Memphis Railroad & Trolley Museum, Tennessee
Railroad museumWeekends per older site listing; confirm before you go
The Memphis Railroad & Trolley Museum fills a ground floor suite of Central Station, the South Main Street landmark that once handled more than 50 trains a day, and tells the story of Memphis railroads and the city's trolleys.
- Inside Memphis Central Station
- Railroad and trolley history
- Started by local model railroaders
- Annual family passes offered
- Groups by special arrangement
Memphis Railroad & Trolley Museum at a glance
- Hours
- Older site lists Friday and Saturday 10 am to 5 pm, Sunday noon to 5 pm
- Admission
- Older site lists adults $3, under 12 $1, 3 and under free
- Best for
- Rail fans and families exploring downtown Memphis
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Memphis Railroad & Trolley 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 Memphis.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $13.99 on Amazon.
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25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.
Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
Model railroaders and the transit authority team up on South Main
Memphis has long had an active community of model railroaders and rail fans. According to the museum's history page, officials of the Memphis Area Transit Authority approached members of the local chapter of the National Model Railroad Association with an idea: a museum that would spotlight the city's rail history, including its street railway system.
The museum found its home in a fitting place. Central Station has stood at the southwest corner of South Main and G.E. Patterson since 1914, and in its busiest years it handled more than 50 passenger trains a day. The museum occupies Suite 121 on the station's ground floor, and in a 2021 local news feature its volunteers described their whole focus as telling the Memphis railroad story. Details about current exhibits are not posted online, so check with the museum before you go.
A railroad story inside a working station
The museum covers both of the city's rail traditions: the railroads that made Memphis a junction and the trolleys that carried people around town. Its exhibit list is not posted online, so call ahead if you are hoping to see something specific.
Don’t miss
- Memphis Central StationThe station itself, on South Main since 1914, is part of the visit. In its heyday it saw more than 50 trains a day.
- The trolley storyThe museum was conceived with the transit authority to cover the city's street railway history alongside its railroads.
A short, low-cost stop for young rail fans
With admission listed at $1 for children under 12 and free for kids 3 and under on the museum's older website, this is an easy add-on to a downtown Memphis day. The museum does not describe hands-on exhibits or ride options online, so treat it as a look-and-learn visit and ask staff what young visitors enjoy most.
Plan your visit: tips for Memphis Railroad & Trolley Museum
- Hours and prices come from the museum's older website, so call (901) 590-3099 to confirm.
- The museum is in Suite 121 on the ground floor of Central Station.
- Groups can visit on other days by special arrangement.
- Annual passes ($40 family, $25 individual on the older site) cover twelve months of visits.
Started by the city's rail fans
The museum grew out of the local model railroad community, working with the Memphis Area Transit Authority. Visitors support it most directly by buying admission or an annual pass, which the museum describes as including unlimited visits and other benefits for twelve months. Ask at the front desk about other ways to help.
More rail stops from Central Station
The MATA vintage trolley system runs on the streets right outside, a natural pairing with this museum. Farther out, the Water Valley Casey Jones Railroad Museum is about 73 miles south in Mississippi, and the Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum in Jackson is about 76 miles east. Browse train museums across Tennessee to plan more.
- Memphis Area Transit Authority vintage trolley systemMemphis, TN · same town
- Water Valley Casey Jones Railroad MuseumWater Valley, MS · about 73 mi
- Casey Jones Home & Railroad MuseumJackson, TN · about 76 mi
- Missouri Pacific Depot MuseumNewport, AR · about 76 mi
- Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center railroad-history exhibitsCorinth, MS · about 88 mi
- Mississippi Delta Railroad history exhibitsCleveland area, MS · about 104 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
When I read that Central Station once saw more than 50 trains a day, I thought about how many conductors must have stood on those platforms. In our book, Mr. Conductor in his blue uniform holds out a hand to help Rally aboard, and Mom and Dad are right behind. A busy station like this one is full of people doing that same kind thing, every single day.
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.
Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)More for train families
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- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Tennessee
- Halloween train rides in Tennessee
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Memphis Railroad & Trolley 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.
Memphis Railroad & Trolley Museum: 20 questions before you visit
Where is the Memphis Railroad & Trolley Museum?
The museum is in Suite 121 on the ground floor of Central Station at 545 S. Main Street in downtown Memphis. Central Station stands at the southwest corner of South Main and G.E. Patterson. Call (901) 590-3099 if you need directions to the museum entrance inside the building.
What are the Memphis Railroad & Trolley Museum hours?
The museum's older website lists hours of 10 am to 5 pm on Friday and Saturday and noon to 5 pm on Sunday, with groups welcome on other days by arrangement. Those hours may not be current as of October 2026, so call (901) 590-3099 before you go.
How much does the Memphis Railroad & Trolley Museum cost?
