Southern California Railway Museum in Perris, California

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Perris, California · Updated October 19, 2026 · 13 min read

Railroad museumTrain ridesFreeGrounds open Tuesday to Sunday; rides on weekends

The Southern California Railway Museum, long known as the Orange Empire Railway Museum, was started in 1956 by young rail fans determined to save Los Angeles' Red Cars and Yellow Cars, and today its Perris grounds hold more than 200 railway vehicles you can see, tour and ride.

  • Founded in 1956 as Orange Empire
  • More than 200 railway vehicles
  • Free admission and parking
  • Weekend train and trolley rides
  • Operating steam engine VC2
  • Fred Harvey Museum

Southern California Railway Museum at a glance

Hours
Grounds Tuesday to Sunday, 9 am to 5 pm; weekday guided tours 9 am to 3 pm
Admission
Free admission and parking; guided tours $5; rides $8 to $13
Train rides
Train and trolley rides Saturdays and Sundays, $8 to $13 per person, ride all day; not during special ticketed events
Seasonal events
The Polar Express, Harry Potter: A Hogwarts Express Adventure, Day Out With Thomas, Dinosaur Express, Railroadiana Swap Meet, Perris Appreciation Day, Rods & Rails, Autumn Harveyst Tea
Plan for
Half a day on a ride weekend
Best for
Families with young kids and streetcar fans
Best ages
Toddlers to teens
Parking
Free on site
Accessibility
Wheelchair lift for mainline trains on request; historic trolleys are not accessible; Grizzly Flats, Carhouse 1, Carhouse 4 and the Machine Shop are fully accessible

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

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Southern California 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 Perris.

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.

Fourteen rail fans, a scrapyard of Red Cars, and a museum in Perris

In the early 1950s, members of the Southern California Division of the Electric Railroaders' Association watched the region's streetcar era end. Buses were replacing Pacific Electric's Red Cars and the Los Angeles Railway's Yellow Cars, and retired cars were stacked four high in a Terminal Island scrapyard. As the museum puts it, their world was slipping away.

On the evening of March 23, 1956, fourteen of them met at Ronald Longworth's home and agreed to build an operating trolley museum. They named it the Orange Empire Traction Company, borrowing the name of an early Pacific Electric excursion through San Bernardino, Redlands and Riverside, and elected Pat Underwood president, Jim Walker secretary and Dick Burns treasurer. Because only three of them were old enough to sign legal papers, Richard Burns, Norman Johnson and Patrick Underwood signed the articles of incorporation in June, and on July 20, 1956 the state chartered the group as a nonprofit educational organization.

The group started at Griffith Park in Los Angeles and moved in 1958 to the former Pinacate Station in Perris, then operating as the Orange Empire Trolley Museum. Over the decades it grew far past trolleys into what it calls the West's largest collection of railway artifacts, with steam, diesel and electric equipment dating from the 1870s, and it later took the name Southern California Railway Museum.

The museum is still nonprofit and volunteer powered. Volunteers staff the carhouses, restore equipment in the diesel shop and run the trains, and the diesel shop team has put long hours into AT&SF 560, a rare Fairbanks Morse diesel that sat in storage for 30 years.

Carhouses, a working railway and a narrow gauge corner

The grounds cover more than 100 acres, with more than 200 locomotives, streetcars, passenger cars and freight cars plus historic buildings. Grounds are open Tuesday through Sunday with free admission and parking. On weekdays the exhibit buildings are seen on $5 guided tours. On weekends, select exhibits open on their own: Carhouse 1 with the Los Angeles Railway collection, the Grizzly Flats narrow gauge collection, and the Fred Harvey Museum on the first and third Saturdays. Carhouse 4, with steam locomotives and the Pacific Electric collection, and the Middleton model railroad collection open when volunteers are available.

Every weekend you can ride the museum railway on a real trolley or behind a locomotive, as many times as you like during operating hours. The collection includes Pacific Electric, Los Angeles Railway, Southern Pacific, Union Pacific and Santa Fe equipment and trolleys from San Diego, Fresno, Bakersfield, San Francisco and Sacramento. The Thomas Gross Archive Facility holds photographs, drawings, maps and books, and the Pinacate Station store sells snacks, coffee and ice cream.

Don’t miss

  1. Ventura County Railway No. 2The museum's operating steam engine pulls trains during special events and on select weekends.
  2. Carhouse 1 and the Yellow CarsHome to the Los Angeles Railway collection, the city streetcars that gave the museum's founders their start.
  3. The Pacific Electric collectionCars from America's largest interurban electric railway, which once covered the Los Angeles region with more than 1,000 miles of track.
  4. Grizzly FlatsA narrow gauge collection whose story began in 1938 in Ward and Betty Kimball's backyard orange grove in San Gabriel.
  5. The Fred Harvey MuseumDisplays about Fred Harvey's railroad restaurants and the Harvey Girls who served travelers along the Santa Fe.
  6. AT&SF 560A Fairbanks Morse H12-44, the only survivor of the six of this model Santa Fe bought, now a diesel shop restoration project after 30 years in storage.

