Richmond Railroad Museum, Virginia
Depot museumOpen weekends: Saturday 11 am to 4 pm, Sunday 1 pm to 4 pm
The Richmond Railroad Museum tells 150 years of Central Virginia railroading inside the restored Southern Railway station on Hull Street, beside an active rail line, with a steam locomotive, a big HO model railroad and an archive of thousands of historic photographs.
- Restored Southern Railway station
- 1924 Porter steam locomotive
- Richmond's largest HO layout
- Run by volunteers since 1957 chapter
- Free parking next door
- About one hour visit
Richmond Railroad Museum at a glance
- Hours
- Saturday 11 am to 4 pm, Sunday 1 pm to 4 pm
- Admission
- Adults (14 to 64) $10, seniors $8, ages 6 to 13 $5, under 6 free
- Seasonal events
- Holiday decorations from Thanksgiving
- Plan for
- About 1 hour
- Best for
- Families with young kids and Virginia rail history fans
- Best ages
- Ages 3 to 12
- Parking
- Free parking next to the museum
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
- Address102 Hull Street, Richmond, VA 23224(opens in a new tab)
- Phone(804) 231-4324
- Emailinfo@richmondrailroadmuseum.com
- Alsomembership@olddominionchapter.com
- Websiterichmondrailroadmuseum.com(opens in a new tab)
Follow Richmond Railroad Museum
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Richmond 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 Richmond.
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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Like it so far? See the full book
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.
How a volunteer chapter brought Hull Street Station back
The Richmond Railroad Museum belongs to the Old Dominion Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, a volunteer, educational nonprofit chartered in 1957 to preserve and present Central Virginia railroading, past, present and future. The chapter made its home in the former Southern Railway depot on Hull Street in the Manchester neighborhood, just south of the James River, and turned the renovation of that station into one of its long-running projects. Chapter members still hold their monthly meetings there.
Inside, the restored Freight Room and Station Master's Office tell the story of the many railroads that made Richmond a crossroads: the Southern, the Norfolk and Western, the RF&P, the Seaboard Air Line, the Chesapeake and Ohio and others. Out on the track beside the building, volunteers have cosmetically restored a 1924 Porter tank engine that once worked for the David M. Lee & Co. in South Richmond, and they keep a 1937 Railway Express car, a caboose and a set of track cars on display.
The work goes on beyond the museum. The chapter runs a restoration yard at Hallsboro, just outside Richmond, where members learn welding and painting on historic cars and locomotives. In 2020 it acquired a locomotive from AdvanSix, and a GE 45-ton locomotive has since arrived at the yard as a donation. The chapter's archive of photographs, including the William Stratton Collection of J. I. Kelly's 1940s and 1950s Richmond images, keeps the city's rail past in focus.
Freight Room, Station Master's Office and the track outside
A visit runs about an hour and includes a guided tour of the air conditioned station. The Freight Room is lined with display cases of dining car china, railroad passes and annual reports, sleeping car linens, lanterns, marker lights and oil cans. Reproduction 1867 maps show a 30-mile area around the city with its rail lines, coal mines, arsenals and foundries, and a working signal display shows how electric signals guided trains along the right-of-way. The Station Master's Office is furnished the way such an office would have looked.
Richmond's largest HO scale model railroad is a crowd favorite, with custom scenes such as a model of the old Virginia Governor's Mansion built by modelers Hal and Mary Davidson from a 1930 postcard. Outside, you can climb into the Porter locomotive's cab and look over the Railway Express car, the caboose, a motor car with its trailer of track tools, a one-person Rail Tech track scoot and a row of signals.
Don’t miss
- Porter 0-4-0 tank locomotiveBuilt in 1924 for the David M. Lee & Co. in South Richmond, it carries both knuckle and link-and-pin couplers so it could handle any car. Visitors can step into the cab.
- Railway Express Car 185A 1937 heavyweight head-end car that ran on the RF&P until 1969; the star above the REA logo shows it carried an Express Messenger.
- The HO scale model railroadBilled as Richmond's largest, it keeps growing with custom models like the Davidsons' Governor's Mansion.
- The 1929 milk canA small artifact with a big story about a railroader named Charlie Watkins, featured by the museum as a favorite find.
- Signals and lanternsA large collection plus a working display that shows how electric trackside signals actually operated.
