— Visit —
Children’s Activities
BRIO Train
PLAY AREA
At one end of the museum, there is a children’s play area with seating for the adults to relax while the kids play. In this area are two BRIO wooden railway sets that allow kids to create their own railroad worlds with wooden toy trains and wooden train tracks.
Lionel Hands-on
Train Layout
As part of the children’s play area is a Lionel layout with dual circles and sidings in the center. One track contains a passenger train and the other a freight train. Each train is individually controlled by the kids (with adult supervision).
Train Watching
Stand out on the museum platform and wave at one (or more) of the Amtrak trains that go by the museum each day. Each day multiple Surfliner and Coast Starlight trains pass by the museum just before or after their stop at the nearby Amtrak Station. In addition, just across from the museum platform is the Amtrak layover yard where Surfliners are stored during the wait in San Luis Obispo.
CCMR Model Railroad
The museum includes an operating 1200 square foot HO scale model railroad that depicts local railroads of San Luis Obispo County. The Central Coast Model Railroad depicts portions of the Pacific Coast Railway in the early 1920s and the Southern Pacific Railway in the early 1950s. Kids love to watch all of the train action in our large model railroad.
Amtrak – Interactive Locomotive Cab SIMULATOR
Sit down at the controls of this Amtrak Locomotive and operate this train over some of the Amtrak routes in California. You’ll see and hear the operation of a modern diesel locomotive or an old time steam locomotive.
Photo Opportunity
Outdoor motorcar
Families can look at an old railroad motorcar outside the museum (even when we are closed) and take photos of the kids and family standing with it.
