Train Museums in California: Every Railroad Museum by Town
- 51 museums
- 38 towns
- 30 with train rides
- 15 free
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In Sacramento you can buy a ticket at a rebuilt depot standing on the site where America's first transcontinental railroad began its western run, then ride a river excursion train from the same block. That is one stop on this state by state map of train museums for families, and California has a lot of them: this page covers 51 museums, rides and rail collections in 39 towns. Type your town into the finder below to see what is closest to home.
The range here is wide. There are state parks with working roundhouses, free outdoor rail yards in city parks, cable car and streetcar museums where the equipment still carries riders outside, and narrow gauge logging lines climbing through redwoods and Sierra pines. Plenty are free, and many run rides on weekends.
Below you will find quick picks, a map, a card for every museum, drive times from Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento, day trip pairings and notes for parents on strollers, parking and ride rules.
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Quick picks: where to start in California
Best first visit with a toddler
Los Angeles
Entry and parking are free in Griffith Park, there are picnic tables, and a miniature train circles the grounds for little riders.
Biggest collection
Southern California Railway Museum
Perris
It holds what it calls the West's largest collection of railway vehicles, and a weekend ride ticket lets kids ride trolleys and trains all day.
Rail fans, start here
California State Railroad Museum
Sacramento
Twenty-one restored locomotives and cars include an 1862 Central Pacific engine and the only surviving Southern Pacific cab-forward.
Best train ride
Felton
Geared logging engines from the 1890s climb through redwoods to Bear Mountain on a 75-minute round trip that departs daily.
Free and fascinating
San Francisco Cable Car Museum
San Francisco
Admission is free, and the winding wheels you watch are the real ones pulling the cables under the city streets.
Rainy day pick
San Diego Model Railroad Museum
San Diego
It sits indoors in Balboa Park, with giant layouts of California railroads and a toy train table where kids push a button to start a train.
Road trip stop
Tehachapi Depot Railroad Museum
Tehachapi
This free depot museum explains the Tehachapi Loop and sits beside an active mainline where freight trains still climb the pass.
Every train museum in California, town by town
51 museums in 38 towns, A to Z by town. Tap any museum for its own page: the full story, what to see, what kids can do, hours, tickets, contact details and 20 answers to the questions families ask.
Barstow
Depot museum
Western America Railroad Museum
A nonprofit rail museum at Barstow's Harvey House depot, with indoor displays of artifacts, timetables and uniforms and an outdoor line of locomotives and rolling stock, including Santa Fe 1460. Hours are not posted widely, so confirm before you go.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsBerkeley
Outdoor rail park
Redwood Valley Railway
Real live steam trains in miniature, running on a 1.25-mile loop through redwoods in Tilden Regional Park. Rides last about 12 to 15 minutes, trains run weekends all year and daily in summer, and leashed dogs can ride too.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsBishop
Historic rail site
Laws Railroad Museum & Historical Site
The original 1883 narrow gauge depot and yard a few miles north of Bishop, now an 11-acre open-air museum with the Slim Princess, the Death Valley Brill Car and a whole village of historic buildings. Admission is a $10 suggested donation; kids under 12 free.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsCampo
Heritage railroad with a museum
Pacific Southwest Railway Museum
A volunteer-run railroad museum about 50 miles east of downtown San Diego, with vintage train rides from Campo's 1916 depot, a walk-through display building and about 90 locomotives and cars. It also runs the La Mesa Depot Museum.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsColfax
Depot museum
Colfax Heritage Museum
A local history museum inside Colfax's restored Southern Pacific passenger depot, run by the Colfax Area Historical Society and often called the Colfax Railroad Museum. Open Tuesday to Saturday mornings, with a gift shop, archives and cold drinks.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsFelton: 2 train museums
Roaring Camp Railroads and the Felton Covered Bridge are about a mile apart, so a redwood train ride and a stroll to the tall 1892 bridge pair easily.
Historic rail site
Felton Covered Bridge
An 1892 covered wagon bridge over the San Lorenzo River, believed to be the tallest covered bridge in the country, now the centerpiece of a Felton park. Roaring Camp Railroads is about a mile away, so the two pair easily.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsHeritage railroad with a museum
Roaring Camp Railroads
Ride geared logging steam engines from the 1890s through towering redwoods to Bear Mountain on a 75-minute round trip, then explore a recreated 1880s logging town. The forest train departs daily; the Santa Cruz Beach Train returns in spring 2027.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsFillmore: 2 train museums
Fillmore has a restored 1887 Southern Pacific depot at the Fillmore Historical Museum, plus the history of the Fillmore & Western Railway, a former movie railroad that is no longer running.
Depot museum
Fillmore Historical Museum
A small historical park on Main Street in Fillmore, centered on the restored 1887 Southern Pacific depot and joined by a 1919 ranch bunkhouse and a 1905 Craftsman home. Volunteers open it Wednesday through Saturday.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsHeritage railroad with a museumClosed
Fillmore & Western Railway
A former heritage railway in Fillmore that ran excursion and movie trains on county-owned track between Santa Paula and Piru. It no longer posts a schedule, so treat this as a history page and confirm any current activity locally.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsFish Camp
Heritage railroad with a museum
Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad
Ride behind a Shay steam locomotive on an old logging grade 10 minutes from Yosemite's south gate. The one-hour narrated Logger Steam Train runs daily in season, plus gold panning, a log cabin museum and evening Moonlight Specials.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsFolsom: 3 train museums
Three rail stops cluster around Folsom's historic district: a small museum in a Santa Fe car by the depot and turntable, a 12-inch gauge steam train, and the Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad, which announced rides would resume in 2026.
