Utah State Railroad Museum at Ogden Union Station, Utah

Oct 19

Ogden, Utah · Updated October 19, 2026 · 13 min read

Railroad museumOpen Wednesday to Saturday, 11 am to 4 pm

Ogden Union Station was the heart of railroading in Northern Utah for a century, and since 1988 it has been home to the official Utah State Railroad Museum, with exhibits inside the station and full-size locomotives in the Eccles Rail Center out back.

Official state railroad museum since 1988
Inside historic Ogden Union Station
Four-train Wattis-Dumke Model Railroad
Eccles Rail Center locomotives
Children's play area
Adults $7, kids 3 to 12 $3

Utah State Railroad Museum at Ogden Union Station at a glance

Hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 11 am to 4 pm; closed state and federal holidays
Admission: Adults (18 to 64) $7, seniors $5, teens $4, youth 3 to 12 $3, under 3 free; one ticket covers all the museums and galleries
Seasonal events: Heritage Festival (second week of May), RAMP Summer Saturdays, Blue Star Museums, Holiday Fun Day
Plan for: About 2 hours for the railroad museum and rail center; longer to see all the Union Station museums
Best for: Families with young kids, rail fans and history lovers
Best ages: Toddlers to age 12

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

Contact and directions

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Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Utah State Railroad Museum at Ogden Union Station? 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 Ogden.

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.

How Ogden's great depot became the state's railroad museum

From the days of the transcontinental railroad until passenger service ended in the 1970s, Ogden was the central hub of rail travel in the region, and Union Station was the center of it all. The railroad brought wealth to Ogden and prosperity to Northern Utah, and the station saw generations of travelers and railroad workers pass through its doors.

When the trains stopped, the building found a new role. In 1978 Union Station began its change from a working depot to a cultural center, and the railroad museum moved in. Ten years later, in 1988, it was designated the official Utah State Railroad Museum. The Spencer S. and Hope F. Eccles Rail Center was dedicated as an addition to the museum in 1989, honoring an Ogden family with deep railroad ties: Spencer S. Eccles was the son of David Eccles, a former Ogden mayor who had a strong hand in local railroading.

The railroad itself has stayed a friend of the museum. Union Pacific donated a vintage Southern Pacific locomotive to the collection and renewed the museum's lease on the historic station property for a dollar a year. Out in the yard, volunteers work to return selected pieces of rolling stock to their original condition, with the 223 locomotive and tender at the top of the list.

Today the station is run as the Museums at Union Station, which share the building with the John M. Browning Firearms Museum, the Browning-Kimball Classic Car Museum, the Utah Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum and art galleries. One ticket covers them all, which makes the station an easy full afternoon for families.

Under the Lucin Cutoff timbers and out to the big engines

The museum greets you with a real section of the Lucin Cutoff trestle, the line that carried trains across the Great Salt Lake from 1904 until the late 1950s, and you walk in beneath its weathered timbers. Inside, interactive and pictorial displays trace the building of the transcontinental railroad and the golden age of rail travel. The Big Boy Theater shows a film about the giant Big Boy locomotives that ran between Ogden and Cheyenne, and the Golden Spike Vault holds the original Golden Spike Safe and Utah's Centennial Gold Spike, unveiled in March 2011. Groups can weigh themselves on the station's original baggage scale.

The Wattis-Dumke Model Railroad is a long-time favorite: carefully built scale scenes of the local landscape, a model of Union Station and historic 25th Street, and four trains that start running when a motion sensor sees you come in. Look closely for the small jokes hidden in the scenery, like a man floating in a barrel in the Great Salt Lake, a fisherman, elk and a bald eagle.

Outside, the Eccles Rail Center lets you stand beside full-size locomotives, switch engines, boxcars and cabooses. The roster has included eleven diesel units, among them Cargill 6751, an SW1 that started life as Baltimore and Ohio 213, and staff have a soft spot for the steam-powered rotary snow plow.

Don’t miss

Wattis-Dumke Model RailroadFour motion-activated trains run through detailed scenes of local terrain, Union Station and 25th Street, with tiny surprises tucked into the landscape.
Golden Spike VaultHome to the original Golden Spike Safe and Utah's Centennial Gold Spike, a direct link to the 1869 story told 40 miles away at Promontory.
Lucin Cutoff Trestle ExhibitA weathered section of the trestle that carried trains across the Great Salt Lake for about 50 years now stands at the museum entrance.
Steam rotary snow plowA staff favorite in the Eccles Rail Center, this machine cleared mountain lines with a spinning blade powered by steam.
Big Boy TheaterA film about the massive Big Boy locomotives that worked between Ogden and Cheyenne.
Original baggage scaleThe station's own scale still works, and families love seeing how much their group weighs together.

