Truckee Donner Railroad Society, California

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Truckee, California · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Rail preservation groupTrain ridesModel railroad public runs on select dates; riding railroad runs on a posted schedule

The Truckee Donner Railroad Society is the volunteer nonprofit that preserves and shares the railroad history of the Truckee region, through a caboose museum, a riding railroad for kids, an operating model of 1927 Truckee and tours of old logging grades in the forest.

  • Volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit
  • Ride-on 7.5 inch gauge railroad
  • HO model of Truckee in 1927
  • Rotary snow plow and steam crane
  • Guided Trestle Tours
  • Snowshed quarterly newsletter

Truckee Donner Railroad Society at a glance

Hours
Varies by activity; model railroad public runs and riding railroad dates are posted on tdrrs.org
Admission
Not posted for each activity; check the event listing
Train rides
Truckee River Railroad, a 7.5 inch gauge ride-on train in Truckee Regional Park, on its posted run schedule
Seasonal events
Truckee 1927 Model Railroad Public Runs, Truckee River Railroad run days, Trestle Tours
Plan for
1 to 2 hours per activity
Best for
Families with young kids and Sierra rail history fans
Best ages
Ages 2 to 12

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

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Truckee Donner Railroad Society? 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 Truckee.

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.

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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.

A society for a town the railroad built

In Truckee, railroad history is never far away. The first transcontinental line climbed Donner Pass here, logging railroads reached into the surrounding forests, and freight trains and Amtrak still run through the middle of town. The Truckee Donner Railroad Society formed to make sure that story is preserved, interpreted and taught, both for Truckee and for the nation it helped connect.

The society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and its mission is practical. Volunteers acquire, preserve and restore equipment and artifacts, then put them where people can see them. Over the years that has grown into a family of projects: the Truckee Railroad Museum in a Southern Pacific caboose by the downtown depot, a partnership in the Museum of Truckee History inside the depot, a display of heavy equipment at the new Truckee Railyard development, a miniature riding railroad in the regional park, and Truckee 1927, an operating model of the town in the heyday of steam.

Members also share what they learn. The quarterly Snowshed newsletter has covered subjects such as the Carson and Tahoe Lumber and Fluming Company, the Boca & Loyalton Railroad, Southern Pacific sleeper 9053 and the Summit Camp National Historic Landmark. More recent issues report a pledge drive for a new railroad museum in Truckee, the society's next big goal. All of this runs on volunteers, from docents and track crews to the people who lead tours along old grades in the woods.

Five ways to meet Truckee's railroads

The Truckee River Railroad is the society's 7.5 inch gauge riding railroad in Truckee Regional Park. Its 1,500 feet of track pass the children's playground, head out toward the community garden, run through a snow shed and past crossing arms, and return to a little train depot. At the new Truckee Railyard development, next to the Union Pacific main line, you can see a former Southern Pacific rotary snow plow and a Bucyrus Erie steam crane that spent years cleaning up wrecks on the Donner Pass line.

Truckee 1927 is an HO scale operating model of Truckee and the surrounding area during the steam era, with models of historic buildings and trains. The society runs it for the public on select dates in the north hall of the Truckee Community Recreation Center, where docents talk about the history and help kids run the trains. For something more adventurous, Trestle Tours are guided, self-driven trips to old railroad lines in the forest, with stops at old grades, ties, rail, logging camp sites and trestles, and short hikes at some of them. Downtown, the caboose museum is open on weekends.

Don’t miss

  1. Truckee River RailroadA ride-on miniature railroad in Truckee Regional Park, complete with its own snow shed, crossing arms and depot.
  2. Truckee 1927 model railroadAn HO scale model of Truckee nearly a century ago, where docents help kids take the controls during public runs.
  3. Southern Pacific rotary snow plowA machine built to chew through deep Sierra snow, now displayed beside the main line at the Truckee Railyard.
  4. Bucyrus Erie steam craneThe wreck crane that cleared derailments on the Donner Pass line for many years, displayed alongside the rotary.
  5. Trestle ToursGuided drives and short hikes to the remains of logging railroads, including surviving trestles in the forest.

