Travel Town Museum
Encyclopedia
Travel Town Museum is a transport museum
within Griffith Park
in Los Angeles
, California
.
Travel Town was dedicated on December 14, 1952. There is no charge for museum admission or parking. It is open daily (except Christmas
.)
Located outdoors, in the expansive Griffith Park
, the museum's primary collection focus is the history of railroad transportation in the western United States from 1880 to the 1930s, with a particular emphasis on railroading in Southern California and the Los Angeles area.
The museum has numerous steam locomotives and other rolling stock
on display, and some currently undergoing restoration. Visitors are permitted to climb only into the cabs of designated steam locomotives as well as into select passenger cars and cabooses. Docents guide small group tours of sleeper and club cars on the second Saturday at 10:00 a.m.
Visitors are not permitted to climb under, over or on the sides of any and all equipment.
Railway Collection=
The Railroad Museum portion contains 43 full-scale Railroad engines, cars and other rolling stock.
Their collection of 17 locomotives includes:
The Travel Town Museum's full locomotive roster can be seen here.
The Travel Town Museum's full Freight car and Caboose roster can be seen here.
The Travel Town Museum's full Passenger Car roster can be seen here.
The Travel Town Museum's partial roster of interurbans and trolleys can be seen here.
Miniature Train Excursion =
Tickets can be purchased to ride the Melody Ranch Special
, a miniature train once owned by Gene Autry
, for two circles around the museum grounds. The passenger coaches are now covered and the original steam engine has been replaced with "Courage", a chain driven internal combustion motor housed within a façade representing a steam locomotive. (One of three miniature train rides in Griffith Park including Los Angeles Live Steamers
and the
Griffith Park & Southern Railroad.)
Exhibit Room =
Main Exhibit Hall =
Houses additional transportation examples and exhibits.
Gift Shop=
A variety of books and toys are made available for purchase, benefiting the Travel Town Museum Foundation.
External links =
Transport museum
A transport museum is a museum that holds collections of transport items, which are often limited to land transport —including old cars, trains, trams/streetcars, buses, trolleybuses and coaches—but can also include air transport or waterborne transport items, along with educational displays and...
within Griffith Park
Griffith Park
Griffith Park is a large municipal park at the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. The park covers of land, making it one of the largest urban parks in North America...
in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Travel Town was dedicated on December 14, 1952. There is no charge for museum admission or parking. It is open daily (except Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
.)
Located outdoors, in the expansive Griffith Park
Griffith Park
Griffith Park is a large municipal park at the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. The park covers of land, making it one of the largest urban parks in North America...
, the museum's primary collection focus is the history of railroad transportation in the western United States from 1880 to the 1930s, with a particular emphasis on railroading in Southern California and the Los Angeles area.
The museum has numerous steam locomotives and other rolling stock
Rolling stock
Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons...
on display, and some currently undergoing restoration. Visitors are permitted to climb only into the cabs of designated steam locomotives as well as into select passenger cars and cabooses. Docents guide small group tours of sleeper and club cars on the second Saturday at 10:00 a.m.
Visitors are not permitted to climb under, over or on the sides of any and all equipment.
Railway Collection=
The Railroad Museum portion contains 43 full-scale Railroad engines, cars and other rolling stock.
Locomotives
- AT&SF No. 664, a 1899 BaldwinBaldwin Locomotive WorksThe Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of...
2-8-0 Consolidation2-8-0Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-8-0 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and no trailing wheels...
steam locomotiveSteam locomotiveA steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
. - California WesternCalifornia Western RailroadThe California Western Railroad , popularly called the Skunk Train, is a heritage railroad in Mendocino County, California, running from the railroad's headquarters in the coastal town of Fort Bragg, and the interchange with the Northwestern Pacific Railroad at Willits.The CWR runs steam and...
No. 56, Ex McCloud RiverMcCloud RailwayThe McCloud Railway is a class III railroad operated around Mount Shasta, California. It began operations on July 1, 1992 when it took over operations from the McCloud River Railroad...