Play cabs, crossing lights and a children's play area

There is plenty here for hands. In the Maintenance of Way exhibit, kids can climb into a locomotive cab and pretend to drive, see a rail handcar used to carry track crews, and tap out messages to each other on two telegraph keys. The Operation Lifesaver exhibit asks children railroad crossing safety questions, and right answers make the crossing lights flash.

The museum also lists a Children's Play area and a caboose among its features, and the motion-activated model trains are a hit with toddlers. Kids 2 and under get in free, and youth 3 to 12 pay $3. The big locomotives outside in the Eccles Rail Center are best for kids who can follow a few rules around large equipment.

Plan your visit: tips for Utah State Railroad Museum at Ogden Union Station

Plan around the Wednesday to Saturday schedule; the museum is closed Sunday to Tuesday and on holidays.
Your ticket also covers the firearms, classic car and western heritage museums in the station.
Field trips, group tours, veterans and active duty military get discounted rates.
Come during the Heritage Festival in May or a summer RAMP day for free admission.
From I-15, the 21st Street and 31st Street exits both lead to Wall Avenue.

Union Station has hosted a free Holiday Fun Day on the first Friday in December, celebrating holiday traditions from around the world with crafts, food and live music, and it opens its doors free for the Heritage Festival each May. Check the station's What's On page for this year's dates. For a ride with Santa, see our guide to Christmas train rides in Utah.

The station, the city and the volunteers in the yard

The Museums at Union Station are part of Ogden City, and Union Pacific leases the station property to the museum for a dollar a year. Volunteers are restoring rolling stock in the Eccles Rail Center, led by work on the 223 locomotive and tender. Memberships run $30 individual, $50 dual and $60 family and include perks at other local attractions plus 10 percent off at the gift shop.

More rail stops near Ogden

The S&S Shortline Railroad Park and Museum in Farmington is only about 17 miles south. Head about 40 miles northwest to Golden Spike National Historical Park to see where the rails met, or about 32 miles to the Historic Denver and Rio Grande Western Depot in Salt Lake City. See all of Utah's train museums for more.

Every train museum in Utah

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of a conductor in a blue suit shaking Rally's paw on the train — From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

A station as grand as Ogden's must have seen thousands of conductors in blue holding out a hand to travelers stepping down. In our book, Mr. Conductor reaches out to Rally just like that, and he trusts him right away. My kids are learning to read now, and the conductor page is one they sound out slowly and proudly. You can find more simple train stories on our train books for toddlers list.

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.

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More for train families

Train museums in Utah: every museum by town, with a map
Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
Christmas train rides in Utah
Halloween train rides in Utah
Every Amtrak route with kids

Work or volunteer at Utah State Railroad Museum at Ogden Union Station?

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.

Utah State Railroad Museum at Ogden Union Station: 20 FAQs

Where is the Utah State Railroad Museum?

The Utah State Railroad Museum is inside Ogden Union Station at 2501 Wall Avenue, Ogden, Utah 84401. From I-15 southbound, take the 21st Street exit and head east to Wall Avenue. From the south, take the 31st Street exit and go east to Wall Avenue, then turn left to reach the station.

What are the Ogden Union Station museum hours?

As of October 2026, the Museums at Union Station are open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 am to 4 pm and closed on state and federal holidays. Older listings with Monday to Saturday hours are out of date. Check the Visit page on ogdencity.gov before you go in case hours change.

How much does it cost to visit the Utah State Railroad Museum?

As of October 2026, general admission is $7 for adults 18 to 64, $5 for seniors 65 and up, $4 for teens 13 to 17, $3 for youth 3 to 12, and free for babies 2 and under and Union Station members. Prices are subject to change, and special events are ticketed separately.

Does one ticket cover all the museums at Ogden Union Station?

Yes. All tickets include access to the museum exhibits and galleries in Union Station, so the railroad museum, the John M. Browning Firearms Museum, the Browning-Kimball Classic Car Museum and the Utah Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum are covered together. General admission does not include separately ticketed museum events.

Are there discounts at the Ogden Union Station museums?

Yes. As of October 2026, discounted group rates of $4 for adults, $3 for seniors and teens and $2 for youth are offered for field trips, group tours, veterans and active duty military. Blue Star Museums also gives active duty military and up to five family members free entry from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Are there free days at Ogden Union Station?

Yes. Admission is free during the Heritage Festival in the second week of May, on RAMP Summer Saturdays in June, July and August, and for active duty military families through Blue Star Museums in summer. Check the station's What's On page for this year's exact dates before planning around them.

