Tanana Valley Railroad Museum in Fairbanks, Alaska
Railroad museumFreeOpen Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day
The Tanana Valley Railroad Museum in Pioneer Park is home to Engine No. 1, an 1899 H.K. Porter steam locomotive that was the first in Interior Alaska and is now the oldest operating steam locomotive in Alaska and the Yukon, restored over ten years by the Friends of the Tanana Valley Railroad.
- Engine No. 1, built in 1899
- Oldest operating steam engine in Alaska
- Ten-year volunteer restoration
- Free admission
- Open Memorial Day to Labor Day
- Inside Pioneer Park
Tanana Valley Railroad Museum at a glance
- Hours
- Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day; check with the park for daily times
- Admission
- Free
- Train rides
- Interpretive train rides are part of the museum's programs; Engine No. 1 steams for special events
- Seasonal events
- Special event steam-ups of Engine No. 1
- Plan for
- About 30 minutes to 1 hour
- Best for
- Steam fans and families spending the day at Pioneer Park
- Best ages
- Toddlers and up
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Tanana Valley 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 Fairbanks.
Rally Takes the Train
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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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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
The little railroad that served Fairbanks' first industry
The Tanana Valley Railroad was a 3-foot narrow gauge line that ran in Alaska's Tanana Valley from 1905 until about 1917, and part of it later became part of the Alaska Railroad. The museum tells how this small railroad served Fairbanks' first industry, using historical exhibits, interpretive train rides and restoration work done right on site.
The heart of the story is Engine No. 1. It is an H.K. Porter 0-4-0ST steam locomotive built in 1899, and it became the first steam locomotive used in Interior Alaska. It survived long enough for a new generation to rescue it: the Friends of the Tanana Valley Railroad spent about ten years restoring it, and today it is the oldest operating steam locomotive in Alaska and the Yukon Territory. The Friends still fire it up for special events.
The Friends of the Tanana Valley Railroad operate the museum inside Pioneer Park, the Fairbanks North Star Borough park also known as Alaskaland. Admission is free, which makes the museum one of the easiest stops in the park for families, and the volunteers' decade of patient work on Engine No. 1 is the reason there is a working steam locomotive to see at all.
Engine No. 1, Old 67 and a working shop
The museum building is where Engine No. 1 lives when it is not steaming for an event. You can see the small 0-4-0ST locomotive up close, along with another early locomotive known as Old 67, and exhibits that explain how the Tanana Valley Railroad worked. Because restoration happens on site, there may be equipment in progress as well.
The museum sits among Pioneer Park's other historic attractions, so plan to walk on to the Harding Car, the railroad car President Warren G. Harding rode in 1923 when he came to Alaska to drive the golden spike completing the Alaska Railroad. It is also free in summer.
Don’t miss
- Engine No. 1An 1899 H.K. Porter 0-4-0ST, the first steam locomotive in Interior Alaska and now the oldest operating steam locomotive in Alaska and the Yukon.
- Old 67A second early locomotive stationed at the museum alongside Engine No. 1.
- On-site restorationThe Friends restore equipment at the museum, so visitors can see how volunteers keep old railroad hardware working.
- The Harding Car next doorIn the same park, the car President Harding rode in 1923 to drive the Alaska Railroad's golden spike.
A real steam engine sized for small fans
Engine No. 1 is a small locomotive, which makes it less intimidating for little kids than a giant mainline engine. Free admission means you can pop in for a short look and come back later in the day. If you can, time your visit for a special event when the Friends fire up the engine and kids can watch and hear real steam.
The museum is one stop in a large park, so it is easy to mix with Pioneer Park's train ride, carousel and other museums for a full day.
Plan your visit: tips for Tanana Valley Railroad Museum
- Visit between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day; the museum is closed the rest of the year.
- Ask the Friends when Engine No. 1 will next be fired up for a special event.
- Pair it with the free Harding Car in the same park.
- Pioneer Park is reached from Airport Way and Peger Road.
Engine No. 1 does not steam every day, but the Friends of the Tanana Valley Railroad fire it up for special events, and those are the days young visitors remember. Check with the Friends or Pioneer Park for the current schedule. For winter ideas, see our list of Christmas train rides in Alaska.
The Friends of the Tanana Valley Railroad
The museum is operated by the Friends of the Tanana Valley Railroad, the volunteer group that restored Engine No. 1 over about ten years and continues restoration work on site. Admission is free, so the best way to help is to ask the Friends about membership, volunteering or donating when you visit, and to share their work with other families.
More rail fun in Pioneer Park
The Pioneer Park Railroad runs right in the same park, so you can follow up a look at Engine No. 1 with a ride around the grounds. For more ideas across the state, see every train museum in Alaska, and browse the full train museum guide for other trips.
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
Engine No. 1 is a small locomotive, built in 1899, and somehow that makes me love it more. Rally is small too. In our book, his little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. I think every small engine and every small dog deserves a helping hand, and the volunteers who spent ten years bringing this one back clearly agree.
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 Alaska: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Alaska
- Halloween train rides in Alaska
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Tanana Valley 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.
Tanana Valley Railroad Museum: 20 questions answered
What is the Tanana Valley Railroad Museum?
It is a free summer museum in Pioneer Park in Fairbanks, Alaska, operated by the Friends of the Tanana Valley Railroad. It tells the story of the narrow gauge Tanana Valley Railroad and its role in Fairbanks' first industry, and it is home to Engine No. 1, the oldest operating steam locomotive in Alaska and the Yukon.