No. 33, a 1955 Baldwin RS-12 Diesel locomotiveDiesel locomotiveA diesel locomotive is a type of railroad locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine, a reciprocating engine operating on the Diesel cycle as invented by Dr. Rudolf Diesel...
. - Camino-Placerville & Lake TahoeCamino, Placerville and Lake Tahoe RailroadThe Camino, Placerville and Lake Tahoe Railroad was an Class III shortline railroad operating in the Sierra Nevada Mountains east of Sacramento, California, USA. It was built primarily to haul lumber from the El Dorado National Forest...
No. 2, a 1922 LimaLima Locomotive WorksLima Locomotive Works was an American firm that manufactured railroad locomotives from the 1870s through the 1950s. The company took the most distinctive part of its name from its main shops location in Lima, Ohio. The shops were located between the Baltimore & Ohio's Cincinnati-Toledo main line...
three-truck std-gauge Shay locomotiveShay locomotiveThe Shay locomotive was the most widely used geared steam locomotive. The locomotives were built to the patents of Ephraim Shay, who has been credited with the popularization of the concept of a geared steam locomotive...
. - Conrock No. 1, a 1925 American (Cooke Works)American Locomotive CompanyThe American Locomotive Company, often shortened to ALCO or Alco , was a builder of railroad locomotives in the United States.-Early history:...
0-6-0 switcher0-6-0Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels...
steam locomotiveSteam locomotiveA steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
. - Los Angeles Harbor Department No. 31, a 1921 DavenportDavenport Locomotive WorksThe Davenport Locomotive Works, of Davenport, Iowa, USA built locomotives from 1902 until 1956. The company acquired the locomotive business of H. K...
0-4-0T switcher0-4-0Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-0 represents one of the simplest possible types, that with two axles and four coupled wheels, all of which are driven...
steam locomotiveSteam locomotiveA steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
. - Los Angeles Harbor Department No. 32, a 1914 ALCO (Rogers Works)American Locomotive CompanyThe American Locomotive Company, often shortened to ALCO or Alco , was a builder of railroad locomotives in the United States.-Early history:...
0-4-0T switcher0-4-0Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-0 represents one of the simplest possible types, that with two axles and four coupled wheels, all of which are driven...
steam locomotiveSteam locomotiveA steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
. - Pacific ElectricPacific Electric RailwayThe Pacific Electric Railway , also known as the Red Car system, was a mass transit system in Southern California using streetcars, light rail, and buses...
No. 1544 "Electra", a 1902 North Shore B-B electric locomotiveElectric locomotiveAn electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or an on-board energy storage device...
. - Pickering Lumber Company No. 2, a 1918 Heisler Locomotive WorksHeisler locomotiveThe Heisler locomotive was the last variant of the three major types of geared steam locomotive, Charles L. Heisler receiving a patent for the design in 1892 following the construction of a prototype in 1891. Somewhat similar to a Climax locomotive, Heisler's design featured two cylinders canted...
three truck narrow gauge HeislerHeisler locomotiveThe Heisler locomotive was the last variant of the three major types of geared steam locomotive, Charles L. Heisler receiving a patent for the design in 1892 following the construction of a prototype in 1891. Somewhat similar to a Climax locomotive, Heisler's design featured two cylinders canted...
steam locomotiveSteam locomotiveA steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
. - Santa Maria ValleySanta Maria Valley RailroadThe Santa Maria Valley Railroad is a 14.8 mile shortline railroad that interchanges with the Union Pacific Railroad's Coast Line at Guadalupe, California. It is owned by the Coast Belle Rail Corporation.-Traffic:...
No. 1000, a 1920 American (Schenectady Works)American Locomotive CompanyThe American Locomotive Company, often shortened to ALCO or Alco , was a builder of railroad locomotives in the United States.-Early history:...
2-8-2 Mikado2-8-2Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-8-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle...
steam locomotiveSteam locomotiveA steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
. - Sharp & Fellows Railroad Contractors No. 7, a 1902 American (Dixon Works)American Locomotive CompanyThe American Locomotive Company, often shortened to ALCO or Alco , was a builder of railroad locomotives in the United States.-Early history:...
