Photo by two21, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Upcoming Events
No ticketed events are currently listed for San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum. Many heritage operators publish schedules seasonally or run on regular open hours instead of dated events.
Check the operator’s website for current hours and special runs, or subscribe to event alerts and we’ll email you when something is scheduled.
About San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum
The San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum occupies the restored 1894 Southern Pacific Freighthouse at 1940 Santa Barbara Avenue, adjacent to the Union Pacific main line and a quarter‑mile south of the Amtrak station. Inside, a model railroad recreates the 1920 Pacific Coast Railway and the 1950 Southern Pacific Coast Line, while a standard‑gauge display track and a narrow‑gauge track flank the building.
📍 SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA 93401
History
The San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum opens its doors in 2013, establishing a nonprofit effort to preserve Central Coast rail history. It is housed in the former Southern Pacific Freighthouse, a structure originally built in 1894 and later restored for museum use. The 2013 opening marks the first public operation of the museum on the historic site adjacent to the Union Pacific main line.
The Trains
The museum’s rolling‑stock collection includes the 1926 Pullman observation‑lounge car “La Cuesta,” Southern Pacific bay‑window caboose No. 1886, a 1903 Southern Pacific steel tank car, a steel gondola with wood side extensions, a 1949 Southern Pacific F‑70‑7 flatcar, a 20‑ton Plymouth switching locomotive (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers No. 2038), Pacific Coast Railway boxcar No. 706 (now housing restrooms), a Pacific Coast Railway 1200‑series boxcar, a Southern Pacific Class C‑30‑1 wood‑sided cupola caboose, a Southern Pacific Class B‑50‑13 boxcar, and two Pacific Motor Transport semitrailers awaiting restoration. A standard‑gauge display track runs along the east side of the restored 1894 Southern Pacific Freighthouse, while a short narrow‑gauge track on the west side supports a model railroad that reproduces the three‑foot‑gauge Pacific Coast Railway at Port San Luis circa 1920 and the standard‑gauge Southern Pacific Coast Line from Surf to Paso Robles, including the Cuesta Grade crossing.
Nearby
In San Luis Obispo, California, the San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum pairs with the Central Pacific Coast Rail Excursions and the Pacific Coast Railroad, each about 9 mi away.
Where to Stay
Bookings made through this map support usatrainrides at no extra cost to you.
More Railroading Nearby
Rent a Car
Most heritage railroads sit well off the interstate. Picking up a rental at the nearest airport is usually the easiest way in.
Compare rentals on Discover Cars →Bookings made through this link support usatrainrides at no extra cost to you.
Book tours & activities near SAN LUIS OBISPO
Pre-book guided tours and things to do around the area.
Bookings made through these links support usatrainrides at no extra cost to you.
More in California
All train rides in California →Train Types in California
Reviews
0✍ Write a Review
Get Event Alerts
Never miss an event at San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum.