Reviews of Arizona Railway Museum (Museum)

Kristi Gilbert

Run entirely by knowledgeable volunteers and generally open only noon to 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays, this museum offer an up-close-and -personal look at the Golden Age of railroading. You'll be able to take your time and tour the vintage rail cars, some dating back over 100 years. Some still rail worthy and (assuming you have a ton of money) can be chartered and hooked on to Amtrak trains! Highlights of our visit included climbing inside a massive diesel locomotive, sitting in a caboose and exploring the opulent rail cars that were used by luminaries including William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson and AdlaiStevenson. We happened to visit on the museum's annual open house, so all cars were open. Don't know about regular weekends, but Im sure enough will be open to make your visit worthwhile. There is a modest admission charge and there's also a gift shop selling reasonabley priced railroad items. Just a word of caution: the cars are parked on a Union Pacific railroad siding and as a result are not handicapped accessible. Suggest you call to make sure the museum will be open when you wish to visit.

Shanna M.

This railway museum is such a little gem for any train lover! They have two small museum rooms, one gift shop, and a bathroom. In the train yard, they have open a multiple trains cars to browse through at your own pace. You can tour the outside of every train car. There's an engine to climb up on, explore, and ring the bell. My kids enjoyed it so much, we walked around twice!

Gonzalo Warburton

Even if you are not a railroad fanatic you will be impressed by this museum. The staff was great and knew thier stuff. it only cost 5 dollars to go thu the verywell restored rail cars.(After I went thru I went and donated more because it was so well done) This is not a huge train museum but there are a bunch of different, interesting cars. The docents are very friendly and knowledgeable. You can explore at your own pace.

Red FX

Very cool step back in time!

Anitha Muthukumarasamy

First time visiting this train museum in Chandler and it was really good. Loved it. Reasonable price for adults $5 and kids 2 years and above $3. It was nice. Definitely will go back on Feb 24th they are going to have some fun activities and the admission is FREE. It was really nice to see the old photos and the tools and things used in the olden days. Overall good experience. Definitely recommend at least once to go here.

Jason Jankowski

Visited for the annual az railway day. All of the volunteers were quick with a story about the equipment. Very dedicated and knowledgeable.

Tyler Reese

Great place to take your kids.

Nicholas Brown

You know, when I was a child I loved the stories that had to do with locomotives. I even loved the "Choo-choo Charlie" Good and Plenty Commercial. Therefore, it should not surprise anyone that I visited the Arizona Railway Museum with my daughter and grand-kids.The Arizona Railway Museum building has a gift shop and many exhibits inside. Outside the museum building is the wheel from Engine Tender #013. The Engine Tender was destroyed in a wreck in 1907 on a bridge over Village Creek between Silsbee and Beaumont, Texas.The Arizona Railway Museum was founded and incorporated in 1983 as a non-profit, educational and historical organization. It houses the Southern Pacific Railroad Locomotive No. SP 2562 and Tender No. 8365, the Railroad Steam Wrecking Crane and Tool Car and the Tuscon, Cornelia & Gila Bend Caboose No. 15, all of which are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. My grandson and granddaughter went on the Southern Pacific Railroad Locomotive No. SP 2562 which was built in 1900 and were thrilled when they rang the bell. Visitors are allowed to go inside the Santa Fe-Plaza Taos "Dome" Car which was built in 1950. The Santa Fe-Plaza Taos Dome Car has a beautiful "Lounge Room" and stairs leading to the actual "Dome". Among the historic exhibits are the following: 1.The Southern Railway Business Car built in 1897 for the Southern Railway Company. The car, nicknamed the "Desert Valley", served as the President's Car on the South Carolina & Georgia Railroad in 1901. 2. The Santa Fe Business Car #405, also known as the Superintendent's Car, was one of eighteen cars built in 1927 by the Pullman Company as part of the fourth order of business cars for division superintendents. 3. The Magma Railroad Baldwin #10. The Baldwin Locomotive Works built this locomotive in 1950 as a DRS 6-6-1500, diesel for the McCloud River Railroad as #29. 4. The C&NW E8 locomotive operated by the Chicago and North Western Transportation Company and built in 1950. 5. The G.R.Y.X. 799 tank car is a three dome, three compartment, outside riveted tank car which was built for the W. R. Grace Company in 1938. The three separate compartments were used to carry chemicals or solvents. 6. The Log Car built in 1917 by Bettendorf Co. for the Southwest Forest Industry and. 7. A Toronto Transit Street Car built in 1930.

caleb rice

Great place to bring kids and to go with the family. I probably wouldn't bring a kid younger than 3. My wife and I brought our 3 year old son and he had a blast looking at the trains, the old pictures of trains and running through and sitting on seats inside of the passenger cars. The prices in the gift shop are not over priced souvenirs either so that was a plus.