2-6-2 Prairie2-6-2Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-6-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels, six coupled driving wheels and two trailing wheels.Other equivalent classifications are:...
steam locomotiveSteam locomotiveA steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
. - Southern Pacific No. 20, an 1880 BaldwinBaldwin Locomotive WorksThe Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of...
0-4-0 switcher0-4-0Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-0 represents one of the simplest possible types, that with two axles and four coupled wheels, all of which are driven...
steam locomotiveSteam locomotiveA steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
, currently undergoing refurbishment to operation as Southern Pacific No. 219. - Southern Pacific No. 1273, a 1921 SP (Sacramento Shops) built 0-6-0 switcher0-6-0Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels...
steam locomotiveSteam locomotiveA steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
. - Southern Pacific No. 3025, a 1904 American (Schenectady Works)American Locomotive CompanyThe American Locomotive Company, often shortened to ALCO or Alco , was a builder of railroad locomotives in the United States.-Early history:...
4-4-2 Atlantic4-4-2 (locomotive)Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-4-2 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle...
steam locomotiveSteam locomotiveA steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
. - Stockton Terminal and Eastern No. 1Stockton Terminal and Eastern No. 1Stockton Terminal and Eastern No. 1 is a 4-4-0 steam locomotive originally built in 1864 by Norris-Lancaster for the first Western Pacific Railroad...
, an 1864 Norris-LancasterNorris Locomotive WorksThe Norris Locomotive Works was a steam locomotive manufacturing company based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that produced about a thousand railroad engines between 1832 and 1866. It was the dominant American locomotive producer during most of that period, and even sold its popular 4-2-0 engines...
4-4-0 American4-4-0Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-4-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and no trailing wheels...
steam locomotiveSteam locomotiveA steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
. (pictured) - Travel Town No. 1 "The Charley Atkins", Ex US Navy No. 56-00323, a 1941 EMD Model 40EMD Model 40The EMD Model 40 was a two-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by Electro-Motive Corporation, and its corporate successor, General Motors' Electro-Motive Division between August 1940 and April 1943. Nicknamed "critters", eleven examples of this locomotive were built. Powered by twin General...
300hpHorsepowerHorsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...
Diesel locomotiveDiesel locomotiveA diesel locomotive is a type of railroad locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine, a reciprocating engine operating on the Diesel cycle as invented by Dr. Rudolf Diesel...
. - Union PacificUnion Pacific RailroadThe Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
No. 4439, a 1918 UPUnion Pacific RailroadThe Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
built 0-6-0 switcher0-6-0Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels...
steam locomotiveSteam locomotiveA steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
. - Western PacificWestern Pacific RailroadThe Western Pacific Railroad was a Class I railroad in the United States. It was formed in 1903 as an attempt to break the near-monopoly the Southern Pacific Railroad had on rail service into northern California...
No. 26, a 1909 American (Schenectady Works)American Locomotive CompanyThe American Locomotive Company, often shortened to ALCO or Alco , was a builder of railroad locomotives in the United States.-Early history:...
2-8-0 Consolidation2-8-0Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-8-0 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and no trailing wheels...
steam locomotiveSteam locomotiveA steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
.
The Travel Town Museum's full locomotive roster can be seen here.
Cabooses and Freight Cars
There are 11 full-scale railway rolling stock examples:- AT&SF No. 999110, a 1926 American Car & FoundryAmerican Car and Foundry CompanyAmerican Car and Foundry is a manufacturer of railroad rolling stock. One of its subsidiaries was once a manufacturer of motor coaches and trolley coaches under the brand names of ACF and ACF-Brill. Today ACF is known as ACF Industries LLC and is based in St. Charles, Missouri...
cabooseCabooseA caboose is a manned North American rail transport vehicle coupled at the end of a freight train. Although cabooses were once used on nearly every freight train, their use has declined and they are seldom seen on trains, except on locals and smaller railroads.-Function:The caboose provided the...
