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The California State Railroad Museum

Perhaps few other museums rival that of the California State Railroad Museum in terms of displays, visitors, and overall size. The museum, situated in Sacramento, is one of the city’s top tourist destinations, seeing over a half-million visitors annually and it is a testament to just how interesting and engaging railroad museums can be. Because of the resources available to it, like few other museums across the country, the museum is large enough to have various operating departments. While the museum tends to spotlight and feature historic pieces related to California or the western railroads its main focus is about teaching the public not only California’s railroading history but our country’s railroading history as well.

California railroading is, in a nutshell, entirely in a class of its own. While the state was late in being accessed by the nation’s ever growing rail grid (it’s first railroad did not appear until the 1850s although much of this is due to the then territory’s obscurity, until the Gold Rush of the 1840s changed everything) compared to states like New York, Maryland, and Pennsylvania all of whom had over 300 miles of trackage by 1840.

Of course, it did not take long for California to catch up! After the Gold Rush and completion of the Transcontinental Railroad, California’s rail network exploded to over 2,000 miles by 1880 and today remains one of the top railroading states in the country with key main lines crisscrossing the state carrying both passengers, daily commuters, and plenty of freight.

California State Railroad Museum Locomotive Roster

Steam Locomotives

* Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway 0-4-0T #5

* Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway 2-6-2 #1010

* Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway 4-8-4 #2925

* Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway 2-10-4 #5021

* Central Pacific Railroad 4-4-0 #1

* Granite Rock Company Porter 0-6-0ST #10

* Kiso Forest Railway Baldwin 0-4-2T #6

* Mattole Lumber Company Vulcan 0-4-2T #1

* Nevada Short Line Baldwin 2-6-0 #1

* North Pacific Coast Railroad Baldwin 4-4-0 #12

* Northwestern Pacific Railroad Alco 4-6-0 #112

* Overfair Railway MacDermot 4-6-2 #1915

* Southern Pacific Cooke 4-2-4RT #1 C. P. Huntington

* Southern Pacific Baldwin 2-6-0 #1771

* Southern Pacific Baldwin 4-8-8-2 Cab-Forward #4294

* Stockton Terminal & Eastern Railroad Baldwin 2-6-2 #3

* US Army Porter 0-6-0ST #5014

* Union Pacific Lima 0-6-0 #4466

* Virginia & Truckee Baldwin 4-4-0 #12 Genoa

* Virginia & Truckee Baldwin 2-6-0 #13 Empire

* Virginia & Truckee Baldwin 2-4-0 #21 J. W. Bowker

Diesel Locomotives

* Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway EMD F3B #347B

* Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway EMD F7A #347C

* Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Fairbanks-Morse H12-44 #543

* Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Fairbanks-Morse H12-44 #608

* Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Baldwin DS44-1000 #2260

* Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Alco S2 #2381

* Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Alco RS1 #2394

* Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway EMC NW2 #2404

* Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Alco RSD-15 #9820

* Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Alco S2 #2381

* Howard Terminal Railroad Whitcomb 45IE-26B #8

* Klamath Northern Railway Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton SH-2300 #206

* Sacramento Northern Railway EMC SW1 #402

* Sacramento Northern Railway GE 44-tonner #1240

* Sacramento Northern Railway GE 80-tonner #1605

* Sacramento Northern Railway EMD SW8 #2030

* Southern Pacific Baldwin DRS66-1500 #5208

* Southern Pacific EMD E9A #6051

* Southern Pacific EMD F7A #6402

* Southern Pacific EMD F7B #8219

* US Air Force GE 80-tonner #1655

* US Air Force GE 80-tonner #7367

* US Navy Alco MRS-1 #65-00543

* US Navy Alco MRS-1 #65-00545

* Western Pacific EMD F7A #913

Along with the historical pieces on display the California State Railroad Museum has a multitude of other things to do and see. They have facilities available for rent if you are interested in having a gathering at the museum, there are numerous events ongoing throughout the year, train rides available, and you can even volunteer and help the museum not only stay maintained but also work to restore the many pieces of equipment under they have slated to be repaired!

So, if you are planning a visit to the Sacramento area a visit to the California State Railroad Museum. Likewise, if you are perhaps interested in helping the museum in some way please do not hesitate to get in touch with them to see what type of volunteer work is available. For more information regarding the latest events and exhibits going on at the California State Railroad Museum please click here.

For more reading about one of California’s most famous railroads consider one (or both) of the following books. The Southern Pacific was synonymous with the State of California and the book Southern Pacific Railroad from author Brian Solomon gives a superb general overview of the railroad and its extensive passenger operations, and is filled with excellent photographs (most in color) of the Espee. If you are a fan or have any interest whatsoever in the Southern Pacific you will very much enjoy both publications.

Also, for more information and reading about excursion trains and railroad museums you might want to consider picking up Tourist Trains Guidebook from the editors of Kalmbach Publishing's Trains magazine. The book lists and reviews over 400 excursions and museums found throughout the country and is an excellent resource, which has received superb reviews by readers, if you're looking for one to visit. In any event, if you're interested in perhaps purchasing either (or both) of these books please visit the links below which will take you to ordering information through Amazon.com, the trusted online shopping network.

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