Railroad museum
Folsom Railroad Museum
A small railroad museum in a Santa Fe passenger car beside the Folsom depot and turntable, run by a local railroad history group. The Folsom History Museum on Sutter Street covers the wider town story. Confirm railroad museum hours before visiting.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsOutdoor rail park
Folsom Valley Railway
A small 12-inch gauge steam train in Folsom, running since 1970 with equipment that first ran in the Berkeley hills, including the 4-4-0 Cricket. It does not run in rain or extreme heat, so call ahead.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsHeritage railroad with a museum
Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad
A volunteer heritage railroad on Southern Pacific's old Placerville Branch, boarding in Folsom. After a pause for work on the line, the railroad announced rides would resume in 2026, so check its calendar before you go.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsFort Bragg: 2 train museums
Heritage railroad with a museum
Mendocino Railway
The historic logging railroad behind Fort Bragg's Skunk Train, running freight and heritage trips from its coastal headquarters since 1885. A model railroad of the old timber country sits just behind the main building. Check trip times with the railroad before visiting.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsHeritage railroad with a museum
Skunk Train
A logging railroad from 1885 that now carries families into the Mendocino County redwoods. Ride the year-round Pudding Creek Express from Fort Bragg, pedal a railbike, or catch the Wolf Tree Turn from Willits. Book through the online calendar.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsFullerton
Railroad museum
Fullerton Train Museum
Six vintage railcars beside the busy Fullerton Train Station, including three cabooses and three streamlined passenger cars. Admission is free, and volunteers open the cars from 9 am to noon on the first and third Saturdays of each month.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsGoleta
Depot museum
South Coast Railroad Museum
A 1901 Southern Pacific depot beside Lake Los Carneros with a caboose, an HO model railroad and the Goleta Short Line miniature train. Admission is free; it opens weekends from noon to 4 pm, with last train tickets at 3:45.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsJamestown
Heritage railroad with a museum
Railtown 1897 State Historic Park
The Sierra Railway's historic shops and roundhouse in Gold Country, open daily, with 45-minute train rides on weekends from April to October past the Petticoat Junction water tower. Train tickets include park admission.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsLomita
Railroad museum
Lomita Railroad Museum
A replica Victorian-era depot in a Lomita neighborhood, with a 1901 Baldwin steam locomotive, a Southern Pacific whaleback tender and two cabooses outside. Hours are not posted online, so check the museum's Facebook page before you go.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsLos Angeles: 4 train museums
Four of the city's rail stops share one corner of Griffith Park: Travel Town, the Los Angeles Live Steamers, Walt Disney's Carolwood Barn and the Griffith Park & Southern miniature train. On the third Sunday of the month all four can fit into one outing.
Outdoor rail park
Griffith Park & Southern Railroad
A classic Los Angeles miniature train ride on Crystal Springs Drive, running since 1948 over about a mile of track with bridges and a tunnel. Tickets are a few dollars, sold in person, and holiday light rides start after Thanksgiving.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsModel railroad museum
Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum
A volunteer-built miniature railroad in Griffith Park where the public rides 7.5-inch gauge trains through tunnels and over bridges every Sunday, 11 am to 3 pm, for a suggested $4 donation. Riders must be at least 34 inches tall.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsRailroad museum
Travel Town Museum
A free outdoor railroad museum in Griffith Park, open Tuesday to Sunday, with historic railroad cars, a Fred Harvey exhibit, picnic tables and a miniature train that circles the grounds. Parking is always free.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsRailroad museum
Walt Disney's Carolwood Barn
Walt Disney's own backyard workshop barn, rebuilt in Griffith Park and opened free on the third Sunday of each month from 11 am to 3 pm. Inside: Walt's tools and workbenches, plus a restored original Disneyland Railroad combine car next door.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsNapa
Heritage railroad with a museum
Napa Valley Wine Train
A dining excursion train running about three hours from Napa to St. Helena and back, past Yountville, Oakville and Rutherford. The cars are restored early 1900s Pullmans plus a 1952 Super Dome, and tickets, menus and schedules are on winetrain.com.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsNational City
Depot museum
National City Depot Museum
San Diego County's oldest railroad building, an 1882 Italianate depot four blocks from the trolley, now a weekend museum of streetcar and rail history with San Diego Electric Railway Car 54, Trolley Car 1002 and an O scale layout. Open Saturdays and Sundays.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsNevada City
Railroad museum
Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum
A free museum in Nevada City built around the narrow gauge railroad that served the county until 1942. See 1875 Baldwin Engine 5, tour the restoration shop, and call ahead for a Saturday Railbus ride.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsOakdale
Historic rail site
Sierra Railroad
The 1897 short line that climbed from Oakdale into the Sierra foothills. Jamestown, where it built its roundhouse, is now home to Railtown 1897 State Historic Park, the place to see this railroad's history in person.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsPerris
Railroad museum
Southern California Railway Museum
The West's largest collection of locomotives, streetcars and rail artifacts, with free admission and parking Tuesday to Sunday and train and trolley rides every weekend. Holiday Polar Express and summer Hogwarts-themed trains sell out fast.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsPomona
Railroad museum
RailGiants Train Museum
Free one weekend a month at the LA County Fairgrounds in Pomona, RailGiants lets you climb into the cabs of giant locomotives such as UP 4-12-2 No. 9000 and a Centennial diesel. Big Boy No. 4014 lived here for 52 years before returning to steam.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsPortola
Railroad museum
Western Pacific Railroad Museum
A hands-on museum in the Western Pacific's old Portola diesel shop, with dozens of locomotives you can climb into, weekend caboose train rides in summer and the famous Run-A-Locomotive program. Closed in winter except for special events.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsPoway
Heritage railroad with a museum
Poway-Midland Railroad
A volunteer-run narrow gauge railroad in Old Poway Park with three ways to ride: a 1907 Baldwin steam locomotive, a 1906 San Francisco cable car and a Fairmont speeder. Short rides, weekend service, and a depot with a small museum.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsRancho Cordova
Outdoor rail park
Sacramento Valley Live Steamers Railroad Museum
Ride-on scale trains in Rancho Cordova's Hagan Community Park, pulled over trestles, bridges and past twin waterfalls by volunteer engineers. Public rides run 11 am to 3 pm on the first full weekend of each month in season, and December brings the Santa Train.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsRocklin
Rail preservation group
Southern Pacific Railroad History Center
A nonprofit history center for the Southern Pacific, planning a museum on Rocklin's western edge beside SP's former main line. There is no building to visit yet, but its websites share photos, documents and stories, and membership supports the work.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsSacramento: 2 train museums
Old Sacramento holds the California State Railroad Museum and the rebuilt Central Pacific Passenger Station a block apart, and the station is where you buy tickets for the river excursion.