. - 2 Los Angeles Harbor Dept. Side-Dump ballastTrack ballastTrack ballast forms the trackbed upon which railway sleepers or railroad ties are laid. It is packed between, below, and around the ties. It is used to facilitate drainage of water, to distribute the load from the railroad ties, and also to keep down vegetation that might interfere with the track...
cars. - Oahu Railway & LandOahu Railway and Land CompanyThe Oahu Railway and Land Company, or OR&L, was a narrow gauge common carrier railroad that served much of the Hawaiian island of Oahu until its dissolution in 1947.-Origin:...
No. 1, a 1900 OR&LOahu Railway and Land CompanyThe Oahu Railway and Land Company, or OR&L, was a narrow gauge common carrier railroad that served much of the Hawaiian island of Oahu until its dissolution in 1947.-Origin:...
built cabooseCabooseA caboose is a manned North American rail transport vehicle coupled at the end of a freight train. Although cabooses were once used on nearly every freight train, their use has declined and they are seldom seen on trains, except on locals and smaller railroads.-Function:The caboose provided the...
. - Richfield OilARCOAtlantic Richfield Company is an oil company with operations in the United States as well as in Indonesia, the North Sea, and the South China Sea. It has more than 1,300 gas stations in the western part of the United States. ARCO was originally formed by the merger of East Coast-based Atlantic...
No. 670, a 1911 tank carTank carA tank car is a type of railroad rolling stock designed to transport liquid and gaseous commodities.-Timeline:...
. - Southern Pacific No. 1, a circa 1890 wooden boxcarBoxcarA boxcar is a railroad car that is enclosed and generally used to carry general freight. The boxcar, while not the simplest freight car design, is probably the most versatile, since it can carry most loads...
.(in Main Exhibit Hall) - Southern Pacific No. 12, a circa 1890 Carter Brothers baggageBaggage carA baggage car or luggage van is a type of railway vehicle often forming part of the composition of passenger trains and used to carry passengers' checked baggage, as well as parcels . Being typically coupled at the front of the train behind the locomotive, this type of car is sometimes described...
and MailRailway post officeIn the United States a railway post office, commonly abbreviated as RPO, was a railroad car that was normally operated in passenger service as a means to sort mail en route, in order to speed delivery. The RPO was staffed by highly trained Railway Mail Service postal clerks, and was off-limits to...
car.(in Main Exhibit Hall) - Southern Pacific No. 163, a circa 1890 stock carStock car (rail)In railroad terminology, a stock car or cattle wagon is a type of rolling stock used for carrying livestock to market...
(possibly built by the Virginia & Truckee (Nevada Shops)Virginia and Truckee RailroadThe Virginia and Truckee Railroad was built to serve the Comstock Lode mining communities of northwestern Nevada. At its height, the railroad's route ran from Reno south to Carson City, Nevada. In Carson City, the...
).(in Main Exhibit Hall) - Southern Pacific No. 4049, a 1961 Pacific Car & FoundryPACCARPACCAR Inc is the third largest manufacturer of heavy-duty trucks in the world , and has substantial manufacture in light and medium vehicles through its various subsidiaries.-History:...
bay window caboose. - Southern Pacific No. 30036, a circa 1930 wood sided boxcarBoxcarA boxcar is a railroad car that is enclosed and generally used to carry general freight. The boxcar, while not the simplest freight car design, is probably the most versatile, since it can carry most loads...
. - Union PacificUnion Pacific RailroadThe Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
No. 2117, an 1881 wooden cabooseCabooseA caboose is a manned North American rail transport vehicle coupled at the end of a freight train. Although cabooses were once used on nearly every freight train, their use has declined and they are seldom seen on trains, except on locals and smaller railroads.-Function:The caboose provided the...
. - Western PacificWestern Pacific RailroadThe Western Pacific Railroad was a Class I railroad in the United States. It was formed in 1903 as an attempt to break the near-monopoly the Southern Pacific Railroad had on rail service into northern California...
No. 754, a 1910 Haskell and Barker cabooseCabooseA caboose is a manned North American rail transport vehicle coupled at the end of a freight train. Although cabooses were once used on nearly every freight train, their use has declined and they are seldom seen on trains, except on locals and smaller railroads.-Function:The caboose provided the...
.
The Travel Town Museum's full Freight car and Caboose roster can be seen here.
