Medford Railroad Park, Oregon

Outdoor rail parkTrain ridesFreeTrain rides 2nd and 4th Sundays, April to October, 11 am to 3 pm

Medford Railroad Park is a volunteer-run train park where local rail clubs give free rides on built-to-scale steam trains and show off full-size cars, model railroads and a working telegraph.

  • Free rides, donations welcome
  • 2nd and 4th Sundays, April to October
  • Park development began in 1979
  • Medco's Four Spot locomotive
  • Working telegraph system

Medford Railroad Park at a glance

Hours
2nd and 4th Sundays, April to October, 11 am to 3 pm
Admission
Free; donations to the clubs welcome
Train rides
Free miniature steam train rides on open Sundays, April to October
Plan for
1 to 2 hours
Best for
Young kids and families on a budget
Best ages
Toddlers to age 10

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

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Medford Railroad Park? 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 Medford.

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.

Five clubs and an old treatment plant

The park sits on a 49-acre city parcel that once held Medford's sewer treatment plant. In 1979 the City of Medford and the Southern Oregon Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society agreed to turn part of it into a railroad park, and about seven acres are now developed. The old round concrete settling tank found a second life as storage for the clubs that work there.

Those clubs are the heart of the place: the Southern Oregon Chapter of the NRHS, the Southern Oregon Live Steamers, the Morse Telegraph Club, the Rogue Valley Model Railroad Club and the Medford Garden Railroaders. Their volunteers run the trains and keep the exhibits, and they welcome donations on ride days. The city does not post a detailed history beyond this, so the clubs themselves are the best source for more.

Ride the live steamers, then walk the rail yard

The main event is a ride behind miniature built-to-scale steam trains. Around the ride you will find full-size cars including a caboose and a hopper car, and Medco's Four Spot, a Willamette locomotive. Inside the clubhouse, HO scale trains run on a model layout; outside, a garden railway operates, and the telegraph club keeps a working system where you can send and receive telegrams.

Don’t miss

  1. The scale steam train rideThe Southern Oregon Live Steamers' trains are the reason most families come, and the ride is free.
  2. Medco's Four SpotA Willamette locomotive from Medco, one of the full-size pieces on display.
  3. The working telegraphThe Morse Telegraph Club lets visitors send and receive telegrams inside the compound.
  4. The Garden RailwayThe Medford Garden Railroaders run an operating outdoor layout.

Free train rides for little riders

This is an easy outing for young families: the rides are free, the trains are kid size, and there is a caboose and model trains to look at between rides. The park lists restrooms and a pavilion, so you can bring a picnic. The volunteer groups also host train parties; call 541-613-1638 to ask about birthday dates.

Plan your visit: tips for Medford Railroad Park

  • Only the 2nd and 4th Sundays are ride days, so check the calendar before driving over.
  • Bring small bills for a donation to the clubs.
  • Call 541-613-1638 about train parties, tours or rentals.
  • The city lists restrooms and a pavilion on site.

Run by local rail clubs

Volunteers from five groups operate the park on city land: the Southern Oregon Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, the Southern Oregon Live Steamers, the Morse Telegraph Club, the Rogue Valley Model Railroad Club and the Medford Garden Railroaders. A donation on ride day goes straight to the clubs that keep the trains running, and the groups are the people to contact about joining.

More Southern Oregon rail history

The Southern Oregon Railway Historical Society is one of the groups based right here. The Train Mountain Railroad Museum in Chiloquin is about 53 miles away, and the Coos Bay Rail Link historical exhibits are about 98 miles out. Browse every train museum in Oregon for more.

Every train museum in Oregon

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of a conductor in a blue suit shaking Rally's paw on the train
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

At a park like this, the people in charge of the train are volunteers who simply love it, and I think little riders feel that. In our book, Mr. Conductor in his blue uniform holds out a hand to welcome Rally aboard. That gentle welcome was part of my mom's story from the start, and I hope a free Sunday ride here feels just as kind.

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)

Work or volunteer at Medford Railroad Park?

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.

Medford Railroad Park: 20 questions parents ask

What are Medford Railroad Park hours?

As of October 2026, Medford Railroad Park is open for train rides on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month, April through October, from 11 am to 3 pm. It is not open with rides on other days. Call 541-613-1638 or check the park's Facebook page before you go.

Is Medford Railroad Park open today?

Only if today is the 2nd or 4th Sunday of a month between April and October, when it runs from 11 am to 3 pm. On every other day, including all of November through March, the trains are not running for the public. For the latest word on closures, call 541-613-1638 or check the park's Facebook page.

Is Medford Railroad Park open tomorrow?

