South Coast Railroad Museum, Railroad museum in Goleta, United States
The South Coast Railroad Museum is located in a restored two-story wooden train station building painted yellow with brown trim at Lake Los Carneros County Park. Inside, you can see model train layouts, a Southern Pacific freight car, and ride the Goleta Short Line, a small working train.
The original station building was constructed in 1901 by the Southern Pacific Railroad Company and served as a combined freight and passenger station until October 1973. The structure survived closure and was later restored to preserve its place in the community.
The museum reflects how railroads shaped daily life and economic ties in the Santa Barbara County region. Visitors see photographs and documents that tell the story of how trains connected Goleta to surrounding communities.
The museum is located beside a lake in a park setting with ample parking and easy access. Plan for a few hours to comfortably explore the building, view the model layouts, and enjoy a train ride.
The station agent once lived in an apartment on the second floor, managing all train operations and communications for the area from there. This living arrangement shows how deeply railworkers were tied to their workplace.
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