the Kingman Railroad Museum is about 105 miles west.

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Kelsey Cecil