Nevada City, CA
Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum
4.8· 257 Google reviews
Trip at a Glance
Source checked 2026-08-23- TypeNarrow-gauge railroad museum with public railbus and steam operations
- LocationNevada City, CA
- Rating4.8 ★257 Google reviews
- UpcomingSat, Sep 26
- Tickets & faresMuseum admission and the railbus carry no charge; donations are encouraged and the railbus page suggests $5 per adult
About Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum
The Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum preserves the three-foot-gauge line that connected Nevada City and Grass Valley with the Central Pacific at Colfax. Visitors can take a docent-led museum, rail-yard, and restoration-shop tour, see Engine No. 5 and a working collection, and—on source-listed days—ride the Sarah Kidder Railbus or attend a public steam-up. Admission and rides are donation-supported, but every operation is weather-dependent and capacity is first come.
Plan a Railbus or Steam-Up Visit
Choose the visit that fits your groupVisitors who want a guaranteed ride attempt
Reserve a Saturday railbus
Choose a remaining source-listed Saturday, call the museum, and arrive 15 minutes before the selected departure.
Steam-focused visitors
Attend a Steam-Up Sunday
Use a second-Sunday date for public steam operation, but confirm weather and mechanical status before traveling.
Railroad history and restoration visitors
Tour the working museum
Allow time for the gallery, rail yard, restoration shop, Engine No. 5, and docent interpretation beyond the short ride.
Full-day Nevada County history trips
Follow the gold story
Continue about 4.6 road miles to Empire Mine for historic grounds, a visitor center, guided tours, gardens, and trails.
Upcoming Events
Official schedule information
2026 special-event calendar
Schedule information was checked against the linked official source. Dates, availability, and operating conditions can change. Check the live official calendar ↗
Plan Your Visit
- ArriveArrive 15 minutes before the railbus departure and check in at the museum entrance
- WeatherRailbus and steam operations are expressly weather permitting; confirm before a long drive
- Museum HoursSunday and Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Monday, Tuesday, and Friday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; closed Wednesday and Thursday plus listed holidays
- RailbusThirty-minute Saturday excursions are listed through October 31, weather permitting; reservations are suggested and passengers should arrive 15 minutes early
- Summer DeparturesThe official summer table lists six departures from 9:40 a.m. through 2:40 p.m.; confirm by phone because the table contains one apparent return-time typo
- Steam UpPublic steam operations are listed for the second Sunday of each month May-October, weather permitting, with open seating and no reservation required
- AdmissionMuseum admission and the railbus carry no charge; donations are encouraged and the railbus page suggests $5 per adult
- ReservationCall 530-470-0902 and leave a message for railbus reservations; seating remains first come and may be released if passengers are late
- Shop ToursThe restoration shop is open for tours Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
- DogsThe railbus schedule says dogs are welcome; call before travel for current boarding and service-animal details
- TimezoneAll published times are local Pacific Time
Find the Depot
The Trains
Railbus No. 9, named Sarah Kidder, was rebuilt by museum volunteers from a damaged 1970s West Side & Cherry Valley vehicle and now carries the regular short public excursions. The collection also centers 1875 Baldwin 2-6-0 Engine No. 5, Tahoe, which served the NCNG and later appeared in more than 100 film and television productions. A museum-built No. 13 steam locomotive, Plymouth switchers, wooden passenger and freight cars, speeders, cabooses, and active shop projects broaden the yard story. A steam-up listing does not guarantee a specific locomotive, and day-of mechanical and weather conditions control.
History
The Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad company was organized.
The line reached Nevada City from its Central Pacific connection at Colfax.
Sarah Kidder became railroad president and led the company for twelve years.
The original Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad closed.
The Friends of the Narrow Gauge preservation group formed.
The current Nevada City museum opened.
Public railbus operations began.
See full history
The Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad was organized in 1874 and completed its 22.5-mile connection from Nevada City through Grass Valley to Colfax in 1876. John Kidder supervised construction and later led the company. After his death, Sarah Kidder became president in 1901 and ran the railroad through 1913. The original line closed in 1942. Nevada County Historical Society preservation volunteers formed the Friends of the Narrow Gauge in 1983, brought Engine No. 5 home from Universal Studios in 1985, and opened the present museum in 2003. Railbus operations began in 2016, turning the collection into a rideable public experience again.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the railbus rides run?
The official museum contact page lists 30-minute rides on Saturdays from April 1 through October 31, weather permitting. The detailed summer table lists six departures; call to reserve and confirm.
When are the public steam days?
Steam-Up Sunday is listed for the second Sunday of each month from May through October, weather permitting, with open seating and no reservation required.
How much does the museum and ride cost?
Admission and railbus rides have no charge. Donations are encouraged, and the railbus page suggests $5 per adult.
Do I need a reservation?
Reservations are suggested for summer railbus rides. Call 530-470-0902, arrive 15 minutes early, and remember that seating is first come. Steam-Up Sunday does not require reservations.
Is Engine No. 5 guaranteed to run?
No. No specific locomotive is guaranteed. Public steam operation remains subject to weather, mechanical condition, and the museum's day-of decision.
What can I see besides the ride?
The museum offers docent-led interpretation of its gallery, rail yard, and restoration shop, with Engine No. 5, wooden cars, speeders, switchers, and transportation artifacts.
Where is the museum?
It is at 5 Kidder Court in Nevada City, California 95959, off the Highway 49 Gold Flat Road exit.
How should I pair Empire Mine with the museum?
Plan the weather-sensitive ride first, then allow about nine minutes to Empire Mine. The state park has separate admission and enough historic grounds and trails for a substantial second stop.
Sources & Verification
Source-checked August 23, 2026. This free profile has not yet been claimed or confirmed by the operator.
- Official museum home page for mission, exhibits, hours, admission, rides, steam-ups, address, phone, and email
- Official contact and directions page for operating calendar, hours, holidays, shop tours, location, and contact
- Official railbus schedule for trip length, seasonal times, check-in, reservations, donation guidance, and weather boundary
- Official museum about page for docent tour, yard, shop, Engine No. 5, and collection scope
- Official engines page for Engine No. 5 and the museum's locomotive collection
- Official rolling-stock page for Sarah Kidder Railbus and passenger and freight equipment
- Official virtual tour for museum opening, railroad history, preservation, shop, and railbus milestones
- Official Sarah Kidder history for her 1901-1913 presidency
- OpenStreetMap geocoding attribution
