San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum, Railway museum in San Luis Obispo, United States.
The San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum occupies a restored 1894 freight depot that houses historical railroad equipment, model trains, and transportation artifacts from the region. A large model railroad display recreates the California coastline with its routes and stations in detailed miniature form.
The building dates to 1894 when it served as a Southern Pacific freight depot during the height of railroad expansion on California's Central Coast. The railroad fundamentally reshaped the region's economy and growth during this transformative era.
The museum tells the story of how railroads connected people and shaped daily life on California's Central Coast. The collections reflect the importance these trains held for local workers and families who depended on them.
The museum sits in downtown San Luis Obispo and is easy to reach on foot from nearby parking and streets. Plan time to walk through the exhibits and enjoy the model railroad display at a comfortable pace.
The museum displays La Cuesta, a 1926 Pullman observation car that once rolled for the Santa Fe Railway, offering a glimpse into luxury railroad travel of that era. Alongside it stand other restored rolling stock like Southern Pacific caboose No. 1886, each with its own story.
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