A real cab, a big layout and a short visit
The best moment for most kids is climbing into the cab of the Porter steam engine. After that, the HO layout and the working signal display hold attention well, and the caboose and track cars outside give them something big to look at. Because a full visit takes about an hour, it fits nicely into a toddler's day.
The building is air conditioned, which helps in Richmond summers. No food or drinks are sold at the museum, so bring snacks for the car. Children under 6 get in free.
Plan your visit: tips for Richmond Railroad Museum
- The phone is answered only during weekend open hours; leave a voicemail or email at other times.
- No food or drinks are sold at the museum.
- Group tours are by appointment only.
- Archive visits require a special appointment; the archives are not open to the public.
- The museum no longer runs train excursions or Santa trains.
The Richmond Railroad Museum no longer runs its Santa Train excursions, but the museum and the equipment on its track are decorated for the holidays by Thanksgiving, which makes a December weekend visit festive. For holiday rides elsewhere in the state, see our list of Christmas train rides in Virginia.
Old Dominion Chapter volunteers
The Old Dominion Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society owns and operates the museum as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies on its visitors. Volunteers greet guests and lead tours at the station, restore equipment at the Hallsboro yard and care for the photo archive. You can help by joining the chapter, volunteering, donating, buying prints from the archive, or shopping in the gift shop.
Rail stops within a couple of hours of Richmond
The Buckingham Branch Railroad excursions are about 56 miles west, and the Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad Museum is about 72 miles southeast. Heading north, the Manassas Railroad Depot Museum is about 85 miles away. Browse every train museum in Virginia to plan a longer trip.
- Buckingham Branch Railroad historic excursion operationsVirginia, VA · about 56 mi
- Buckingham Branch Railroad preservation collectionDillwyn area, VA · about 56 mi
- Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad MuseumSuffolk, VA · about 72 mi
- Manassas Railroad Depot MuseumManassas, VA · about 85 mi
- Alexandria Union Station historic exhibitsAlexandria, VA · about 91 mi
- Virginia Railway Express historic collectionsnorthern Virginia, VA · about 92 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
The Station Master's Office here is set up just as it would have been, and it made me think of the moment in our book when Mr. Conductor, in his blue uniform, holds out a hand to Rally. Railroads always had someone like that keeping everyone safe and on time. My mom dreamed up that story before she died in 2021. You can read how her idea became our book 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.
Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)More for train families
- Train museums in Virginia: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Virginia
- Halloween train rides in Virginia
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Richmond 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
- Richmond Railroad Museum official website(opens in a new tab)
- Richmond Railroad Museum on Facebook(opens in a new tab)
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Richmond Railroad Museum: 20 questions visitors ask
Where is the Richmond Railroad Museum in Richmond, VA?
The Richmond Railroad Museum is at 102 Hull Street, Richmond, Virginia 23224, in the restored historic Southern Railway station. It sits in the Manchester neighborhood just south of the James River, right beside an active rail line. Free parking is available next to the museum building.
What are the Richmond Railroad Museum hours?
As of October 2026, the museum is open Saturday from 11 am to 4 pm and Sunday from 1 pm to 4 pm. It is also available for special tours and events by arrangement. The phone is answered only during weekend hours, so call 804-231-4324 then, or email info@richmondrailroadmuseum.com at any time.
How much are Richmond Railroad Museum tickets?
As of October 2026, admission is $10 for adults 14 to 64, $8 for seniors, $5 for children 6 through 13, and free for children under 6. Tickets are bought at the museum when you arrive. Admission includes a guided tour of the station, so a family visit is quite affordable.
Is there parking at the Richmond Railroad Museum?
Yes. Parking is free in the lot adjacent to the museum at 102 Hull Street. That makes it easy to bring a car seat crowd or a group of grandparents, since you can park close to the door of the station rather than hunting for street spaces in the neighborhood.
How long does a visit to the Richmond Railroad Museum take?
The museum suggests allowing about one hour for a full visit, including the guided tour of its air conditioned station. Rail fans who linger over the maps, photographs and signal displays may stay longer, and kids who love the model railroad may ask to circle back for another look before you leave.
Is there a model railroad at the Richmond Railroad Museum?
Yes. The museum has what it calls Richmond's largest HO scale model railroad. Volunteer modelers keep adding to it, including a custom model of the old Virginia Governor's Mansion that Hal and Mary Davidson built from a 1930 postcard. For many families, the layout is the highlight of the visit.