Railroad museum
California State Railroad Museum
A big state museum in Old Sacramento with 21 restored locomotives and cars, a Sierra construction scene, a dining car set with railroad china and seasonal excursion rides on the river. Open daily 10 am to 5 pm; arrive early for parking.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsDepot museum
Central Pacific Railroad Passenger Station
A reconstructed 1876-era depot at Front and J streets in Old Sacramento, part of the California State Railroad Museum. Peek into the ticket, telegraph and baggage offices, then buy tickets here for the 45-minute river excursion train.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsSan Diego
Model railroad museum
San Diego Model Railroad Museum
A huge indoor model railroad museum in Balboa Park with O, HO and N scale layouts of California railroads, a Toy Train Gallery where kids push a button to run a train, and family days all year. Open Wednesday to Sunday, 11 am to 4 pm.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsSan Francisco: 3 train museums
San Francisco's rail museums sit next to the equipment they describe, since vintage streetcars and cable cars still run in daily service outside the Cable Car Museum and the San Francisco Railway Museum.
Rail preservation group
Market Street Railway
The nonprofit behind San Francisco's vintage streetcars. Its collection runs in everyday Muni service along Market Street and the waterfront, from 1890s San Francisco originals to PCC cars painted for cities across North America.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsTrolley and streetcar museum
San Francisco Cable Car Museum
A free museum inside the real powerhouse that runs San Francisco's cable cars. Watch the giant winding wheels turn, see the cable enter from under the street, and meet three cable cars from the 1870s. Closed Mondays.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsTrolley and streetcar museum
San Francisco Railway Museum
A small, free museum across from the Ferry Building about San Francisco's vintage streetcars and cable cars, run by the nonprofit Market Street Railway. Open Tuesday to Sunday, noon to 5 pm, with a gift shop and an F-line stop out front.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsSan Jose: 2 train museums
History Park in Kelley Park is home to both the History San José Trolley Barn and the volunteers of the California Trolley and Railroad Corporation, and weekend trolley rides there are free.
Rail preservation group
California Trolley and Railroad Corporation
The San Jose volunteer group that restores vintage trolleys at the History Park trolley barn, where free weekend rides run through Kelley Park. It also saved SP steam locomotives 2479 and 1215 and the Lenzen Roundhouse. Membership is open to anyone.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsTrolley and streetcar museum
History San José Trolley Barn
A trolley barn inside San Jose's 14-acre History Park where restored streetcars are kept, repaired and put to work. Free trolley rides run Saturdays and Sundays from noon, with the last ride at 3:15 pm, and History Park admission is free.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsSanta Clara
Depot museum
South Bay Historical Railroad Society
A free museum inside the 1863 Santa Clara Depot, where volunteers run model railroads, show railroad artifacts and care for a 1926 signal tower beside the Caltrain line. Open Tuesday evenings and Saturdays.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsSanta Cruz
Rail preservation group
Santa Cruz County Railroad Historical Society
A local historical society, listed in Freedom near Watsonville, that shares Santa Cruz County rail history through three operating model railroad exhibits at the annual County Fair. No regular museum hours are posted online, so check before planning a visit.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsSanta Margarita
Rail preservation group
Pacific Coast Railroad
A narrow gauge steam railroad on Santa Margarita Ranch with three engines and four restored 1950s coaches from Disneyland. It runs for occasional public events and private charters, so watch the ranch's public events page for ride days.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsSuisun City
Trolley and streetcar museum
Western Railway Museum
Northern California's electric railway museum on Highway 12, open weekends year round, with 50-minute interurban rides on the old Sacramento Northern line, streetcars from San Francisco, Oakland and Sacramento, and big shaded picnic grounds. Book tickets ahead.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsSunol
Heritage railroad with a museum
Niles Canyon Railway
Historic steam and diesel trains through Niles Canyon between Sunol and Fremont's Niles district, on the original 1860s transcontinental route. Regular rides run the second and third weekends from March to October, and the Train of Lights fills November and December.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsTehachapi
Depot museum
Tehachapi Depot Railroad Museum
A free, volunteer-run museum in a rebuilt 1904 Southern Pacific depot beside the active mainline in downtown Tehachapi. Learn how the Tehachapi Loop was built, see a garden of railroad signals, and watch real freight trains climb the pass.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsTruckee: 2 train museums
Truckee's caboose museum by the depot and the Truckee Donner Railroad Society's riding railroad, model of Truckee in 1927 and rotary snow plow make a good weekend stop near Donner Pass.
