Photo by Michael Barera, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The Galveston Island Railroad Museum
4.5· 2,577 Google reviews
About The Galveston Island Railroad Museum
Step inside the former Santa Fe station at 25th and Strand and wander a rail yard of survivors: steam locomotives including Southern Pacific 4-6-0 No. 314 and Magma Arizona 2-8-0 No. 555, a pair of Santa Fe F7A diesels, Pullman sleepers and observation cars, an Illinois Central Railway Post Office car, and cabooses from four different railroads, all kept by the nonprofit Center for Transportation and Commerce.
At a Glance
Verified daily- Type
- Heritage railroad & tourist attraction
- Location
- TX
- Rating
- 4.5 ★ 2,577 Google reviews
Upcoming Events
No ticketed events are currently listed for The Galveston Island 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.
Plan Your Visit
- Parking
- Paid lot · street parking
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance · accessible restroom · accessible parking
- Good For
- Families
- Hours
- Monday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PMTuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PMWednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PMThursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PMFriday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PMSaturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PMSunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Find the Depot
The Trains
The roster spans steam, diesel, and a long string of passenger cars. Steam power includes Magma Arizona 2-8-0 No. 555, Southern Pacific 4-6-0 No. 314, and Waco, Beaumont, Trinity & Sabine 2-6-2 No. 1, while the diesel fleet counts a pair of Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe F7A units (Nos. 315 and 316), a BNSF EMD GP38AC, and the museum's own GE 80-tonner No. 1983. Passenger equipment runs from the Pullman sleeper "Glen Fee" and observation cars such as the New York Central's "Bonnie Brook" to an Illinois Central Railway Post Office car, a Southern Railway diner, and ex-Amtrak cars; four cabooses — Santa Fe, Burlington, Fort Worth & Denver, and Missouri Pacific — plus tank and box cars fill out the freight side.
History
See full history
The Galveston Railroad Museum occupies the former Santa Fe Railroad station at 25th and Strand in Galveston, Texas. The museum was established with funding from Galveston businesswoman and philanthropist Mary Moody Northen and the Moody Foundation, and it is owned and operated by the Center for Transportation and Commerce, a non-profit organization, which has gone on to assemble a collection of steam and diesel locomotives, passenger equipment, and freight cars at the island depot.
Around the Depot
Galveston occupies a barrier island on the Texas Gulf Coast at the southern end of the Greater Houston area, a port once so prosperous it was called the Queen City of the Gulf. Rebuilt after the devastating 1900 hurricane, the city now thrives on tourism: Victorian buildings line the Strand National Historic Landmark District downtown, and attractions include Moody Gardens, the Pleasure Pier, the ornate Bishop's Palace, the tall ship Elissa at the Texas Seaport Museum, miles of beachfront, and festivals from Mardi Gras to Dickens on the Strand.
Getting There & Staying Nearby
Optional trip extras from our travel partners.
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.
Tours & Activities Nearby
Tours
Guided tours, day trips, and things to do around the area, bookable in advance through Viator.
Browse nearby tours →Bookings made through this link support usatrainrides at no extra cost to you.