Travel Town Railroad is an outdoor railway museum in Griffith Park, at 5200 Zoo Drive in Los Angeles. Its collection includes 43 full-size engines, passenger cars and other railroad equipment from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with displays focused on rail history in Southern California and the western United States. You can look through some of the old trains and take a ride on a 16-inch miniature train around the grounds. Children also have room to play, and shaded picnic areas make this an easy family stop.
A railway museum in Griffith Park
Travel Town Railroad sits at the north end of Griffith Park, at 5200 Zoo Drive. The outdoor museum preserves railroad equipment and tells the story of rail transportation in the western United States, with particular attention to Southern California and Los Angeles. It opened in 1952, and its collection spans the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The grounds are free to enter. Instead of moving through a single indoor gallery, you can walk among full-size locomotives and cars, look at the displays, and explore parts of the collection at your own pace. The scale of the trains is a draw for children as well as rail enthusiasts.
Historic engines and cars
The collection includes 43 full-size railroad engines and cars, along with freight and passenger cars and other rail equipment. The displays help explain how railroads developed across the western United States and shaped the Los Angeles area. Some of the trains can be explored up close, giving children the chance to climb through old cars where access is available.
One notable exhibit is Pacific Electric locomotive 1544, known as “Electra.” Built in 1902 in Tiburon, California, the 50-ton electric locomotive was used in work on Los Angeles’s subway tunnel and in San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake and fire. It was retired in 1952 and donated to the museum the following year. It is the only electric locomotive on display there.
The miniature train and family visit
A 16-inch miniature train circles the museum complex, giving you a ride around the grounds after you have seen the larger exhibits. The ride has been part of the museum since 1978. The Melody Ranch Special, once owned by Gene Autry, is among the miniature trains associated with Travel Town; its ride covers two loops around the grounds.
Families can also use the covered children’s play area and picnic spaces under the shade. Birthday parties and other private events take place at the museum, so weekdays can be a useful choice if you prefer a quieter visit. If you are planning an event, check the arrangements in advance, since party time slots have set limits.
Preguntas frecuentes
Is Travel Town Railroad free?
Entry to the museum is free. Miniature train rides are paid.
Where is Travel Town Railroad?
It is at 5200 Zoo Drive in Griffith Park, Los Angeles.
Can you ride a train at Travel Town?
Yes. A 16-inch miniature train circles the museum grounds.
How many trains are on display?
The collection includes 43 full-size railroad engines and cars.
