Throughout the main Railroad History Museum building you will discover over 20 meticulously restored locomotives and cars as well as numerous exhibits that illustrate how railroads have shaped people’s lives, the economy and the unique culture of California and the West. Be sure to visit the Museum Store, carrying merchandise unique to the railroad history in California and the West.
California State Railroad Museum Highlights
Central Pacific Railroad No. 1 Gov. Stanford
The focal point of the Museum’s Sierra Scene diorama is the Gov. Stanford. Once the pioneer engine of the Central Pacific Railroad, the forty-ton wood-burning steam locomotive was built in 1862 and used throughout its time to pull the Central Pacific’s first excursion train, first revenue freight train and the first scheduled passenger train. Additionally, the Gov. Stanford was used to haul materials for the construction of the Central Pacific over the Sierra Nevada. During its last operating years, Gov. Stanford served as a switcher and fire engine (outfitted with a water pump and hose to extinguish small fires along the track) in the Sacramento area.
Southern Pacific No. 1 C.P. Huntington
Entering the Museum’s restoration facility in 1980, C.P. Huntington was built in 1863 and used in the construction of the transcontinental railroad, pulled local passenger trains on the Southern Pacific line between San Francisco, San Jose and Hollister and was also used on maintenance and construction trains throughout its time. Before retiring, the locomotive was used as a weed burner, clearing the track in the 1890s. The C.P. Huntington is recognized as a rare single-driver locomotive, the only surviving standard-gauge 4-2-4 in the U.S. and the second oldest locomotive owned by the Railroad Museum.
Virginia and Truckee No. 12 Genoa
Displayed in the Museum’ Great Hall is Genoa, a classic example of the conventional 4-4-0 American-type steam locomotive. For almost 30 years Genoa was used to haul passengers and occasionally freight trains for the Virginia & Truckee Railroad between Carson City, Virginia City and Reno, Nevada. Upon the decline of passenger service in 1908, the locomotive was no longer needed for revenue service and was retired to a stall in the Carson City Engine House. Sold to the Eastern Railroads Presidents’ Conference in 1939, it departed for the East Coast where it was used in excursion and display services. It represented Central Pacific’s No. 119 Jupiter for performances in the Golden Spike scene at the pageant “Railroads on Parade” during the New York World’s Fair from 1939 to 1940 and later operated at the Chicago World Fair. Ownership of Genoa was later transferred to the Pacific Coast Chapter of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society and restored to its original appearance.
North Pacific Coast Railroad No. 12 Sonoma
Throughout its operating years Sonoma is believed to have switched owners and functions. It pulled both passenger and freight trains along the North Pacific Railroad’s 80 mile line between Sausalito and Duncans Mills, performed mixed duty as a yard, construction, and road engine for the Nevada Central and was later restored to an “old-time” appearance and used in the re-enactment of the completion of the transcontinental railroad, part of the daily performance of Cavalcade of the Golden West at the Golden Gate International Exposition on San Francisco’s Treasure Island. Now on show in the Museum’s Great Hall, Sonoma has been restored to its original appearance.
Virginia & Truckee Railroad No. 13 Empire
Built to meet the demands of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad in 1872, Empire was used to haul freight from Virginia City to Carson City and Reno on and off until it was placed in storage in 1918. Empire was later purchased by the Pacific Portland Cement Company of Gerlach, Nevada where it served as a PPC Co. switcher No 501 until 1931. Empire was later gifted to the Pacific Coast Chapter of the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society and has been displayed in the California State Railroad Museum since it opened in 1981.
Southern Pacific Cab Forward No. 4294
Located on the Museum’s main floor is the Southern Pacific Cab Forward No. 4294, the last of its kind. Designed by William J. Thomas, master mechanic of the North Pacific Coast Railroad in 1901, the configuration of the locomotive provided the best visibility for locomotive engineers on sharp curves. The locomotive was also valued as a design that would save engineers from being asphyxiated by smokestack fumes in SP’s numerous long mountain tunnels and snow sheds.
Dining Car No. 1474 Cochiti
Experience fine dining as you make your way through the Museum’s walk-through interpretive exhibit featuring the classic 1930s Santa Fe dining Cochiti. The 36-seat Cochiti was one in a set of eight cars ordered for a new streamlined stainless steel train, Super Chief, running between Chicago and Los Angeles once a week. While one table features Mimbreno china, other tables offer an opportunity to examine settings from the Museum’s collections and to interpret the broader story of dining on the rails.
Combination Car No. 16
Displayed behind the Virginia and Truckee steam locomotive No. 12 in the Museum’s Great Hall is Combination Car No. 16, used to carry passengers between Reno and Virginia City. After over 63 years, Combination Car No. 16 retired. It was used in several railroad celebrations over the years until it was acquired by the Pacific Coast Chapter of the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society, restored and placed in the California State Railroad Museum.
Coach No. 3 Silver State
Throughout its working days, the narrow-gauge passenger car Silver State was the only passenger car built by the Nevada Central Railway which ran between Austin and a Central Pacific connection at Battle Mountain. Features of the car included a “saloon” and a marble washstand. As a first-class car on the Nevada Central, Silver State saw irregular service and was placed in storage at Battle Mountain in the early 1900s. Silver State was donated to the Pacific Coast Chapter of the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society when the railroad was abandoned in 1938 and can now be found on the main floor of the Railroad Museum as a 1880s narrow-gauge passenger train pulled by North Pacific Coast steam locomotive No. 12.
Fruit Growers Express Company Refrigerator Car No. 35832
The California State Railroad Museum restored the reefer to reflect its original 1938 appearance as a typical refrigerator car of the 1920s to 1940s. Enter the car, located in the Museum’s Great Hall, and watch a program that tells the story of refrigerator cars and their influence on the development of California’s agriculture.
Great Northern Railway Post Office Car No. 42
Discover how railroad transportation served the United States Post Office Department throughout the 1950s in the Great Northern Railway Post Office Car No. 42. Mirroring the interior of the working Great Northern RPO car, No. 42 was equipped for picking up and dropping mailbags. The car also featured side mail slots where people on the station platform could mail letters.
Canadian National Railways Sleeping Car No. 1683 St. Hyacinthe
St. Hyacinthe is a typical Pullman type sleeping car featuring ten open sections, one drawing room and one compartment. While the exterior of St. Hyacinthe was restored by the Museum to resemble its late 1940s appearance, the interior reflects the early 1950s. Visualize a typical sleeping car traveling at night as you explore St. Hyacinthe. A mechanical device rocks the car to simulate motion and lights of passing towns and grade crossings flash by the windows as a soundtrack simulates the typical night sounds of a fast-traveling heavyweight passenger train.
Shopping in the Museum Store
Be sure to visit the Museum Store. Books, clothing, DVDs and CDs, prints and posters, railroad china reproductions, railroad gift ideas, Rosie the Riveter, Thomas the Tank Engine and Transcontinental Railroad items are available to purchase.
- The California State Railroad Museum is ADA complaint.
- Numerous eateries and restaurants are located a short walk from the Museum in Old Sacramento. Ask California State Railroad Museum staff for recommendations.
- Do not forget your camera. There will be exciting photo opportunities during your visit to the California State Railroad Museum.