Monday, April 11, 2005
Orange Empire Railway Museum
We recently visited the Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris, CA. It was quite a hike from our home, but well worth the trip. What is uniqe about this particular collection is that they are REAL antique railcars and engines that actually run on a short looped track. We were able to ride in an antique streetcar that was attached to a WWII kitchen car. After the ride we were given the opportunity to tour the kitchen car which had a woodstove for cooking and ice boxes.
Each of the two cars we rode in that day were filled with families with young children. Everyone was excited to ride the railway and try out the different trains. The rest of the grounds are great for exploring as well. If you walk beyond the station, there is a children's garden that has displays of signials and working bells and lights. There are lots of buttons to push and descriptions of each item.
John Smatlak photo borrowed from www.oerm.org
Make sure to visit the Grizzly Flats Engine House #6. You will find a beautiful steam locomotive named Emma Nevada. She was born in 1881 and ran on the Nevada Central Railway. There are several other train cars in the engine house to look at as well.
There is a great gift shop at the museum that has a great collection of Thomas the Tank Engine items, train books and movies for children. There is also large seleciton of books and guides for adult train enthusiasts.
Here is the important information:
Orange Empire Railway Museum
2201 South "A" Street
Perris, CA
(951) 657-2605
www.oerm.org
Open daily 9am-5pm. Ride tickets are $8 for adults and children under 5 are free. This price includes all railcars all day. The museum is located 17 miles south of Riverside on the I-215.
Each of the two cars we rode in that day were filled with families with young children. Everyone was excited to ride the railway and try out the different trains. The rest of the grounds are great for exploring as well. If you walk beyond the station, there is a children's garden that has displays of signials and working bells and lights. There are lots of buttons to push and descriptions of each item.
John Smatlak photo borrowed from www.oerm.org
Make sure to visit the Grizzly Flats Engine House #6. You will find a beautiful steam locomotive named Emma Nevada. She was born in 1881 and ran on the Nevada Central Railway. There are several other train cars in the engine house to look at as well.
There is a great gift shop at the museum that has a great collection of Thomas the Tank Engine items, train books and movies for children. There is also large seleciton of books and guides for adult train enthusiasts.
Here is the important information:
Orange Empire Railway Museum
2201 South "A" Street
Perris, CA
(951) 657-2605
www.oerm.org
Open daily 9am-5pm. Ride tickets are $8 for adults and children under 5 are free. This price includes all railcars all day. The museum is located 17 miles south of Riverside on the I-215.
Upcoming Events at the OERM
Thomas the Tank Engine will be visiting the Orange Empire Railway Museum!
2005 November 11,12,13,19,20
Pumpkin Train October 8,9,15,15,16
Thomas the Tank Engine will be visiting the Orange Empire Railway Museum!
2005 November 11,12,13,19,20
Pumpkin Train October 8,9,15,15,16
Christmas Train December 10,11,17,18
For all of you train people out there, here are more train musuems and events.
For all of you train people out there, here are more train musuems and events.
The Big Train Show
G guage garden railway train show aboard the Queen Mary, Long Beach, CA June 11th, 12th 2005. Register online at www.bigtrainshow.com
San Diego Model Railway Museum
1649 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 696-0239
Tues-Fri 11am-4pm
Sat-Sun 11am-5pm
Adults $4, Children under 15 Free.
National City Depot
422 W. 23rd St.
National City, CA 91950
(619) 474-4400
Sat and Sun 12-4
Donations Appreciated.
Portola Railway Museum
P.O. Box 608
Portola, CA 96122-4131
Musuem open daily from 1st Saturday in March to the 1st Monday in November 10am-5pm.
Suggested Donation $5
Located 3 hours East of Chico via SR70
Roaring Camp Railroads
P.O. Box G-1
Felton, CA 95018
(831) 335-4400
Sevarall train excursions available to the beach and through the redwoods. Steam train rides.
Round trip fares: Adults $18, Children 3-12 $12. Children 3 and under are free.
2005 Day out with Thomas: July 29,30,31 and Aug 5, 6, 7.
Old Poway Park
P.O. Box 1244
Poway, CA 92074
(858) 486-4063
Sat 10-4, Sun 11-2 no operation 2nd sunday of the month
Fares .50-$2.00 per ride
Western America Railroad Museum
Barstow, CA
(760) 256-WARM
Fri, Sat, Sun 11-4
Palm Spring Aerial Tram
Palm Springs, CA
(760) 325-1449
California State Railway Museum
111 "I" St.
Sacramento, CA 95814
Laws Railroad Museum and Historical Village
Bishop, CA
(760) 873-5950