Photo from the venue's own site
Museum · Admission from $5 when open · 3 offers for a future visit
Fancy going together?
Admission from $5 when open.
Western Pacific Railroad Museum lets visitors take the throttle of a real vintage diesel locomotive and operate it themselves. The museum grounds hold 159 pieces of historic railroad rolling stock arranged for hands-on exploration—no climbing restrictions here. Visitors sit in the engineer's seat of the UP 6946, the largest diesel locomotive ever built, tour restored passenger cars from the pre-Amtrak era, and climb aboard vintage cabooses and freight cars. Summer weekend train rides run between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The museum also offers a web-based tour guide to help visitors learn about the collection. Admission is charged at eight different rates depending on age and military status. Children 4 and under receive free museum admission and free train rides. A family pass covers two adults and any related children 18 and under for train rides at $14.00. The museum is located in Portola, California, less than an hour's drive from Reno and Lake Tahoe. Verified savings and current offers appear at wplives.org.
Prices quoted from museum.wplives.org. Prices can change — the link above goes to the page they came from.
2 reasons to go, each in the venue’s own words, with the date we checked it.
Dec 5 – 19Event
Families ride festive holiday trains covered in lights, enjoy free homemade cookies and hot beverages, and children meet Santa and Mrs. Claus. Museum opens at 4 PM with train rides starting at 5 PM on five dates in December.
Check event details and ticket requirements with the venue.
“December 5, 11, 12, 18 & 19, 2026”
Dec 5Event
Santa Trains 2026 — December 5, 11, 12, 18 & 19, 2026. Photos from last year's Santa Trains... 2025 Santa Train Photos
Check event details and ticket requirements with the venue.
“December 5, 11, 12, 18 & 19, 2026”
Train ride tickets for 2 adults plus any related children 18 and under
“A family pass is $14.00 (2 adults plus any related children 18 and under.)”
Free admission for children aged 4 and under
“Admission is $10.00 for adults (19 - 64), $6.00 for youth (5 - 18), children 4 and under are free”
Free train rides for children aged 4 and under
“Train rides run weekends between Memorial Day and Labor Day and are $5.00 for adults (19 - 64), seniors (65 and up)/active military $5.00 , youth (5 - 18) $4.00, children 4 and under are free.”
Theatre, games and concerts within 25 miles, with dates and tickets.