A Day in the Life of an American Railroad was built to allow the Museum to showcase trains from many eras and regions of the country.

In Theaters 1 and 2, the Museum is proud to announce the addition of over 10 new displays. The displays include “The History of the Santa Fe” and feature passenger timetables and dining car menus from the 50’s and 60’s. In addition, the Santa Fe exhibit features glassware from the Super Chief and a replica of the famous Santa Fe Warbonnet engines in G scale. Until the mid 60’s the Santa Fe had daily passenger train service to Galveston from Houston with connections to Kansas City and Chicago on Santa Fe’s Texas Chief. The drumhead from that train is now featured in the display room.

Also on display is a collection of railroad china - dishes, cups, saucers, etc. from such famous trains as the Union Pacific Domeliner’s City of Los Angeles and City of Portland. The train’s spokesperson at one time in the early 50’s was actor and later President, Ronald Reagan.

You will see for the first time items from the Missouri Pacific, Rock Island, MKT and Southern Pacific including dishes from many of the railroads dating back to the late 40’s. Also on display are pieces of silver service from the days when train travel was luxurious

The Museum has 3 steam engines and 3 diesel engines on site. The steam engines are all on static display. The diesel engines are operable. The greater efficiency of diesel engines compared to steam engines, and the fewer moving parts to be serviced, repaired, or replaced, resulted in steam engines being retired by most major railroads by the late 1950's; a few short line railroads continued to use steam into the 1960's. Union Pacific is the only major railroad with an ongoing steam program. UP operates two steam engines, #3985 and #844, on excursion runs for railfans. Most other steam operations are on tourist or private railroads.

Office: 409.765.5700 Fax: 409.765.5744

123 Rosenberg
Galveston, TX 77550

e-mail: galvrrmuseum@sbcglobal.net