Rail preservation group
Truckee Donner Railroad Society
The volunteer group behind Truckee's rail history scene: a riding railroad in Truckee Regional Park, free public runs of an HO model of Truckee in 1927, a rotary snow plow by the mainline, Trestle Tours and the caboose museum downtown.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsRailroad museum
Truckee Railroad Museum
A free museum inside a red Southern Pacific caboose next to Truckee's historic depot, open weekends when volunteer docents are on hand. Small kids love the Thomas and Brio train table, and Amtrak trains stop right outside the door.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsWest Sacramento
Heritage railroad with a museum
River Fox Train
Formerly the Sacramento RiverTrain, the River Fox Train runs round trips over 10 miles of a 1911 line through Yolo farmland, with family rides, a Pumpkin Patch Express, a Magical Christmas Train and Railbikes. Book online; the riverside park is free to enter.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsStatewide and regional groups
Rail preservation group
Southern Pacific 4449 (Friends of SP 4449)
The Art Deco era Daylight steam locomotive that once ran Los Angeles to San Francisco on the Coast Route, now kept operable by volunteers at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center in Portland. Entry to the center is free; check its hours before visiting.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsCompare every California train museum side by side
Type, train rides, admission, hours and who each one suits, in one table. Tap a column to sort it, or a museum to open its page.
| Hours | Best for | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western America Railroad MuseumBarstow | Depot museum | No | Not posted online; ask on arrival | Not posted online; confirm locally before visiting | Route 66 road-trippers and Santa Fe fans |
| Redwood Valley RailwayBerkeley | Rail park | Yes | Per-ride tickets; the last published price was $4 a ride or $16 for five (2024) | Saturdays and Sundays 11 am to 6 pm year-round (to sundown in winter); daily mid-June to Labor Day; weather permitting | Toddlers, young kids and steam fans |
| Laws Railroad Museum & Historical SiteBishop | Historic site | Yes | $10 suggested donation; children under 12 free | Open year-round except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day; check the website for daily hours | Road-tripping families, rail fans and Old West history lovers |
| Pacific Southwest Railway MuseumCampo | Heritage railroad | Yes | Check psrm.org/hours for current prices | Check psrm.org/hours for current Campo train and museum days | Families and rail fans on a backcountry day trip |
| Colfax Heritage MuseumColfax | Depot museum | No | Not posted online; call (530) 346-8599 to confirm | Tuesday to Saturday, 9 am to 2 pm; closed Sunday and Monday | History lovers and I-80 travelers |
| Felton Covered BridgeFelton | Historic site | No | No fee is posted online | Not posted online; the bridge sits in a public park | History lovers and families visiting Roaring Camp |
| Roaring Camp RailroadsFelton | Heritage railroad | Yes | Forest train: adults (13 and up) $42.35, children 2 to 12 $26.45, under 2 free | Redwood Forest Steam Train departs daily; see the online schedule for times | Families, steam fans and redwood lovers |
| Fillmore Historical MuseumFillmore | Depot museum | No | Not posted online; call (805) 524-0948 | Wednesday to Friday 9 am to noon and 1 pm to 4 pm; Saturday 10 am to 3 pm | Local history fans and school-age kids |
| Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine RailroadFish Camp | Heritage railroad | Yes | Logger Steam Train adults $37.10, children $19.08, 2 and under free on a lap (as of October 2026) | April through December; Logger Steam Train runs daily, doors open 9 am to 3 pm | Families visiting Yosemite, from toddlers to grandparents |
| Folsom Railroad MuseumFolsom | Railroad museum | No | Railroad museum admission not posted; Folsom History Museum $7 general, 5 and under free | Railroad museum hours not posted here; check with the railroad association | Rail fans and families exploring Historic Folsom |
| Folsom Valley RailwayFolsom | Rail park | Yes | Ticket prices not posted online | Not posted online; call ahead or check the railway's Facebook page | Families with young children |
| Placerville & Sacramento Valley RailroadFolsom | Heritage railroad | Yes | Prices vary by ride; children under 4 ride free | Ride dates vary; the railroad announced in 2026 that rides would resume that year, so check its calendar | Families with young kids and Gold Country history fans |
| Mendocino RailwayFort Bragg | Heritage railroad | Yes | Train fares vary by trip, check the railroad's website; model railroad $5 adults, $3 children, free with train ticket | Seasonal, check the railroad's website before you go | Families, rail fans and Mendocino Coast visitors |
| Skunk TrainFort Bragg | Heritage railroad | Yes | Ticket prices vary by trip; check skunktrain.com | Departure times vary by trip and season; see the online calendar | Families with kids of any age, and couples on the Mendocino Coast |
| Fullerton Train MuseumFullerton | Railroad museum | No | Free | 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month, 9 am to noon | Young train fans and families who like watching real trains |
| South Coast Railroad MuseumGoleta | Depot museum | Yes | Free; donations welcome | Saturdays and Sundays, 12 pm to 4 pm; last train tickets at 3:45 pm | Families with young kids and Santa Barbara area visitors |
| Railtown 1897 State Historic ParkJamestown | Heritage railroad | Yes | Train tickets include park admission: adults $23, ages 6 to 17 $18, 5 and under free | Park open daily; check the State Parks site for hours | Families, film fans and steam lovers |
| Lomita Railroad MuseumLomita | Railroad museum | No | Not posted online; check the museum's Facebook page | Not posted online; check the museum's Facebook page before you go | Young train fans and a short neighborhood outing |