Is this the Richmond, California or Richmond, Texas railroad museum?
No. This page covers the Richmond Railroad Museum at 102 Hull Street in Richmond, Virginia, run by the Old Dominion Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. Museums in Point Richmond, California, or Richmond, Texas, are separate organizations, so check the state before you plan a trip or buy tickets.
Can you go inside the steam locomotive at the Richmond Railroad Museum?
Yes. Visitors can step into the cab of the museum's 0-4-0 tank engine, built by Porter in 1924 and used by the David M. Lee & Co. in South Richmond, and look over its exterior. It has been cosmetically restored, and it carries both knuckle and link-and-pin couplers.
Does the Richmond Railroad Museum offer train rides?
No. The museum says that after many years it no longer offers train excursions, and its Santa Train excursions have also ended. A visit is a guided tour of the station plus a look at the equipment on the track outside. For rides, consider the Buckingham Branch excursions or the Virginia Scenic Railway.
Does the Richmond Railroad Museum still run the Santa Train?
No. The museum announced that no Santa Train excursions would operate in 2024 or for the foreseeable future. The station and its outdoor equipment are still decorated for the holidays by Thanksgiving, so a regular weekend visit in December has a festive feel. Call 804-231-4324 during open hours with questions.
What is on display at the Richmond Railroad Museum?
Inside are the Freight Room and Station Master's Office with dining car china, passes, lanterns, marker lights, maps and photographs, plus a working signal display and the HO layout. Outside are a Porter steam locomotive, a 1937 Railway Express car, a caboose, a motor car with a trailer, a track scoot and signals.
Is the Richmond Railroad Museum good for toddlers?
Yes, it is a good fit for small children. The visit takes about an hour, the building is air conditioned, and kids under 6 get in free. Climbing into the steam engine cab and watching the HO trains are the big hits. No food is sold on site, so pack snacks.
Can I book a group tour at the Richmond Railroad Museum?
Yes. The museum welcomes group tours by appointment only. Call 804-231-4324 and leave a message, since the phone is only answered during open hours, or email info@richmondrailroadmuseum.com with your group size and preferred date. Scout troops, schools and senior groups are all good candidates for a guided visit.
Can I visit the Richmond Railroad Museum archives?
The archive is not open to the public, but researchers can visit by special appointment. It holds thousands of photographs and documents on the Southern, Norfolk and Western and other Virginia railroads. To arrange a visit, contact George Saunders at gsvgbs8@gmail.com. To buy copies of images, email info@richmondrailroadmuseum.com.
Where can I see Richmond Railroad Museum photos?
The museum's website shows sample images from its historic archive, such as J. I. Kelly's 1940s shots of Southern, Seaboard and RF&P trains around Richmond. Its Facebook page runs a weekly Wayback Wednesday series of archive photos. Prints and digital copies can be purchased by emailing the museum.
Who runs the Richmond Railroad Museum?
The museum is owned and operated by the Old Dominion Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, a volunteer-based educational nonprofit chartered in 1957. The chapter relies on visitor support and also runs a restoration yard at Hallsboro, outside Richmond, where members work on historic cars and locomotives.
How can I volunteer at the Richmond Railroad Museum?
The Old Dominion Chapter welcomes volunteers to greet visitors at the museum, work on equipment at its Hallsboro yard, and learn skills like welding, painting and public speaking. Becoming a chapter member is the usual first step. Ask about it at the museum or email membership@olddominionchapter.com.
Does the Richmond Railroad Museum have a gift shop?
Yes. There is a gift shop inside the station. Buying something there, along with paying admission, helps support the volunteer chapter that runs the museum. If you are hunting for a particular railroad book or souvenir, call 804-231-4324 during weekend hours to ask what is in stock.
What railroads does the Richmond Railroad Museum cover?
The museum tells the story of railroads in Central Virginia over about 150 years, with an emphasis on the Southern Railway, whose station it occupies. Exhibits and archives also cover the Norfolk and Western, the RF&P, the Seaboard Air Line and the Chesapeake and Ohio, among others that served Richmond.
What other train museums are near the Richmond Railroad Museum?
The Buckingham Branch Railroad excursions are about 56 miles away, the Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad Museum about 72 miles, and the Manassas Railroad Depot Museum about 85 miles. Alexandria Union Station's historic exhibits are about 91 miles north, which makes a Richmond to Northern Virginia rail weekend easy to plan.
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