Ride the little train, then run the big model

For families, the Truckee River Railroad is the headline. Kids ride a small train through Truckee Regional Park, past the playground and through a snow shed, which makes it easy to pair with playground time. The society publishes a run schedule each season, so check it before you go.

On model railroad public run days, docents help children operate trains on the Truckee 1927 layout indoors at the Community Recreation Center, a good option in cold weather. Older kids who like hiking may enjoy a Trestle Tour, which includes short walks on old railroad grades.

Plan your visit: tips for Truckee Donner Railroad Society

  • Check the upcoming events list on tdrrs.org for model railroad public run dates.
  • The model railroad runs in the north hall of the Community Recreation Center at 10981 Truckee Way.
  • Combine a Truckee River Railroad ride with time on the Truckee Regional Park playground.
  • Watch the Truckee Train Cam on the society's website to see trains before you visit.

Volunteers on track crews, tours and docent shifts

Everything the Truckee Donner Railroad Society does is volunteer powered, from docent shifts in the caboose museum to restoring rolling stock, running the park railroad and leading Trestle Tours. You can join or renew a membership online, which includes the Snowshed newsletter, donate through tdrrs.org, or sign up to volunteer. The society is also raising pledges for a new railroad museum in Truckee.

Rail stops around Truckee and Reno

In town, start with the society's own Truckee Railroad Museum in the caboose by the depot. Over the state line, the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City is about 26 miles away, and the Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola is about 36. For more, see the full list of California train museums.

Every train museum in California

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor view from inside a dark tunnel looking out at a sunny beach and cliffs
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

The little Truckee River Railroad runs through its own snow shed, and I can picture kids ducking into the shadow and popping back out into the sun. In our book that is the tunnel moment: dark for a second, then a big bright light and happy cheers from everyone on board. My mom imagined that cheer long before the book existed. You can read about her 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
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 Truckee Donner Railroad Society?

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.

Truckee Donner Railroad Society: 20 questions answered

What is the Truckee Donner Railroad Society?

The Truckee Donner Railroad Society (TDRRS) is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Truckee, California. Its mission is to preserve, interpret and teach the public about railroading life and history in the Truckee region by restoring equipment and artifacts and displaying them in its museums and exhibits.

What does the Truckee Donner Railroad Society operate?

The society operates the Truckee Railroad Museum in a caboose downtown, the Truckee River Railroad riding railroad in Truckee Regional Park, a rotary snow plow and steam crane display at the Truckee Railyard, the Truckee 1927 model railroad and guided Trestle Tours. It also partners in the Museum of Truckee History.

Where is the Truckee Donner Railroad Society located?

The society's activities are spread around Truckee, California. Its model railroad runs at the Truckee Community Recreation Center, 10981 Truckee Way, the riding railroad is in Truckee Regional Park, and the caboose museum is beside the downtown depot. Mail goes to PO Box 3838, Truckee, CA 96160.

What is the Truckee River Railroad?

It is the society's 7.5 inch gauge riding railroad in Truckee Regional Park. Trains run over 1,500 feet of track, past the children's playground and toward the community garden, through a snow shed and past crossing arms, then back to the train depot. Check tdrrs.org for the current run schedule.

When does the Truckee Donner Railroad Society model railroad run?

The Truckee 1927 model railroad has public runs on select dates. Upcoming listings as of October 2026 include October 22 and 29 and November 5, 2026, in the north hall of the Truckee Community Recreation Center at 10981 Truckee Way. Check tdrrs.org for times and more dates.

What is the Truckee 1927 model railroad?

Truckee 1927 is an HO scale operating model of Truckee and the surrounding area during the heyday of steam railroading, with models of historic buildings and trains that passed through nearly 100 years ago. Docents explain the history and railroad modeling and help kids run the trains.

Can kids run the trains on the Truckee 1927 model railroad?

