RailGiants Train Museum

RailGiants Train Museum
Morven · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	RailGiants Train Museum
Location	Pomona, California, Los Angeles County, California
Type	Railway museum
Established	1975
Owner	Southern California Railway Museum

RailGiants Train Museum The RailGiants Train Museum is a railway museum located in Pomona, California at the Los Angeles County Fairplex. The museum displays a collection of historic steam locomotives, diesel locomotives, passenger cars, and railroad artifacts related to Southern Pacific Railroad, Union Pacific Railroad, and other North American railroads. It operates static displays and occasional operating excursions in partnership with regional organizations and preservation groups.

History

The museum originated from a preservation effort that gathered equipment from Southern Pacific Railroad, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, Union Pacific Railroad, Santa Fe, Rock Island Lines, and private collections during the 1970s and 1980s. Early patrons included volunteers associated with RailGiants Historical Railroad Society and personnel from Southern California Railway Museum affiliates who negotiated display rights with corporate owners such as Southern Pacific Transportation Company and Union Pacific Corporation. The museum site at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds became a public exhibit area during Los Angeles County Fair events and expanded through loans and acquisitions from organizations like California State Railroad Museum and private collectors. Significant milestones include the preservation of notable locomotives linked to events such as the Transcontinental Railroad anniversary commemorations and excursions coordinated with Amtrak and regional tourist operators.

Collections and Exhibits

The collection features several prominent steam locomotives associated with Southern Pacific Railroad and other major carriers, with rolling stock that includes heavyweight and streamlined passenger cars from lines like Santa Fe and Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. Noteworthy pieces often cited by rail historians are locomotives of the 4-8-4 and 4-6-2 wheel arrangements, freight engines from Union Pacific Railroad fame, and preserved diesel-electric locomotives representing builders such as Electro-Motive Division and Alco. The exhibits include operational and static displays: a collection of cabooses, maintenance-of-way equipment, dining cars, baggage cars, and cabooses formerly used on named trains like the Chief (train), City of Los Angeles (train), and other streamlined services. Interpretive signage often references regional railroad history involving companies such as Pacific Electric, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad, Southern Pacific subsidiaries, and connections to industrial sites like the Port of Long Beach.

Operations and Events

The museum schedules special-event operations during major local gatherings, holiday weekends, and heritage festivals, often coordinating with Los Angeles County Fair programming and regional tourist attractions such as Knott's Berry Farm and Griffith Observatory promotions. Volunteer crews trained in heritage operations work under guidelines similar to those from Association of Railway Museums standards and sometimes collaborate with excursion operators including Amtrak and private charter services. Annual events have featured photo charters, holiday-themed rides, and appearances by locomotives celebrated in preservation circles alongside participation in regional commemorations such as RailFest-style gatherings and anniversary events tied to the history of Southern Pacific Transportation Company and Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway.

Preservation and Restoration

Restoration projects at the museum have tackled boiler repairs, running gear overhauls, and cosmetic restoration using parts and expertise sourced from shops and organizations like Union Pacific Railroad heritage groups, private contractors associated with Railcraft, and volunteer specialists with backgrounds at California State Railroad Museum and major railroad workshops. Conservation efforts adhere to practices promoted by preservation bodies such as the National Railway Historical Society and the Association of Railway Museums, emphasizing authenticity in livery, mechanical rebuilds, and archival documentation. Major undertakings have included fundraising drives, grant applications to heritage foundations, and cooperative loans that allowed static restoration and, where feasible, operational certification under applicable state safety regulations.

Visitor Information

The museum is situated on the grounds of the Los Angeles County Fairplex in Pomona and typically opens to the public during scheduled event days, weekend operations, and the annual Los Angeles County Fair season. Visitors may find exhibits related to the legacy of railroads like Southern Pacific Railroad, Union Pacific Railroad, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, and ancillary displays referencing regional transit lines such as Pacific Electric and Los Angeles Railway. Admission details, event schedules, and volunteer opportunities are managed by the overseeing organization, and attendees often combine visits with nearby cultural attractions including Autry Museum of the American West, Pasadena Museum of History, and entertainment venues in Downtown Los Angeles.

Category:Railroad museums in California Category:Museums in Los Angeles County, California