Passenger Cars
There are 9 examples of passenger train equipment:- AT&SF No. 3355, a 1928 Pullman CompanyPullman CompanyThe Pullman Palace Car Company, founded by George Pullman, manufactured railroad cars in the mid-to-late 19th century through the early decades of the 20th century, during the boom of railroads in the United States. Pullman developed the sleeping car which carried his name into the 1980s...
Snack Car - Oahu Railway & LandOahu Railway and Land CompanyThe Oahu Railway and Land Company, or OR&L, was a narrow gauge common carrier railroad that served much of the Hawaiian island of Oahu until its dissolution in 1947.-Origin:...
No. 1, a circa 1900 OR&LOahu Railway and Land CompanyThe Oahu Railway and Land Company, or OR&L, was a narrow gauge common carrier railroad that served much of the Hawaiian island of Oahu until its dissolution in 1947.-Origin:...
built passenger coach - Oahu Railway & LandOahu Railway and Land CompanyThe Oahu Railway and Land Company, or OR&L, was a narrow gauge common carrier railroad that served much of the Hawaiian island of Oahu until its dissolution in 1947.-Origin:...
No. 36, a 1900 OR&LOahu Railway and Land CompanyThe Oahu Railway and Land Company, or OR&L, was a narrow gauge common carrier railroad that served much of the Hawaiian island of Oahu until its dissolution in 1947.-Origin:...
built Passenger/Mail combination carCombine carA combine car in North American parlance, most often referred to simply as a combine, is a type of railroad car which combines sections for both passengers and freight.... - Pennsylvania RailroadPennsylvania RailroadThe Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
No. 4418, a circa 1925 Pennsylvania RailroadPennsylvania RailroadThe Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
built Dining carDining carA dining car or restaurant carriage , also diner, is a railroad passenger car that serves meals in the manner of a full-service, sit-down restaurant.... - Southern Pacific No. 2513, a 1919 Pullman CompanyPullman CompanyThe Pullman Palace Car Company, founded by George Pullman, manufactured railroad cars in the mid-to-late 19th century through the early decades of the 20th century, during the boom of railroads in the United States. Pullman developed the sleeping car which carried his name into the 1980s...
chair car - Union PacificUnion Pacific RailroadThe Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
No. 3669, a 1921 PullmanPullman CompanyThe Pullman Palace Car Company, founded by George Pullman, manufactured railroad cars in the mid-to-late 19th century through the early decades of the 20th century, during the boom of railroads in the United States. Pullman developed the sleeping car which carried his name into the 1980s...
Dining carDining carA dining car or restaurant carriage , also diner, is a railroad passenger car that serves meals in the manner of a full-service, sit-down restaurant....
, also known as Union PacificUnion Pacific RailroadThe Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
No. 369. - Union PacificUnion Pacific RailroadThe Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
No. LA-701 "The Little Nugget", a 1937 PullmanPullman CompanyThe Pullman Palace Car Company, founded by George Pullman, manufactured railroad cars in the mid-to-late 19th century through the early decades of the 20th century, during the boom of railroads in the United States. Pullman developed the sleeping car which carried his name into the 1980s...
Dormitory/Club Car. - Union PacificUnion Pacific RailroadThe Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
"Hunters Point", a 1940 PullmanPullman CompanyThe Pullman Palace Car Company, founded by George Pullman, manufactured railroad cars in the mid-to-late 19th century through the early decades of the 20th century, during the boom of railroads in the United States. Pullman developed the sleeping car which carried his name into the 1980s...
sleeping CarSleeping carThe sleeping car or sleeper is a railway/railroad passenger car that can accommodate all its passengers in beds of one kind or another, primarily for the purpose of making nighttime travel more restful. The first such cars saw sporadic use on American railroads in the 1830s and could be configured...
. - Union PacificUnion Pacific RailroadThe Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
"Rose Bowl", a 1937 PullmanPullman CompanyThe Pullman Palace Car Company, founded by George Pullman, manufactured railroad cars in the mid-to-late 19th century through the early decades of the 20th century, during the boom of railroads in the United States. Pullman developed the sleeping car which carried his name into the 1980s...
sleeping CarSleeping carThe sleeping car or sleeper is a railway/railroad passenger car that can accommodate all its passengers in beds of one kind or another, primarily for the purpose of making nighttime travel more restful. The first such cars saw sporadic use on American railroads in the 1830s and could be configured...
