Rail Giants Train Museum

I seem to have a fascination for trains and trucks; I visit them often.  In mid-May I visited the Rail Giants Train Museum.  It’s open to the public only on the second weekend of each month. The museum is located at the Los Angeles Fairgrounds and while I’ve been to the fair many times and noticed the trains in the distance, I just never thought to go visit the museum.

The Rail Giants are indeed giants!  This museum is outdoors where these large locomotives are guaranteed plenty of room for display.  They remain outside all year although some, like the Big Boy 4014, do get moved for restoration.  Currently it’s at the Union Pacific facility in Wyoming.  Rats, I had hoped to see it!

But not to worry there were others, like the Union Pacific 9000.  This is a steam locomotive that was built in 1926 and was in service for about 30 years.  It seems like many locomotives were retired in the 1950s.  The age of the automobile and the interstate was emerging.  I especially like all the texture on it.  Are these rivets?  Well they look pretty cool.
I also liked the Santa Fe 3450.  Originally built in 1927 this locomotive was designed for speed.  I stood in front of this monster and it towered above me.
I had a chance to go up inside as well.  Wow, that was a thrill.  The inside is full of levers, knobs, and all kinds of dials.  How did anyone manage to work all these manual controls?  There were at least three (do I have that right?) different brake levers.

But it wasn’t all steam locomotives.  There were several diesels on display as well.  The following photo is the Union Pacific “Centennial” which I’m told is the largest diesel ever built. Well that’s what the sign said.  It looked impressive.  It was built to commemorate the Promontory Summit, Utah event in 1869 which connected the country and created the first transcontinental railway.

There were several smaller locomotives on site, and a caboose and a fancy “business” car.  I wandered for the longest time.  The gift shop is located in the old Santa Fe Station from Arcadia, California.  I thought it looked similar to the one in the Los Angeles Arboretum although that one is made of brick.  Perhaps they are from the same period.  Both had to be moved when the 210 freeway was constructed.

I can definitely recommend the Rail Giants Museum.  As usual, I had a great time and I think it would be fun for kids.  It gives them a chance to get up close to something so very big and powerful.  One doesn’t often see this kind of train. Pity.