Ride as often as you like, then picnic by the tracks

Weekend ride tickets let families ride the trolleys and trains as many times as they want during operating hours, which is perfect for kids who want to go again. Big themed events fill the calendar: Day Out With Thomas in May, the Dinosaur Express in March, Harry Potter: A Hogwarts Express Adventure from July to October, and The Polar Express in November and December. Scouts can earn the railroading merit badge, with a turn at the throttle.

The grounds have park areas for a picnic, and Inland Empire weather swings a lot, so bring sunscreen and layers. This is a working railroad, so teach kids to stop, look and listen at every crossing. Pets are not allowed, though service animals are welcome.

Plan your visit: tips for Southern California Railway Museum

  • Visit on a weekend if you want to ride and see the carhouses open.
  • For timed-ticket events, arrive an hour before your departure.
  • Call ahead if you want to see Carhouse 4 or the model railroad, which open based on volunteers.
  • No pets on the grounds; service animals are welcome.
  • Bring a picnic; the grounds have park space and the store sells snacks and ice cream.

The museum's biggest nights come at the holidays, when THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride returns on select dates in November and December, and each summer into fall, when Harry Potter: A Hogwarts Express Adventure runs from July through October. Both are separately ticketed, and regular rides pause during them. For more holiday options statewide, see our roundup of Christmas train rides in California.

A nonprofit run by the people who love its trains

The Southern California Railway Museum is a nonprofit that relies on members and volunteers, who restore equipment, staff the exhibits and operate the railway. The museum says volunteer roles exist for most ages and abilities. Members get free guided tours and news from the museum, and donations of any size help protect Southern California's railway history. The Harvey Girl Historical Society also hosts events in the Fred Harvey Museum.

Inland Empire and Orange County rail stops

The RailGiants Train Museum in Pomona is about 38 miles away, and the Fullerton Train Museum is about 40 miles west. Heading south, the Poway-Midland Railroad is about 56 miles off. For the rest, browse train museums all over California.

Every train museum in California

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi dreaming about his toy turtle, green bone and yellow ball
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Families here pack picnic lunches and ride the trolleys again and again, and that is my idea of a perfect day. Before his trip in our book, Rally packs his suitcase with the things that matter most: his turtle toy, his green bone and his yellow ball. I always wonder what little riders tuck in their bags for a day like this. If yours need something for the car ride, our coloring pages fit nicely in a backpack.

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 Southern California 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.

Southern California Railway Museum: 20 questions riders ask

Where is the Southern California Railway Museum?

The Southern California Railway Museum is at 2201 South A Street, Perris, CA 92570, in southwest Riverside County. The museum suggests using a map app such as Google Maps to plan the drive and check traffic. The store is in the historic Pinacate Station on the grounds.

What are the Southern California Railway Museum hours?

As of October 2026, the museum grounds are open Tuesday through Sunday, 9 am to 5 pm. Weekday guided tours run Tuesday to Friday, 9 am to 3 pm, and train and trolley rides run Saturdays and Sundays. Special paid events can change these times, so check the event schedule at socalrailway.org.

How much are Southern California Railway Museum tickets?

Entry to the grounds is free, as is parking, as of October 2026. Weekend train and trolley rides cost $8 to $13 per person, weekday guided tours are $5 per person, and members tour free. Special events such as The Polar Express and the Hogwarts Express Adventure are priced separately on the museum's website.

Is parking free at the Southern California Railway Museum?

Yes. The museum says parking is free, along with general admission to the grounds. Park on site at 2201 South A Street in Perris. For busy timed-ticket events, the museum asks guests to arrive an hour before their departure, so allow extra time for parking on those days.

When can you ride the trains at the Southern California Railway Museum?

Regular train and trolley rides run every Saturday and Sunday, except during special ticketed events, and sometimes during weekday programs. A ride ticket lets you ride as many times as you like during operating hours. As of October 2026, rides cost $8 to $13 per person. Book on the museum's website.

Does the Southern California Railway Museum have a Harry Potter train?

Yes. Harry Potter: A Hogwarts Express Adventure runs at the museum, listed on its calendar for July, August, September and October. It is a separately ticketed event, and tickets are sold through the museum's events page. Check socalrailway.org for this year's dates, prices and departure times.