The museum's older website lists admission at $3 for adults, $1 for children under 12, and free for children 3 and under. Those prices come from an older page and may have changed by October 2026, so confirm with the museum at (901) 590-3099 before your visit.
Does the Memphis Railroad & Trolley Museum sell annual passes?
Yes, according to its older website. Annual passes have been listed at $40 for a family and $25 for an individual, giving twelve months of unlimited admission plus other benefits. Prices may have changed, so ask the museum about current pass options when you call or visit.
What is the Memphis Railroad & Trolley Museum about?
The museum documents the local history of railroads and the Memphis trolleys. It was created to spotlight the city's rail past, including the street railway system, and its volunteers have described their focus as telling the Memphis railroad story from inside one of the city's great stations.
Who started the Memphis Railroad & Trolley Museum?
The museum's history page says officials of the Memphis Area Transit Authority approached members of the local chapter of the National Model Railroad Association with the idea of a museum about the city's rail history. The model railroad and rail fan community took on the project and built it.
When was Memphis Central Station built?
Central Station has stood at the southwest corner of South Main and G.E. Patterson since 1914, according to a 2021 local news feature. In its heyday it hosted more than 50 trains a day full of passengers. The museum occupies part of its ground floor today.
Is Memphis Central Station still a train station?
Yes. Railfan guides list Amtrak service at Memphis Central Station, the same building that houses the museum. That makes it possible to combine a train trip with a museum visit, but check Amtrak's schedule and the museum's hours separately, since they are not linked.
Can you ride a trolley near the Memphis Railroad & Trolley Museum?
The museum itself does not offer rides, but the Memphis Area Transit Authority runs vintage trolleys downtown, including a Main Street line. Service on some lines has varied over the years, so check MATA's trolley map and service updates before planning a ride.
Is the Memphis Railroad & Trolley Museum good for kids?
It can be a short, affordable stop for children who love trains, with admission listed at $1 for kids under 12 and free for those 3 and under. The museum does not describe kid-specific exhibits online, so ask when you call what young visitors usually enjoy.
How long should I plan at the Memphis Railroad & Trolley Museum?
The museum does not post a suggested visit length. It is a single suite inside Central Station, so many visitors can pair it with other downtown Memphis stops on the same day. Call (901) 590-3099 if you want a sense of how much there is to see.
Can groups visit the Memphis Railroad & Trolley Museum?
Yes. The museum's older website says it opens for groups on days outside its regular hours by special arrangement. Call (901) 590-3099 to set up a date, and ask about group pricing and how many people the space can handle at once.
Does the Memphis Railroad & Trolley Museum host birthday parties?
The museum does not advertise a birthday party package. Since it already arranges group visits on days outside its regular hours, it is worth calling (901) 590-3099 to ask whether a small party or private visit for a young train fan is possible, and what it would cost.
Is there parking at the Memphis Railroad & Trolley Museum?
The museum does not post parking details online. It is inside Central Station on South Main Street downtown, so plan for city parking and allow a few extra minutes. Call (901) 590-3099 to ask where visitors usually park.
Is the Memphis Railroad & Trolley Museum wheelchair accessible?
The museum does not post accessibility details online. It is on the ground floor of Central Station, which is a good sign for strollers and wheelchairs, but call (901) 590-3099 to confirm entrances, restrooms, door widths and any steps inside the suite before your visit.
Does the Memphis Railroad & Trolley Museum have a Christmas event?
The museum does not post a holiday event online. Because the museum sits inside Central Station downtown, a December visit can be paired with other holiday plans on South Main. Call (901) 590-3099 or check the museum's website in November and December for any seasonal displays, special hours or holiday closings before you plan a trip.
Does the Memphis Railroad & Trolley Museum have a gift shop?
The museum's older website mentions annual passes being available at the museum, but it does not describe a gift shop in the text available. Ask at the front desk about souvenirs, railroad books or memberships when you visit, since buying a pass is one of the simplest ways to support the museum.
How can I volunteer at the Memphis Railroad & Trolley Museum?
The museum grew out of the local model railroad and rail fan community, and that community is the best place to start. Call (901) 590-3099 or ask at the front desk about volunteering, since a volunteer program is not described online.
Is the Memphis Railroad & Trolley Museum still open?
Search listings and a 2021 news feature describe the museum as operating inside Central Station, but its posted hours come from an older version of its website. Call (901) 590-3099 before making a special trip to confirm it is open on the day you plan to visit.
What other train museums are near Memphis?
The MATA vintage trolleys run right outside downtown. Farther away, the Water Valley Casey Jones Railroad Museum in Mississippi is about 73 miles, the Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum in Jackson, Tennessee, is about 76 miles, and the Missouri Pacific Depot Museum in Newport, Arkansas, is about 76 miles.
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