Where is the Tanana Valley Railroad Museum in Fairbanks?
The museum is inside Pioneer Park, also called Alaskaland, near the Chena River in Fairbanks. Directories list the park address as 2300 Airport Way, Fairbanks, AK 99701, and the park is reached from Airport Way and Peger Road. Ask at the park for directions to the museum building.
What are the Tanana Valley Railroad Museum hours?
As of October 2026, the Fairbanks North Star Borough lists the museum as open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Daily opening times are not posted on the borough page, so call (907) 459-7420 or check with Pioneer Park before you visit.
How much does the Tanana Valley Railroad Museum cost?
Admission is free, according to the Fairbanks North Star Borough's museum listing. That makes it an easy stop to add to a day at Pioneer Park, where the Harding Car is also free. Donations to the Friends of the Tanana Valley Railroad help support restoration work.
What is Engine No. 1 at the Tanana Valley Railroad Museum?
Engine No. 1 is an H.K. Porter 0-4-0ST steam locomotive built in 1899. It was the first steam locomotive used in Interior Alaska, and after about ten years of restoration by the Friends of the Tanana Valley Railroad it is now the oldest operating steam locomotive in Alaska and the Yukon Territory.
Does Engine No. 1 still run?
Yes. Engine No. 1 is described as the oldest operating steam locomotive in Alaska and the Yukon, and it is still fired up for special events. Check with the Friends of the Tanana Valley Railroad or Pioneer Park to find out when the next steam-up is scheduled.
Can you see Tanana Valley Railroad Museum photos online?
The Fairbanks North Star Borough's museums page includes a video about Engine No. 1, and travel guides such as Alaska.org feature the museum. Those are good ways to show kids the locomotive before you visit. On site, photography of the engine is a favorite part of a stop.
What was the Tanana Valley Railroad?
The Tanana Valley Railroad was a 3-foot narrow gauge railroad that operated in Alaska's Tanana Valley from 1905 to about 1917. A portion of the line later became part of the Alaska Railroad. The museum explains how the railroad served Fairbanks' first industry.
Who restored Engine No. 1?
The Friends of the Tanana Valley Railroad restored Engine No. 1 over about a ten-year period. The same group operates the museum and does restoration work on site. Their effort is why the locomotive can still be steamed up for special events.
What is Old 67 at the Tanana Valley Railroad Museum?
Old 67 is another early locomotive stationed at the museum alongside Engine No. 1, according to Alaska.org. The museum does not post a detailed history of it online, so ask the volunteers on site about where it came from and what work it did.
Can you ride a train at the Tanana Valley Railroad Museum?
The museum's programs include interpretive train rides, and Pioneer Park also has a train that runs around the perimeter of the park in summer. Engine No. 1 itself is steamed for special events. Ask at the park about ride times and fares on the day you visit.
Is the Tanana Valley Railroad Museum good for toddlers?
Yes. Engine No. 1 is a small locomotive, the museum is free and you can make a short visit, which suits young children. The rest of Pioneer Park adds a carousel, a train ride and open space, so it is easy to build a whole toddler-friendly day around it.
How long should I spend at the Tanana Valley Railroad Museum?
Most families spend about 30 minutes to an hour at the museum itself. Plan longer if Engine No. 1 is steaming for a special event. Because it sits inside Pioneer Park, you can easily spend a half day or more with the other museums and attractions.
Is the Tanana Valley Railroad Museum open in winter?
No. The Fairbanks North Star Borough lists the museum as open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day only. Outside that season, contact the Friends of the Tanana Valley Railroad or the borough to ask about any special openings.
What else is near the Tanana Valley Railroad Museum in Pioneer Park?
Pioneer Park also holds the Harding Car, the SS Nenana riverboat, the Pioneer Museum, the Kitty Hensley House and the Wickersham House Museum, among other attractions. The Harding Car, used by President Harding in 1923, is free and open 10 am to 6 pm in summer.
What is the Harding Car near the Tanana Valley Railroad Museum?
The Harding Car, also called the Denali Car, is the railroad car President Warren G. Harding rode in 1923 when he came to Alaska to drive the golden spike completing the 500-mile Alaska Railroad. Harding was the first president to visit Alaska. The car is free to visit in Pioneer Park in summer.
Who runs the Tanana Valley Railroad Museum?
The Friends of the Tanana Valley Railroad operate the museum within Pioneer Park, which belongs to the Fairbanks North Star Borough. The Friends restored Engine No. 1 and continue on-site restoration. The borough's parks department manages the larger park.
How can I contact the Tanana Valley Railroad Museum?
A business directory lists the museum's phone as (907) 459-7420. For park questions, the Fairbanks North Star Borough's Pioneer Park staff can be reached at alaskaland@fnsb.gov. The borough's museums page also links to more information about the Friends of the Tanana Valley Railroad.
How can I support the Tanana Valley Railroad Museum?
Because admission is free, donations and volunteer help make a real difference. Ask the Friends of the Tanana Valley Railroad about membership, volunteering or contributing toward restoration work during your visit, or reach out through the information linked on the borough's museums page.
What other train attractions are near the Tanana Valley Railroad Museum?
The Pioneer Park Railroad runs in the same park, so you can add a ride around the grounds. The Harding Car, with its Alaska Railroad history, is also in Pioneer Park. Together they make the park the best single stop for rail history in Fairbanks.
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