What is the Wattis-Dumke Model Railroad?

The Wattis-Dumke Model Railroad is the museum's large scale model layout, with scenes of local terrain, a model of Union Station and historic 25th Street, and four operating trains that start running when a motion sensor detects visitors. Look for small hidden details such as a man floating in a barrel in the Great Salt Lake.

What is the Eccles Rail Center at Union Station?

The Spencer S. and Hope F. Eccles Rail Center is the outdoor yard of full-size equipment, dedicated as part of the Utah State Railroad Museum in 1989. It displays locomotives, switch engines, boxcars, cabooses and a steam-powered rotary snow plow, and volunteers work there restoring pieces such as the 223 locomotive and tender.

What locomotives are at the Utah State Railroad Museum?

The Eccles Rail Center's roster has included eleven diesel units, among them Cargill 6751, an SW1 switcher that began as Baltimore and Ohio 213 and later became B&O 8413. Union Pacific also donated a vintage Southern Pacific locomotive, and volunteers are restoring the 223 locomotive and tender. Ask staff what is on display now.

What is the Golden Spike Vault in Ogden?

The Golden Spike Vault is an exhibit in the Utah State Railroad Museum featuring the original Golden Spike Safe and Utah's Centennial Gold Spike, unveiled in March 2011. It connects the museum to the 1869 completion of the transcontinental railroad at Promontory Summit, about 40 miles away.

Is the Utah State Railroad Museum good for toddlers?

Yes, it is one of the more hands-on railroad museums in the region. Kids can pretend to drive in a locomotive cab, tap telegraph keys, activate crossing lights in the Operation Lifesaver exhibit, watch the motion-activated model trains and use the Children's Play area. Babies 2 and under get in free.

Can kids climb on trains at the Utah State Railroad Museum?

Inside, the Maintenance of Way exhibit has a locomotive cab where children can sit and play driving a train, and the museum lists a caboose among its features. Outside in the Eccles Rail Center, the full-size locomotives are mainly for looking at up close. Ask staff which equipment is open on your visit.

When did Ogden Union Station become a railroad museum?

Union Station began housing the railroad museum in 1978, as the building changed from a working train station into a cultural center. Ten years later, in 1988, it was designated the official Utah State Railroad Museum. Passenger service through Ogden had ended in the 1970s after more than a century.

Why was Ogden important to railroading?

Ogden was the central hub of railroad travel in the region from the time of the transcontinental railroad until passenger service ended in the 1970s. The railroad brought wealth to the city and prosperity to Northern Utah, and Union Station was the heart of Ogden railroading throughout that history.

What is the Lucin Cutoff exhibit at Union Station?

It is a real section of the Lucin Cutoff trestle, the railroad line that crossed the Great Salt Lake and carried trains from 1904 until the late 1950s. It stands at the entrance of the railroad museum, so visitors walk beneath its timbers and can see 50 years of weathering up close.

Can I book a field trip or group tour at the Utah State Railroad Museum?

Yes. School and K-12 groups need reservations, and the Museums at Union Station run education programs inside the museums, online and around downtown Ogden. Field trips and group tours qualify for discounted admission. See the Education page on ogdencity.gov or call the station to arrange a visit.

Can you rent Ogden Union Station for an event?

Yes. Spaces including the Browning Theater, Theater Annex, Grand Lobby, Gallery 51, Wattis Dumke Room and Fountain Plaza can be rented Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 10 pm. Email unionstationevents@ogdencity.gov with your preferred space, date and guest count, and the team will set up a site visit.

Does Ogden Union Station have a Christmas event?

Union Station has hosted a free Holiday Fun Day on the first Friday in December, with crafts, food and live music celebrating holiday traditions from around the world. Check the station's What's On page on ogdencity.gov for this year's holiday plans, since event details and dates can change from year to year.

How can I support the Utah State Railroad Museum?

Buying a membership is the simplest way. As of October 2026, memberships are $30 individual, $50 dual and $60 family for a full year, with free museum admission, member events, a quarterly newsletter, perks at the Ogden Nature Center, Dinosaur Park and Tracy Aviary, and 10 percent off at the gift shop.

What train museums are near Ogden Union Station?

The S&S Shortline Railroad Park and Museum in Farmington is about 17 miles away, the two historic depots in Salt Lake City are about 32 miles, and Golden Spike National Historical Park is about 40 miles northwest. The Tooele Valley Railroad Museum and Evanston's roundhouse in Wyoming are each a little over 50 miles away.

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Kelsey Cecil