Pacific Southwest Railway Museum, Campo

About Pacific Southwest Railway Museum

The Pacific Southwest Railway Museum in Campo preserves the railroad history of the Pacific Southwest through vintage train rides and static exhibits. Visitors board locomotives and cars from the early 20th century, operated by all-volunteer train crews. The museum operates two facilities: the Campo Railroad Museum and the La Mesa Depot Museum, which together display over 120 pieces of railroad equipment and artifacts. At Campo, guests ride in authentic vintage cars including the Pullman Commandant, a classic sleeping car built in 1915 that features open sections with upper and lower berths, original wood interior detailing, pin-striping, and observation platforms. The La Mesa Depot Museum, housed in La Mesa's oldest surviving building and the sole remaining San Diego and Cuyamaca Railway station, showcases the region's transportation heritage. The museum association, a nonprofit educational organization, offers a learning experience suited to visitors of all ages who want to experience early-twentieth-century rail travel firsthand.