Plan Your Visit
With over 50 historic cars on display, 50 minute scenic train rides to ride and 22 acres to explore, the Western Railway Museum is ideal for families and group outings. The Museum features historic railway exhibits, vintage streetcar and interurban train rides, large shaded picnic grounds, Museum Store, library archives, and Depot Cafe.
What to expect when visiting
The Western Railway Museum preserves the electric railroad heritage of Northern California.
Our 50-minute Interurban train rides will take you down the old Sacramento Northern Railroad, an electric line that once ran between San Francisco, Sacramento & Chico. The 11-mile round trip rolls through the Solano County countryside, with its pristine, unchanged farmland and its views of Mount Diablo and the surrounding Marshlands. Our operating fleet consists of trains dating anywhere from 80 to 110 years old. Trains operate every weekend, as well as select days during the summer.
Walking around the Museum, one will be able to see trains that once ran in San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, Napa, Petaluma, Santa Rosa, and many other places across the west. The Museum has several car-house buildings where trains are on display. Our open air car-house 1 houses historic streetcars from the local area, Many cars displayed in this building are nearing 100 years old. Car-house 3 is our prized storage building, this indoor display building houses the pride of our collection.
On Wednesdays in the summer, the Museum is open for walking tours only. Self-guided tours of the car-houses will be available all day between 10:30am and 3:30pm. Guided tours of car-house 3 will be available at specific times during the week, or by reservation. Some displays are only viewable during guided tours due to their historic nature and condition.
The Museum is located about 1 hour from San Francisco or Sacramento and only 35 minutes from Napa Valley. In the local area we have the Jelly Belly Factory for you and your kids to visit, as well as areas to hike, bike, food to eat and wineries to taste at. If you are looking for day trip ideas check out www.visitfairfieldca.com.
All tickets for the 2022 year can be booked in advance or by calling our front desk at (707) 374-2978. Trains leave on time, so plan to arrive about 10 to 15 minutes early.
Buy Tickets in Advance By Clicking Here!
Admission
- Adults - $16
- Seniors (over 65) – $15
- Children (2-14) – $13
Admission is good all day and covers walking tour days & weekend train rides.
Thursday (Summer) & Weekend Train Rides
50 minute ride on an historic Interurban train down the old Sacramento Northern Railway Line. Trains depart at 11am, 12:30pm, 2pm & 3:30pm. All trips will take you back to the museum grounds.Pending Volunteer availability, additional 15 minute streetcar rides maybe offered around the museum campus and/or Car-house 3 guided tours at no extra cost.
Tour Only Days
Wednesdays in the summer, the museum is open for both self guided and guided walking tours only. Guided walking tours of car-house 3 will be offered at times listed on the Fareharbor ticketing calendar.
Inclement weather may limit museum operations. A more modern electric train (1980s built) may be used when weather does not allow other historic equipment to run.
We may occasionally have to modify our schedules according to the availability of volunteer staff or mechanical issues with our antique equipment.
For up-to-date information on daily operations, please contact the museum.
Days + Hours
Must have Advance reservations
Year Round
Saturdays & Sundays 10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Summer Hours
Lookout for our extended summer hours coming back next year.
Hours, operations and equipment may vary and/or change at any time due to weather conditions, mechanical issues and/or the ability of our volunteers. Please contact the museum to find the latest information.
Closed Holidays
Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve, New Years Day.
Individuals ($50) or Families ($90) are good for free admission for one year.
Map & Directions
Photography Policy
The Western Railway Museum encourages photography and the use of video cameras for personal use. Sale, rental, or other commercial use (other than for editorial use) is prohibited without prior written authorization, including signing a single-use license agreement, and payment of fee. Commercial photography includes, but is not limited to, wedding photography, professional portraits, modeling, media, and images for resale in any form. To schedule wedding and portrait photographs please contact our Marketing & Events Manager. Reservations are required at least one week in advance.
*Commercial productions intended for broadcast will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of some frequently asked questions for which we have provided basic answers. Feel free to contact the museum if you need further assistance planning your visit. Thank you!
When do the trains operate?
Volunteers operate authentic, restored trains every day we are open. Follow the paved walkway from the Visitor Center to the boarding platforms at the north end of Car House One. Your admission ticket to the Museum is good all day, and you can ride as many times as you like.
We currently offer two different train ride experiences:
- The Interurban recreates the experience of riding a historic electric railcar between two rural stops one hundred years ago. Hour long trips depart at 11am, 12:30pm, 2pm, and 3:30pm.
- The Streetcar recreates the experience of riding a historic streetcar through a small community. Fifteen minute trips depart every 30 minutes.
(All trips are subject to change and track conditions, and are weather permitting. (Rain rarely affects us, but does occasionally force us to temporarily suspend operations.)
When are you open?
Year round: Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30am – 5:00pm.
Summer hours (June 14th - August 13th): Wednesdays through Sundays from 10:30am – 5:00pm.
How much does it cost?
Please view the Plan Your Visit Overview section for pricing information.
Where are you located?
See the Contact page to view a map and get directions.
How long should we plan to visit?
Tickets to the museum are good all day and include unlimited train rides. Although you are welcome to stay as long as you like, most visitors find that 3-to-4 hours is sufficient to:
- Take a train ride (or two, or three, or…)
- Experience the Traction Labs exhibit in Cameron Hall
- Tour our collection of historic trains in Car House One
- Have a picnic in our park
- Visit the Museum store
Is there food available?
The Depot Café snack bar serves old-fashioned steamed hot dogs, chips, candy, snacks, sodas, ice cream, coffee, hot chocolate, hot cider, tea, and water. We have vegi-burgers for vegans and grilled cheese for vegetarians.
Are you dog-friendly?
Yes! (as long as your dog is people-friendly.) We welcome on-lead dogs whose owners bring a water bowl and poop bags. Dogs can even ride the trains, although our director reports that not all dogs (like his) enjoy the train ride. That said, we’d rather you bring your dog in with you, than leave it in your car.
What about accessibility?
The Western Railway Museum, including our Visitors’ Center, modern restrooms, Depot Café snack bar, car houses, and parking lot meet or exceed the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act. However, due to the historic nature of the trains, they are not wheelchair accessible.
Do you offer tours for groups, schools, or seniors?
If your group is less than 40 people, no reservations are necessary. Groups of 40 or more can receive a $1 discount on admission if they are paying as one group. You can read about special programs for schools and seniors.
Can I take public transit to the Museum?
Unfortunately, not at this time. While you can take a Capitol Corridor train to the Suisun City/Fairfield station, there is no connecting bus service between the train station and the Museum on weekends. The Delta Breeze bus runs only Mondays through Fridays. It does not run on Saturdays and Sundays when the Museum is open to the public.
Cabs may be available at the station. A one-way cab fare between Suisun and the Museum is approximately $20.
Do I need to have a PayPal Account to submit payment using the Donation or Membership forms?
You DO NOT need a PayPal account. You may choose the “Pay with debit or credit card” option when prompted…