Yes. During public runs, docents help kids run the trains on the HO scale layout while talking about Truckee's railroad history. It is an indoor activity at the Community Recreation Center, which makes it a good choice for a snowy or rainy day in Truckee.

What is on display at the Truckee Railyard?

The society maintains a display next to the Union Pacific main line in the new Truckee Railyard development. It includes a former Southern Pacific rotary snow plow and a Bucyrus Erie steam crane that was used for many years to clean up train wrecks on the Donner Pass line.

What are Truckee Donner Railroad Society Trestle Tours?

Trestle Tours are guided, self-driven tours of old railroad lines around Truckee. Stops include old grades, ties, rail, logging camp sites and even trestles, and the guide explains each site's history. Some stops include short hikes along old railroad grades. Past tours have visited Donner Summit and the Boca & Loyalton Railroad.

Does the Truckee Donner Railroad Society run the Truckee Railroad Museum?

Yes. The society operates the Truckee Railroad Museum in a Southern Pacific bay-window caboose beside the historic depot in downtown Truckee. It is free and open on weekends from 10 am to 4 pm, depending on docent availability, and has a Thomas and Brio train table for young kids.

Is there a Truckee Train Cam?

Yes. The Truckee Donner Railroad Society links the Truckee Train Cam from its home page at tdrrs.org. Truckee sits on the busy Union Pacific main line over Donner Pass, so the cam is a fun way to watch freight and passenger trains from home.

What is the Snowshed newsletter?

Snowshed is the Truckee Donner Railroad Society's quarterly newsletter, sent to members in print or by email. Issues cover society news and local rail history, such as logging railroads, the Big Boy locomotive tour and Southern Pacific sleeper 9053. Past issues are posted on the society's history page.

How do I join the Truckee Donner Railroad Society?

You can apply for a new membership or renew an existing one online at tdrrs.org. Members receive the Snowshed newsletter and can attend society meetings. Membership also supports the society's museums, its riding railroad and its fundraising for a new railroad museum in Truckee.

How can I volunteer with the Truckee Donner Railroad Society?

Volunteers work as museum docents, help restore the society's rolling stock, run the riding railroad and model railroad, and lead tours. The website has a volunteer link, and you can also email info@tdrrs.org. No experience is needed to start as a docent, only an interest in talking with visitors.

Is the Truckee Donner Railroad Society building a new museum?

The society's Snowshed newsletter has reported on a Truckee Railroad Museum Project and a pledge drive for a new railroad museum. Plans and timing are not detailed in the information available here, so check tdrrs.org or the society's Facebook page for the latest news.

What is the weather like for Truckee Donner Railroad Society events?

The society does not post weather information, so check a current Truckee forecast before you go. Mountain conditions can change quickly. The riding railroad and Trestle Tours are outdoors, while model railroad public runs are indoors at the Community Recreation Center, a good backup on a stormy day.

Is the Truckee Donner Railroad Society good for young kids?

Yes. The riding railroad in Truckee Regional Park sits right by the children's playground, the free caboose museum has a Thomas and Brio table, and docents help kids run trains on the model railroad. Trestle Tours, with driving and short hikes, suit older children better.

How do I contact the Truckee Donner Railroad Society?

Email info@tdrrs.org or write to PO Box 3838, Truckee, CA 96160. For museum docent questions, the museum manager can be reached through the society. The society's Facebook page is also active and is a good place to check for news, event reminders and schedule changes.

How can I donate to the Truckee Donner Railroad Society?

Use the donation link on tdrrs.org, or leave a gift in the caboose museum during a weekend visit. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the society uses donations for equipment restoration, exhibits, the riding railroad and its campaign for a new railroad museum in Truckee.

What train museums are near the Truckee Donner Railroad Society?

The society's own Truckee Railroad Museum is downtown. Nearby, the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City is about 26 miles away, the Virginia & Truckee Railroad about 29, the Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola about 36, and the Colfax Railroad Museum about 44 miles.

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