| Griffith Park & Southern RailroadLos Angeles | Rail park | Yes | Ride fares posted at $4 adults, $3 ages 17 and under and seniors over 60; confirm current prices | Daily from 10 am; closes 4 to 5 pm by season and weekday; weekday lunch break | Toddlers and preschoolers |
| Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad MuseumLos Angeles | Model trains | Yes | Suggested donation of $4 per rider | Public rides Sundays, 11 am to 3 pm, weather permitting | Kids who want to ride, and live steam fans |
| Travel Town MuseumLos Angeles | Railroad museum | Yes | Free; donations welcome | Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm; temporarily closed Mondays, Thanksgiving and Christmas | Families with toddlers and young kids |
| Walt Disney's Carolwood BarnLos Angeles | Railroad museum | No | Free; donations welcome | Third Sunday of each month, 11 am to 3 pm | Disney fans, rail fans and families |
| Napa Valley Wine TrainNapa | Heritage railroad | Yes | Ticket prices vary by package; see winetrain.com | Typically two runs a day; check winetrain.com for the current schedule | Adults celebrating a special occasion and rail fans who love vintage cars |
| National City Depot MuseumNational City | Depot museum | No | Admission is not posted online; call (619) 474-4400 | Saturdays and Sundays, 10 am to 4 pm, and by appointment; closed major holidays | Streetcar fans, local historians and families riding the trolley |
| Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad MuseumNevada City | Railroad museum | Yes | Free; donations appreciated | Sat and Sun 10 am to 4 pm; Mon, Tue and Fri 10 am to 2 pm; closed Wed, Thu and holidays | Families, rail fans and gold country road-trippers |
| Sierra RailroadOakdale | Historic site | No | Not applicable; check Railtown 1897 for park admission | No public site of its own; see Railtown 1897 State Historic Park in Jamestown | Rail history fans and Gold Country road trippers |
| Southern California Railway MuseumPerris | Railroad museum | Yes | Free admission and parking; guided tours $5; rides $8 to $13 | Grounds Tuesday to Sunday, 9 am to 5 pm; weekday guided tours 9 am to 3 pm | Families with young kids and streetcar fans |
| RailGiants Train MuseumPomona | Railroad museum | No | Free on open weekends; during the County Fair, entry is included with Fair admission | Second weekend of each month, 10 am to 5 pm; daily during the LA County Fair in May | Families with young climbers and steam fans |
| Western Pacific Railroad MuseumPortola | Railroad museum | Yes | Adults $10, youth 5 to 18 $6, seniors and active military $8, 4 and under free, family pass $25 | Seasonal; closed for winter except special events. Caboose trains weekends Memorial Day to Labor Day, 11 am to 2 pm departures | Hands-on families and diesel fans |
| Poway-Midland RailroadPoway | Heritage railroad | Yes | Tickets sold per ride at the depot ticket office; check the website for prices | Weekend rides; check the calendar on powaymidlandrr.org | Families with toddlers and young kids |
| Sacramento Valley Live Steamers Railroad MuseumRancho Cordova | Rail park | Yes | Ride tickets sold online for public run days; prices are on the club's ticket page | Public runs 11 am to 3 pm on the first full weekend of each month, March through September (an October run is also listed for 2026), weather permitting | Families with young kids |
| Southern Pacific Railroad History CenterRocklin | Preservation group | No | Free to browse online; memberships from $40 a year | No public museum yet; the collection is online | Southern Pacific fans, former employees and researchers |
| California State Railroad MuseumSacramento | Railroad museum | Yes | The museum does not list admission prices on this page; check californiarailroad.museum before you go | Open daily, 10 am to 5 pm | Families, rail fans and history lovers |
| Central Pacific Railroad Passenger StationSacramento | Depot museum | Yes | Check the museum's website; excursion coach tickets $18 adults, $10 ages 6 to 17, under 6 free | Museum front desk lists 10 am to 5 pm daily; check the museum's website for station hours | Families pairing history with a short train ride |
| San Diego Model Railroad MuseumSan Diego | Model trains | No | Prices posted on the museum's Hours and Prices page; free for San Diego residents on Free Resident Thursdays | Wednesday to Sunday, 11 am to 4 pm; open some holiday Mondays; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas | Families with young kids and model railroaders |
| Market Street RailwaySan Francisco | Preservation group | Yes | Regular Muni fare to ride; check SFMTA for current prices | Streetcars run in daily Muni service; the group's site lists 7 am to 11 pm every day | Families exploring the waterfront, and transit fans |
| San Francisco Cable Car MuseumSan Francisco | Trolley museum | No | Free | Tuesday to Thursday 10 am to 4 pm, Friday to Sunday 10 am to 5 pm, closed Mondays | Families riding the cable cars, and anyone curious how they work |
| San Francisco Railway MuseumSan Francisco | Trolley museum | No | Free | Tuesday to Sunday, noon to 5 pm; closed Monday | Visitors to the waterfront, families and transit fans |
| California Trolley and Railroad CorporationSan Jose | Preservation group | Yes | Trolley rides are free; History Park admission is free unless an event notes otherwise | Weekend trolley rides at History Park; check History San José for current ride times | Trolley fans, families and would-be restoration volunteers |
| History San José Trolley BarnSan Jose | Trolley museum | Yes | Free unless an event notes otherwise; trolley rides free | History Park open daily 9 am to 4 pm; trolley rides Saturdays and Sundays, first ride noon, last ride 3:15 pm | Families with young kids and trolley fans |
| South Bay Historical Railroad SocietySanta Clara | Depot museum | No | Free | Tuesday 5 pm to 8 pm and Saturday 10 am to 4 pm (per the society's site; city listing differs, so confirm) | Model train fans, rail history buffs and Caltrain riders |