Mary Gutierrez

Had a great time just wish that more trains were open. We will be sue to go on last Saturday in Feb. Next year.

Richard Metz

We had a nice time. The volunteer staff was very helpful and enthusiastic. There were four very nice 1930's era fairly plush passenger cars, two nice display rooms, an old steam engine on which you can ring the bell, and many more Pullman, freight, crane, worker, and caboose cars to look into from the outside. Definitely worth the admission.

Jeanette Summers

My husband and I loved visiting this Railroad Museum!! We are new to the area from California, and I decided to look up thing to do in Chandler. This popped up as 1 of the 20 best. So glad I decided to check it out right away. I see many others have called it a hidden gem. It absolutely is a GEM!! Right as you walk in the door and are greeted by one of the volunteers, look though the indoor museum and then walk out into the yard, you will be in awe of all the beauty and history around you!! Next you step inside and are immediately taken back in time... We were greeted by Steve, who also is their curator. He was amazing to talk with. This is a must see for anyone I feel. Young and old alike! My husband and I toured for only $10. total. Active military are free. Donations of any amount are gladly accepted as this is an volunteer run place, and a nonprofit.

Abby Rodriguez

I've always heard of the train museum located in the city of Chandler. However, we had no idea it was located at this location until we rode our bike in a nearby park today. We saw all the trains distance away across the field and decided to come by to check it out. When we finally got here (and exhausted), we were disappointed to find out that it wasn't going to open until 12pm. We were getting ready to turn around, but the staff at the museum was nice enough to let us in for as long as we don't try to get inside any train and peek. While we were walking around appreciate the history, another staff spotted us was nice enough to explain the history of some of these trains while we were there. We appreciate their hospitality during closing time and allowing us to come in.

Brittany George

We were able to attend a free Railway day event a few weeks back. My Kids loved it. The owners of the trains were there answering any questions and giving history on the trains. My little ones were delighted to be able to touch and climb the trains.

Taylor Ames

Great and full of surprises

航迹云

Very nice place

Carolyn Watson

This is an amazing art collection...a must see!! Such a wonderful gift by Mr. Basha to the community.

Donna Ross

Really cool rail cars. Sleeper coaches are awesome. Highly recommended.

Aaron Wood

Fun little place to visit and not very expensive, wish they were open more hours!

Mark Nathans

Great place to enjoy trains from the past.

Alma Halsey

My son always like to go here.

Madelaina Chable

We absolutely love the Arizona Railway Museum, I brought my two sons and they had a great time, so did I. Kind staff, so much to see and a great gift shop.

Carla Kraehenbuehl

Drove all this way and it's closed but we'll come back on the weekend!

E Holland

Open on weekends only, it's a great great little rail yard with about 20 rail cars all different, a few you can go inside, otherwise I walk around and inspect the others. It's a great hour or less if time to check out with lil kids or train lovers. Highly recommend

Sara Locke

Amazing place

Randall Williams

I've taken my son here a couple of times when he was younger and he had a blast. He still has a passion for trains to this day. I had a great time as well. Now that I'm back in San Diego I have to see the other CA-AZ railroad museum in Campo. I can't wait to see that one.

john urbanski

Decent collection of equipment

joshua foster

Very impressive museum and very well done. Definitely recommend seeing the movie and it enhances the experience. Museum is divided between European and Pacific battles, tells very personal stories.

Kevin Feeney

Went for their DAYS

Paislie Hubbard

Great place to just get out and walk around. Kids love the trains and it was very interesting!

Janis K

My children and I had so much fun visiting this museum. The volunteers there were excellent. I learned you can also have a birthday party there as well. We'll be returning soon.

Blair Yu

You can find may old train and locomotives here

Troy Squillaci

Excellent museum for the money. Entry cost is cheap. Lots to see, especially for kids interested in trains. Quiet, off the beaten path.

Patrick Quigley

Great day at the museum yesterday. Most of the cars were open and available for viewing. Great job getting it all ready. Family had a wonderful time.

