Are you looking for family adventures that are close to home? Why not consider a
day trip to the Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris!
Orange Empire Railway Museum operates a Museum Railway where visitors can ride
on the historic trains and trolleys that helped shape the Southern California we know
today. The Museum Railway operates every weekend and on most major holidays
from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and also on weekdays for charters and other special events.
The Museum grounds are open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the exception
of Thanksgiving and Christmas.
On a typical weekend (other than during special events), two city streetcars are
running on the half-mile dual-gauge Loop Line, and another train is operating on
the 1.5 mile standard gauge Mainline. The northern end of the Museum Railway
is presently at 7th Street, although during certain special events trains operate
all the way to the historic 1892 Perris Depot at 4th Street. Future plans call for
regular operations to be extended to 4th Street as the depot area is rebuilt into
the new Metrolink station and transit center.
In addition to the streetcars on the Loop Line, a Pacific Electric interurban or city
streetcar also operates on the Mainline on selected weekends. The Mainline train
is usually an electrically or diesel powered freight train (with a caboose to ride in
if you wish), or a consist of passenger train cars. Typically, you can experience riding
in one of the early Los Angeles streetcars and a more modern PCC on the Loop
Line, and ride in either a caboose (the cupola is very popular with the kids) or
open gondola on the freight train. The cars and locomotives are selected on a
rotating basis from our historic collection.
Visit their site for further pictures, information and ticket pricing.