Does the Southern California Railway Museum do The Polar Express?

Yes. THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride returns to the museum on select dates in November and December 2026, with the first departure listed for November 11. Tickets are sold through the museum's events page. Timed-ticket events ask guests to arrive an hour before departure.

What events are coming up at the Southern California Railway Museum?

The museum's yearly calendar includes the Dinosaur Express in March, a spring swap meet, Day Out With Thomas in May, a Mother's Day Tea, Rods & Rails in July, Harry Potter: A Hogwarts Express Adventure, the Fall Railroadiana Swap Meet, the Autumn Harveyst Tea and The Polar Express. Check socalrailway.org for current dates.

What was the Southern California Railway Museum called before?

It was long known as the Orange Empire Railway Museum. The founders incorporated in 1956 as the Orange Empire Traction Company, a name taken from an early Pacific Electric excursion through San Bernardino, Redlands and Riverside, and after moving to Perris it operated as the Orange Empire Trolley Museum.

When was the Southern California Railway Museum founded?

Fourteen members of the Southern California Division of the Electric Railroaders' Association met on March 23, 1956 to form the group, and the state granted it a nonprofit charter on July 20, 1956. It started at Griffith Park in Los Angeles and moved to the former Pinacate Station in Perris in 1958.

What is in the Southern California Railway Museum roster?

The museum holds more than 200 railway vehicles, including Pacific Electric Red Cars, Los Angeles Railway Yellow Cars, Southern Pacific, Union Pacific and Santa Fe equipment, the Grizzly Flats narrow gauge collection and trolleys from several other California cities. Its operating steam engine is Ventura County Railway No. 2. The full roster is on socalrailway.org.

Can you take a guided tour at the Southern California Railway Museum?

Yes. Guided tours run Tuesday to Friday, 9 am to 3 pm, and on Saturdays by appointment, at $5 per person as of October 2026. Members tour free. During the week, tours are the way to see inside the exhibit buildings. Book a guided tour through the museum's website.

Which Southern California Railway Museum exhibits are open on weekends?

On weekends, Carhouse 1 (Los Angeles Railway) opens 10 am to 5 pm and Grizzly Flats (narrow gauge) 11:30 am to 4:30 pm. The Fred Harvey Museum opens the first and third Saturdays, 11 am to 4 pm. Carhouse 4 and the model railroad depend on volunteers, so call or email ahead.

Is the Southern California Railway Museum good for toddlers?

Yes, it suits young kids well. Weekend ride tickets cover unlimited rides on trains and trolleys during operating hours, there is park space for a picnic, and events like Day Out With Thomas and the Dinosaur Express are aimed at little ones. Bring sunscreen and layers, since Inland Empire weather varies.

Is the Southern California Railway Museum wheelchair accessible?

Partly. A wheelchair lift is available for mainline trains on request, but the historic trolleys are not wheelchair accessible. Grizzly Flats, Carhouse 1, Carhouse 4 and the Machine Shop are fully accessible by wheelchair. Call (951) 943-3020 before your visit to arrange the lift.

Are dogs allowed at the Southern California Railway Museum?

No. The museum does not allow pets on its grounds. Service animals specifically trained to aid a person with a disability are welcome. Because the museum is a real operating railroad, everyone should stop, look and listen at each track crossing.

Is there food at the Southern California Railway Museum?

The Museum Store in the historic Pinacate Station sells light snacks, drinks, coffee and ice cream. The museum also has park spaces where visitors are welcome to bring a picnic lunch. As of October 2026, the store is open 9 am to 4:30 pm on museum days.

How can I volunteer at the Southern California Railway Museum?

The museum says volunteer opportunities exist for most ages and abilities, from restoration in the diesel shop to staffing exhibits and helping at events. Start with the Be A Volunteer page on socalrailway.org, or email info@socalrailway.org. Members can also sign up to help with specific special events.

How long should we spend at the Southern California Railway Museum?

On a ride weekend, plan on half a day so you can ride the trains and trolleys more than once, walk the open carhouses and have a picnic. A weekday guided tour takes less time. Event days such as The Polar Express follow their own timed schedules.

What train museums are near the Southern California Railway Museum?

The RailGiants Train Museum in Pomona is about 38 miles away and the Fullerton Train Museum about 40 miles. The Poway-Midland Railroad is about 56 miles south, the Lomita Railroad Museum about 62 miles, and Travel Town and the Griffith Park rail sites in Los Angeles about 66 miles.

Keep exploring

More family train guides from Rally

Kelsey Cecil
Previous

Nevada State Railroad Museum, Boulder City, Nevada
Next

Iron Mountain Railway in Jackson, Missouri