Check whether tomorrow is the 2nd or 4th Sunday of the month during the April to October season; those are the only scheduled open days, from 11 am to 3 pm. Weather or club needs can change plans, so call 541-613-1638 or look at the park's Facebook page the day before.

What is the Medford Railroad Park train schedule?

Miniature built-to-scale steam trains run on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month from April through October, 11 am to 3 pm. The park does not post a timetable for individual rides; trains run continuously through the open hours. Call 541-613-1638 with schedule questions.

Do you need tickets for Medford Railroad Park?

No. The city says you can ride for free, and admission to the park is free. Visitors are welcome to make a donation to the clubs that run the trains, which helps keep the equipment going. Bring a few dollars if you would like to give.

How much does Medford Railroad Park cost?

Medford Railroad Park is free. Riding the scale steam trains costs nothing, and donations to the volunteer clubs are accepted on ride days. That makes it one of the easiest train outings in Southern Oregon for families on a budget.

Where is Medford Railroad Park?

The city lists Medford Railroad Park at 799 Berrydale Avenue, Medford, Oregon 97501, and its map pin uses 2222 Table Rock Road; the park sits near Table Rock Road off Berrydale. Plug Berrydale Avenue into your GPS and look for the trains. Call 541-613-1638 if you have trouble finding it.

Who runs Medford Railroad Park?

Local volunteer groups run it on city land: the Southern Oregon Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, the Southern Oregon Live Steamers, the Morse Telegraph Club, the Rogue Valley Model Railroad Club and the Medford Garden Railroaders. The City of Medford owns the park.

What can you see at Medford Railroad Park?

Besides the ride trains, the park shows full-size cars including a caboose and a hopper car, plus Medco's Four Spot Willamette locomotive. HO scale trains run in the clubhouse, a garden railway operates outdoors, and a working telegraph system lets you send and receive telegrams.

When did Medford Railroad Park open?

Development began in 1979, when the City of Medford and the Southern Oregon Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society reached an agreement to build the park. The city does not post an exact opening date for the rides. The site was once the city's sewer treatment plant.

Is Medford Railroad Park good for toddlers?

Yes, it is a good fit for small children. The trains are kid sized, rides are free so short attention spans cost nothing, and there are model trains and a caboose to look at. The city lists restrooms and a pavilion on site, which helps with little ones.

Can you have a birthday party at Medford Railroad Park?

Train parties are possible. The city asks people to call 541-613-1638 for information about the train museum, train rides or train parties, and to contact the operating clubs for rentals and tours. Ask about dates, group size and any donation the clubs request.

Does Medford Railroad Park have restrooms?

Yes. The City of Medford lists restrooms, a pavilion and trail access among the park's features. The city does not describe accessibility in detail, so if you have a wheelchair or stroller question, call 541-613-1638 before your visit.

What is the Four Spot at Medford Railroad Park?

The Four Spot is a Willamette locomotive from Medco, displayed among the full-size equipment at the park. The city lists it as one of the main attractions alongside the caboose and hopper car. Volunteers on ride days are the best people to ask about its story.

Can you send a telegram at Medford Railroad Park?

Yes. The Morse Telegraph Club keeps a working telegraph system in the compound where visitors can send and receive telegrams. It is a fun way for kids to see how railroads communicated before phones and radios.

Are there model trains at Medford Railroad Park?

Yes. The Rogue Valley Model Railroad Club runs HO scale trains in its clubhouse, and the Medford Garden Railroaders operate an outdoor garden railway. Both are part of a typical ride Sunday, so plan time to walk over after your train ride.

How long do people spend at Medford Railroad Park?

Most families can see everything in an hour or two: a few train rides, the full-size equipment, the clubhouse layout and the garden railway. With a picnic at the pavilion, it can easily fill the four open hours from 11 am to 3 pm.

Is Medford Railroad Park open in winter?

No. Rides run only from April through October, on the 2nd and 4th Sundays. From November through March the park is closed to rides. The clubs post news on the park's Facebook page, which is the best place to watch for the spring opening.

How can I volunteer at Medford Railroad Park?

The park is run entirely by its member clubs, so volunteering means joining one of them, such as the Southern Oregon Live Steamers or the Rogue Valley Model Railroad Club. Ask volunteers on a ride Sunday or call 541-613-1638 for contacts.

What train museums are near Medford Railroad Park?

The Southern Oregon Railway Historical Society is based at the park itself. The Train Mountain Railroad Museum in Chiloquin is about 53 miles away, and the Coos Bay Rail Link historical exhibits are about 98 miles away on the coast.

Keep exploring

More family train guides from Rally

Previous
Previous

Market Street Railway in San Francisco, California

Next
Next

Beaver-Lawrence Railway Historical Society in West Pittsburg, Pennsylvania