| Santa Cruz County Railroad Historical SocietySanta Cruz | Preservation group | No | Not posted online; County Fair admission applies at the fair | No regular public hours posted online | Model railroad fans and local history buffs |
| Pacific Coast RailroadSanta Margarita | Preservation group | Yes | Varies by event; one rail guide lists fares from $15 | No regular hours; rides run at occasional public events | Families, Disneyland fans and wedding guests |
| Southern Pacific 4449 (Friends of SP 4449)Statewide and regional groups | Preservation group | No | Free entry to the Oregon Rail Heritage Center; donations welcome | See the Oregon Rail Heritage Center's website for current hours | Steam fans and families visiting Portland |
| Western Railway MuseumSuisun City | Trolley museum | Yes | Adults $19, seniors over 65 $18, children 2 to 14 $16; members free; includes weekend train rides | Saturdays and Sundays, 10:30 am to 5 pm year round; select summer weekdays for walking tours | Families, streetcar fans and Bay Area day trippers |
| Niles Canyon RailwaySunol | Heritage railroad | Yes | Fares vary by ride and event; buy online. Education Trains $8 for ages 3 and up | Regular trains the 2nd and 3rd Saturday and Sunday of each month, March to October; check the online calendar for departure times | Families, rail fans and history lovers |
| Tehachapi Depot Railroad MuseumTehachapi | Depot museum | No | Always free; donations welcome | Thursday to Monday, 11 am to 4 pm; closed major holidays | Families, rail fans and Highway 58 travelers |
| Truckee Donner Railroad SocietyTruckee | Preservation group | Yes | Not posted for each activity; check the event listing | Varies by activity; model railroad public runs and riding railroad dates are posted on tdrrs.org | Families with young kids and Sierra rail history fans |
| Truckee Railroad MuseumTruckee | Railroad museum | No | Free; donations gratefully accepted | Saturdays and Sundays, 10 am to 4 pm year-round, depending on docent availability | Families with young kids and Amtrak riders |
| River Fox TrainWest Sacramento | Heritage railroad | Yes | Train fares vary by trip (family rides from about $78 per person as of October 2026); the park is free to enter | Trains and Railbikes run on scheduled dates; Elkhorn Station park open daily 9 am to 5 pm | Families with kids of any age, couples and groups |
| Fillmore & Western RailwayFillmore | Heritage railroad | No | Not applicable | Not operating; no public hours | Rail history readers and film train fans |
No museum on this page matches every filter you picked.
Map of every train museum in California
How railroads built California
California's railroad story starts with the climb over the Sierra Nevada. The Central Pacific built east from Sacramento, and Chinese workers made up about ninety percent of its labor force on the mountain crossing. Colfax served as the end of the line for two years after the first train arrived in 1865. In 1869, four months after the golden spike, the first train from Sacramento rolled through Niles Canyon to San Francisco Bay, giving the bay its first rail link to the rest of the country.
More lines followed. In 1876 Southern Pacific finished the Tehachapi Loop, where more than 3,000 Chinese laborers cut 18 tunnels to lift the track over the mountains. Narrow gauge lines carried the Owens Valley and Nevada County, logging railroads hauled redwood and sugar pine out of the forests, and in the cities, San Francisco's cable cars climbed the hills from 1873 while Pacific Electric's Red Cars spread across greater Los Angeles.
The California State Railroad Museum tells the Sierra story, and the Colfax Heritage Museum and Niles Canyon Railway stand on the route itself. The Tehachapi Depot Railroad Museum covers the Loop, the Laws Railroad Museum keeps an original 1883 narrow gauge depot, Roaring Camp Railroads and the Skunk Train carry the logging era, and the San Francisco Cable Car Museum and Southern California Railway Museum hold the streetcar and cable car years.
Drive times from California's big cities
Times are approximate and assume no traffic, which in California is a big assumption, so pad them on weekends.
| Museum | From Los Angeles | From San Francisco | From Sacramento |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel Town MuseumLos Angeles | 10 min | ||
| RailGiants Train MuseumPomona | 40 min | ||
| Southern California Railway MuseumPerris | 1 hr 25 min | ||
| Tehachapi Depot Railroad MuseumTehachapi | 1 hr 45 min | ||
| Niles Canyon RailwaySunol | 40 min | ||
| Western Railway MuseumSuisun City | 1 hr | ||
| Roaring Camp RailroadsFelton | 1 hr 15 min | ||
| California State Railroad MuseumSacramento | 1 hr 40 min | ||
| Skunk TrainFort Bragg | 3 hr 10 min | ||
| Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad MuseumNevada City | 1 hr 10 min | ||
| Railtown 1897 State Historic ParkJamestown | 1 hr 40 min | ||
| Western Pacific Railroad MuseumPortola | 2 hr 15 min |
Day trips that pair well
Trip 1
Old Sacramento and the river train
- California State Railroad MuseumSacramento
- Central Pacific Railroad Passenger StationSacramento
- River Fox TrainWest Sacramento
Start in the main museum hall, then walk about a block to the Central Pacific Passenger Station for excursion tickets and a look at the old ticket and telegraph offices. On a day with a scheduled run, the River Fox Train in West Sacramento is about 10 miles away for a longer ride through Yolo farmland.
Trip 2
A Griffith Park third Sunday
- Travel Town MuseumLos Angeles
- Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad MuseumLos Angeles
- Walt Disney's Carolwood BarnLos Angeles
These three share one corner of Griffith Park. On the third Sunday of each month, Walt Disney's Carolwood Barn opens free from 11 am to 3 pm, the Live Steamers give public rides on the same Sunday hours, and Travel Town is free all day.