, also known as "Telegraph Hill".
The Travel Town Museum's full Passenger Car roster can be seen here.
Trolleys, Cable Car, and Motorcar
4 various other passenger equipment examples:- AT&SF No. M-177, a 1929 motorized passenger RailcarRailcarA railcar, in British English and Australian English, is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach , with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g., the Great Western...
, incorporating an EMD engine into a PullmanPullman CompanyThe Pullman Palace Car Company, founded by George Pullman, manufactured railroad cars in the mid-to-late 19th century through the early decades of the 20th century, during the boom of railroads in the United States. Pullman developed the sleeping car which carried his name into the 1980s...
carbody.. - Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority No. 1543, a 1911 American Car & FoundryAmerican Car and Foundry CompanyAmerican Car and Foundry is a manufacturer of railroad rolling stock. One of its subsidiaries was once a manufacturer of motor coaches and trolley coaches under the brand names of ACF and ACF-Brill. Today ACF is known as ACF Industries LLC and is based in St. Charles, Missouri...
Interurban Trolley Coach, known as a PE Big Red Car "Blimp" and bears both its final green MTA and earlier red PE paint liveries, each on one end and one side. - Los Angeles RailwayLos Angeles RailwayThe Los Angeles Railway was a system of streetcars that operated in central Los Angeles, California and the immediate surrounding neighborhoods between from 1901 and 1963. Except for two short funicular railways it operated on tracks...
, a circa 1880 Horse-drawn narrow gauge street-railway car. - California Street Cable RailroadCalifornia Street Cable RailroadThe California Street Cable Railroad was a long-serving cable car operator in San Francisco, founded by Leland Stanford. The company's first line opened on California Street in 1878 and is still in operation, being the oldest cable car line still in operation.The company remained independent until...
California Street Cable Railway Co. No. 21, a 1906 John Hammond & Co. reversible, double ended "California Street" type Cable Car - needing no turntable on each end of the line, with combination open and enclosed "California" style seating sections. Borrowed by Universal Pictures for filming as a Chicago electric trolley car circa 1960's, it was painted #28.
The Travel Town Museum's partial roster of interurbans and trolleys can be seen here.
Maintenance of Way
- U.S. Navy No. CSCV1887, 1942 American Hoist and Derrick self propelled Diesel wrecker craneCrane (railroad)A railroad crane, is a type of crane used on a railroad for one of three primary uses: freight handling in goods yards, permanent way maintenance, and accident recovery work...
, Serial No. 1887. - U.S. Navy No. 61-02011, (unknown year)(unknown builder) Boom Car, utility flat car for support of the wrecker crane.
- Track inspection SpeederSpeederA speeder is a maintenance of way motorized vehicle formerly used on railroads around the world by track inspectors and work crews to move quickly to and...
.
Motor Vehicles
- Railway Express AgencyRailway Express AgencyThe Railway Express Agency was a the national monopoly set up by the Untied States federal government in 1917. Rail express services provided small package and parcel transportation using the extant railroad infrastructure much as UPS functions today using the road system...
, 1945 International Harvester Co. & York Body Corp. Model K-5 Express Delivery Truck.
Additional Railway Museum collections and examples
- Semaphore by Union Switch & Signal, Swissvale, Pennsylvania.
- Wig-Wag grade crossing signal (unknown builder, perhaps Pacific Electric signal shops) from Pacific Electric Railroad.
- Track Construction - Examples of three periods of 4'8½" standard-gauge track construction, and wheels on axle.
- Log sleepers (ties) nailed to (unknown weight) rail. Earliest method.
- Sleepers, uniform and square cut wood soaked in creosoteCreosoteCreosote is the portion of chemical products obtained by the distillation of a tar that remains heavier than water, notably useful for its anti-septic and preservative properties...
preservative and surrounded by ballast, spiked to (unknown weight) 'T' rail which is joined with fishplates. - Concrete sleepers, spring clipped to (unknown weight) rail which is joined with welds.