Richard Struempler

Great place to visit if you love railroads. Great static displays!

Zach Lybrand

I visited recently and greatly enjoyed the visit. The cars they had open were in excellent condition, though a little hot. The other equipment on display had placards explaining the history. There's a nice collection of railroad artifacts in their building. Xandish down there said in his review he was asked to leave after allowing his 7 year old to climb all over the equipment, but I can't figure out what he expected. There are signs everywhere asking you not to climb on the equipment, which is entirely understandable considering how dangerous it is and how quickly blame is shifted for one's own stupidity. If you're a rail fan or just interested in the history of railroading in AZ, this is a good museum. If you're looking for a playground, go elsewhere.

Brian Gordon

Always impressive.

Deepti Gupta

Good for little kids

Liz Brown

Great place to take the kids if they like trains. The volunteers who run the place are very knowledgeable and the price matches the size of the museum, $5. Great place to spend 45 minutes to an hour.

Dan Matthews

Actually a pretty cool place, you get to walk through train cars and get a feel for railroading days past. Kids always love it. Only 3 starts because not much to go back to repeatedly and it's a somewhat low budget operation.

Michal Ptáček

(Translated by Google) Very small museum, more for children. There are not too many exhibits to see. (Original) Velmi malé muzeum, spíše pro děti. Příliš exponátů k vidění není.

Nancy Nelson

We saw this from the road and decided to stop. It's a hidden gem for sure. The woman that runs the gift shop and sells the admission tickets is really nice and funny. It was so interesting walking through the vintage passenger cars. They really traveled in style back then. We enjoyed seeing the passenger cars from the old Amtrak fleet. I grew up close to the railroad and would wave at the passengers on their trip from Minneapolis to Des Moines. I took lots of pictures and thoroughly enjoyed the history of the railroad. My husband and son were very interested in reading and seeing the rail cars. We loved the old engine and the rail cars with the platforms on the back. You could imagine the President from earlier times standing and waving to the public. The price is very inexpensive and definitely worth it. They have cute little things in the gift shop and interesting historical items in the main building. It's only open on the weekends from noon to 4pm. Active military admission is free. They also offer a party caboose for parties, that would be a fun children's birthday party!

Tomara Nees

This place is a hidden gem. The volunteers are so knowledgeable and friendly they make you feel completely welcome. Once a year they open up all the trains to go thru (which we just missed) but I hope maybe in the future they will do it more often because the history in this place is amazing.

Christa Pennertz

This was new place for me to visit with my family. The lady at the front seemed a little annoyed to be there, but she was friendly enough. She was sitting behind the gift shop( strange place in my opinion to pay to get in). We were able to do lots of walking around and got to climb into two trains and walked through them. My son loved all the chairs to sit in. It was not busy. My only complaint is there parking lot. It's a dirt lot that if it rains it turns to ridges. Best not take a low vehicle into their lot. I had an SUV so it was just bumpy.

Toni Palmer

Nice place I wish all the trains have been opened and I will go back and see it again in the fall

Scott F

Very cool museum, lots of things to see.

Michael Fragleasso

Open Saturday and Sunday only.

Xandish Steves

Things have changed there a little bit. They used to let you go through lots of different cars and climb on the equipment but they have stopped that. They now give you a 5-10 min tour of some old train cars but after that, you have to look, not climb, on the the other cars. They do have a locomotive that they have built stairs up to so you can climb on that, but just about everything else is off limits. Kids want to climb, not just look, so this is why I only consider this an okay place. Zak in the other review must think that playgrounds have real train cars and that there are many other options. Little boys don't just want to look but want to climb on trains. Give me a waiver and let's us touch the equipment. Me and my 7 yr old boy was climbing on some cars and a young, overweight staff member threatened to fight me. I threatened to call the police and then left. This is some old guys hobby. We won't be back. Ever.

Marcelo Valenzuela

Excelente lugar para toda la familia... a mis hijos le encantan los trenes. El recorrido toma como una hora

210 Commissar

It's a cool place to bring kids but be warned it can get pretty darn warm for 80% of the tour. Only 1 of the 10 cars has air conditioning (the office where you enter is air conditioned too and has some stuff). The tour is mostly self guided but there were 2 docents that were able to answer my questions fairly well. Considering it's only $5 bucks (for adults) It's a good way to kill about 1-1.5hrs.

Bob Smelser

Blast from the past, interesting