Trip 3
Redwoods and a covered bridge in Felton
- Roaring Camp RailroadsFelton
- Felton Covered BridgeFelton
Ride the Redwood Forest Steam Train to Bear Mountain, try gold panning in the recreated logging town, then drive about a mile to the 1892 Felton Covered Bridge in its park. Dress in layers, since the forest stays cool.
Holiday trains and seasonal days at California museums
California's rail museums fill the calendar from October to December. The California State Railroad Museum and the Southern California Railway Museum both list The Polar Express, Niles Canyon Railway runs its Train of Lights through November and December, and the Western Railway Museum and Western Pacific Railroad Museum both run Santa Trains. In October, look for the Pumpkin Express in Portola, the Pumpkin Festival at the Western Railway Museum, the Pumpkin Patch Express on the River Fox Train, Thomas and Percy's Halloween Party at Roaring Camp and the Halloween Limited near Yosemite. Our roundup of Christmas train rides in California and our guide to Halloween train rides in California gather these and more, and the Perris Polar Express and Niles Canyon Train of Lights are known to sell out early.
Good to know before you go
- Old Sacramento street parking is limited to 90 minutes and fills early, so arrive at the California State Railroad Museum soon after it opens, and leave the stroller at the station before boarding the excursion coaches.
- At Travel Town, the museum is free but the miniature train is run by a separate business with its own tickets.
- Riders on the Los Angeles Live Steamers trains must be at least 34 inches tall, and public rides run only on Sundays.
- The Western Railway Museum asks families to arrive about 30 minutes early, and trains leave on time. A 50-minute ride is long for some toddlers, so pack a snack.
- Niles Canyon Railway trains run rain or shine and seats are first come, first served; closed-toe shoes are strongly recommended.
- RailGiants in Pomona opens only on the second weekend of each month and during the LA County Fair, so check its schedule before driving out.
- The Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola closes for winter except for special events, and summer caboose rides run weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Train museums just over the state line
From Sacramento, the Nevada train museums start about 2 hr 15 min away at the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City, where Virginia & Truckee steam locomotives are restored and run on scheduled days. Heading north, the Oregon train museums include Train Mountain near Klamath Falls, about 6 hr 15 min from Sacramento, and the Oregon Rail Heritage Center in Portland, home of Southern Pacific 4449, the Daylight engine that once ran the Coast Route between Los Angeles and San Francisco. From Los Angeles, the Arizona train museums begin with the Kingman Railroad Museum in a 1907 Route 66 depot, about 5 hr 40 min away, and the Grand Canyon Railway in Williams is about 8 hours out.
A note from Rally's family
Our family's train is the Pacific Surfliner out of San Diego. In the book, Rally presses his nose to the big arched window as the ocean slides by and a white bird keeps pace with the train for a little while. My mom dreamed up that story before she died in 2021, and now my kids are learning to read with it. If your little one wants to draw their own window seat, our train coloring pages are free to print, and you can read how Rally's story came to be.
A train book for the drive
To let the train do the driving, see our guide to the Pacific Surfliner with kids, the coastal train that starts in San Diego, or browse all Amtrak routes with kids.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. They fit in a folder with a few crayons for the drive to the museum or the wait for the next train ride.
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 every state: search all 50 by town
- Christmas train rides in California: Santa trains and holiday rides
- Halloween train rides in California: pumpkin trains for next October
- The Pacific Surfliner with kids: ride a real Amtrak train
- Every Amtrak route with kids: find a train by city or station
- Train books for toddlers for the drive home
California train museum questions, answered
What is the biggest train museum in California?
The Southern California Railway Museum in Perris says it holds the West's largest collection of locomotives, streetcars and rail artifacts. In Sacramento, the California State Railroad Museum covers 225,000 square feet of exhibits with 21 restored locomotives and cars in its main hall. Perris is the pick for sheer numbers and rides, while Sacramento has the deepest indoor history displays.
Are there free train museums in California?
Yes, several California train museums charge no admission. Travel Town in Los Angeles is always free, as are the San Francisco Cable Car Museum, the San Francisco Railway Museum, the Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum and the Tehachapi Depot Railroad Museum. The Southern California Railway Museum grounds are free too, though rides cost extra. Trolley rides at History Park in San Jose are free on weekends.
Which train museums in California have train rides?
Many California museums offer rides, especially on weekends. Roaring Camp in Felton runs a steam train daily, the Western Railway Museum includes an 11-mile interurban ride with admission, and the California State Railroad Museum runs a 45-minute river excursion. Perris offers all-day trolley and train rides on weekends, and Railtown 1897 runs trains on weekends from April to October.
What is the best train museum in California for toddlers?
Travel Town in Los Angeles is an easy first choice for toddlers. It is free, outdoors, has picnic tables and free parking, and a miniature train circles the grounds on separate tickets. In San Diego, the indoor model railroad museum in Balboa Park has a push-button toy train for small hands, and the History San José Trolley Barn offers free weekend trolley rides.
Is there a train museum in Sacramento?
Yes, Sacramento is home to the California State Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento, open daily from 10 am to 5 pm. Its main hall holds 21 restored locomotives and cars, and the rebuilt Central Pacific Passenger Station nearby sells tickets for a 45-minute excursion along the Sacramento River. Coach fares are $18 for adults and $10 for ages 6 to 17, as of October 2026.
Train museums near Los Angeles?
Los Angeles has four rail stops in one corner of Griffith Park, led by the free Travel Town Museum. The Los Angeles Live Steamers, Walt Disney's Carolwood Barn and the Griffith Park & Southern miniature train sit right beside it. Farther out are RailGiants in Pomona, the Lomita Railroad Museum, the Fullerton Train Museum and the large Southern California Railway Museum in Perris.