- Track switches - Various examples of switch points methods, frogs and switch stands/signals.
Miniature Train Excursion =
Tickets can be purchased to ride the Melody Ranch Special
Melody Ranch
Melody Ranch is a 1940 Western film which tells the story of a singing cowboy who returns to his hometown to restore order when his former childhood enemies take over the frontier town.-Movie:...
, a miniature train once owned by Gene Autry
Gene Autry
Orvon Grover Autry , better known as Gene Autry, was an American performer who gained fame as The Singing Cowboy on the radio, in movies and on television for more than three decades beginning in the 1930s...
, for two circles around the museum grounds. The passenger coaches are now covered and the original steam engine has been replaced with "Courage", a chain driven internal combustion motor housed within a façade representing a steam locomotive. (One of three miniature train rides in Griffith Park including Los Angeles Live Steamers
Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum
Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum is a non-profit public benefit corporation that was founded in 1956 by live steam enthusiasts for the purpose of educating the public about railroad history and lore, and to promote the avocation of live steam and scale model railroad technology. The...
and the
Griffith Park & Southern Railroad.)
Exhibit Room =
- Artifacts, documents, and ephemera are on display such as menus and chinaware, recollections and timetables, regarding the history of railroading in the United States.
Main Exhibit Hall =
Houses additional transportation examples and exhibits.
- Cut-away boiler demonstration exhibit.
- Hand drawn fire-hose cart.
- Horse drawn wagons
- Piano Box buggy
- Coal Box buggy
- Milk delivery dray
- milk delivery van
- chariot from Ben-HurBen-Hur (1959 film)Ben-Hur is a 1959 American epic film directed by William Wyler and starring Charlton Heston in the title role, the third film adaptation of Lew Wallace's 1880 novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ. The screenplay was written by Karl Tunberg, Gore Vidal, and Christopher Fry. The score was composed by...
. - Circus Wagon
- Oil Delivery (tank) wagon
- Motor Vehicles & Automobiles.
- Packard Sedan, 9th series, circa 1932
- 1948 Nash Ambassador Sedan
- 1918 Mack Dump Truck
- Fire Engine
- "Holden's Corner" railway safety interactive Children's Discovery Center.
- The "Little General" locomotive demonstration engine.
- Viewing platform for the East Valley Lines model railroad club N scale layout.
East Valley Lines
Located behind a roll-up door in the main exhibit hall, the East Valley Lines Model Rail-Road N Gauge Club operates their extensive layout weekends from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. for public viewing.Gift Shop=
A variety of books and toys are made available for purchase, benefiting the Travel Town Museum Foundation.
Travel Town appearances in Media
Travel Town is near many television and movie studios, which has prompted those production companies to include scenes requiring railroad equipment to be shot at Travel Town since it opened. A small sample of the thousands of Travel Town's screen appearances is represented below:- Adam-12Adam-12Adam-12 was a television police drama which followed two police officers of the Los Angeles Police Department, Pete Malloy and Jim Reed, as they patrolled the streets of Los Angeles in their patrol unit, 1-Adam-12. Created by Jack Webb who is known for creating Dragnet, the series captured a...
Episode 101 "Eyewitness" 1972 - Columbo "Identity Crisis" 1975
- CHiPsCHiPsCHiPs is an American television drama series produced by MGM Studios that originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1977, to July 17, 1983. CHiPs followed the lives of two motorcycle police officers of the California Highway Patrol...
Episode 109 - Knight Rider Episode 36 "Diamonds Aren't a Girl's Best Friend" 1983
- Quantum Leap (TV series) Episode 48 "A Hunting Will We Go" 1991
- Royal Crown RevueRoyal Crown RevueThe Royal Crown Revue is a band formed in 1989 in Los Angeles, California. They are often credited with starting the Swing Revival movement. Live, RCR has been extremely successful: They participated in 1998's Vans Warped Tour, opened for the B-52s and The Pretenders and played at major US Jazz...
's "Watts Local" music video was shot in several locations. - Six Feet Under Season 4 Episode 8 "Coming and Going"
External links =