Train museums near San Francisco?
San Francisco has the free Cable Car Museum inside the working cable car powerhouse and the free San Francisco Railway Museum across from the Ferry Building. Across the bay, the Redwood Valley Railway runs miniature steam trains in Tilden Regional Park. The Niles Canyon Railway in Sunol and the Western Railway Museum near Suisun City are each about an hour away or less without traffic.
Is there a train museum in San Diego?
Yes, the San Diego Model Railroad Museum sits in Balboa Park and is open Wednesday to Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm. It fills 27,000 square feet with layouts of California railroads. Nearby, the National City Depot Museum opens on weekends, the Poway-Midland Railroad gives weekend rides, and the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum runs vintage trains from Campo.
Is there a train museum in San Jose?
Yes, the History San José Trolley Barn sits inside History Park in Kelley Park, where restored streetcars are kept and repaired. Free trolley rides run Saturdays and Sundays from noon, with the last ride at 3:15 pm, and History Park admission is free. Nearby, the South Bay Historical Railroad Society runs a free museum in the 1863 Santa Clara Depot.
Is there a train museum in Truckee near Lake Tahoe?
Yes, the Truckee Railroad Museum is a free museum inside a red Southern Pacific caboose beside the historic Truckee depot. It opens Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 4 pm when volunteer docents are available, and it has a Thomas and Brio train table for small kids. The Truckee Donner Railroad Society also runs a riding railroad in Truckee Regional Park.
How long is the train ride at the California State Railroad Museum?
The Sacramento Southern excursion at the California State Railroad Museum lasts about 45 minutes and covers 6 miles round trip along the Sacramento River. Tickets are sold at the Central Pacific Passenger Station at Front and J streets. Children under 6 ride free, and First Class runs on weekends starting in April. Strollers stay at the station, since the coach steps are narrow.
Is the Southern California Railway Museum in Perris free?
Yes, admission and parking at the Southern California Railway Museum are free, Tuesday to Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm. Train and trolley rides on Saturdays and Sundays cost $8 to $13 per person and let you ride all day, as of October 2026. Guided weekday tours are $5, and special ticketed events like The Polar Express are priced separately.
What is Railtown 1897 in Jamestown known for?
Railtown 1897 State Historic Park is known as The Movie Railroad, because its trains and scenery have appeared in hundreds of films and TV shows. The Sierra Railway's roundhouse and shops there are still a working steam-era facility. Weekend trains run April to October, and the ticket price includes park admission: $23 for adults and $18 for ages 6 to 17, as of October 2026.
When does the Western Railway Museum near Suisun City run train rides?
The Western Railway Museum runs its 50-minute interurban ride every weekend year round, and the ride is included with admission. The museum opens Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 am to 5 pm. The route covers 11 miles of the old Sacramento Northern electric line. Advance tickets are encouraged, and families should arrive about 30 minutes before departure.
Did Big Boy No. 4014 really live at RailGiants in Pomona?
Yes, volunteers at RailGiants in Pomona cared for Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 for 52 years after it retired. The museum then returned it to Union Pacific, and it steamed again in May 2019. RailGiants still holds Union Pacific No. 9000 and Southern Pacific No. 5021, two of the four three-cylinder steam locomotives left anywhere.
Where can I see a Southern Pacific cab-forward locomotive in California?
The California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento displays Southern Pacific 4294, the only surviving Southern Pacific cab-forward. It is a 1944 Baldwin with the cab placed at the front of the engine, cosmetically restored for display. The same hall holds Central Pacific No. 1, the Gov. Stanford, an 1862 locomotive shown in a Sierra construction scene.
Where can kids ride The Polar Express in California?
The California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento and the Southern California Railway Museum in Perris both list The Polar Express among their holiday events, as of October 2026. The Perris holiday trains are known to sell out fast, so book as soon as you can. The San Diego Model Railroad Museum also holds a Polar Express Family Day in December.
Which California train museums run pumpkin or Halloween trains?
Several do each October. The Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola runs the Pumpkin Express, the Western Railway Museum holds a Pumpkin Festival, and the River Fox Train offers a Pumpkin Patch Express. Roaring Camp hosts Thomas and Percy's Halloween Party with a shorter ride, and the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad runs a Halloween Limited with costume contests.
Who built the Central Pacific Railroad over the Sierra in California?
Chinese workers did most of the work, making up about ninety percent of the Central Pacific's labor force over the Sierra Nevada. The line started in Sacramento, and Colfax served as its terminus for two years after 1865. Chinese crews also built the stonework in Niles Canyon and the tunnels of the Tehachapi Loop for Southern Pacific.
What is there to see at the Tehachapi Depot Railroad Museum?
The Tehachapi Depot Railroad Museum explains the Tehachapi Loop, the 1876 spiral where a long train passes 77 feet above its own tail. It sits in a rebuilt 1904 Southern Pacific depot beside the active mainline, so freight trains may pass while you visit. Admission is free, and it opens Thursday to Monday from 11 am to 4 pm.
Keep exploring
More family train guides from Rally
- DirectoryRailway Museum Directory650 train museums in all 50 states, with hours, tickets and train rides.
- HolidayChristmas Train RidesSanta trains and holiday light rides, sorted by state and town.
- OctoberHalloween Train RidesPumpkin trains and not-too-spooky rides for little ones, by state.
- NovemberThanksgiving Train RidesHoliday weekend train trips the whole family can share.
- AmtrakAmtrak With KidsWhich Amtrak routes work best with babies, toddlers and big kids.
- Plan a tripTrain Trips With KidsEvery Amtrak route, stop by stop, planned for families.