Western Pacific Railroad Museum

05/30/2026

FRRS Members: the annual membership dinner and meeting will be on Saturday, June 6.

MEMBERSHIP MEETING and DINNER - The annual membership dinner starts at 5:30 PM followed by the annual meeting at 7:00 PM. Members are encouraged to come and join us for a chance to meet other members and enjoy time at the museum. Remember: admission and train rides are FREE for FRRS members.

If you plan to attend the Membership Dinner, please RSVP to [email protected] so we can get a head count.

Volunteers needed! We are still looking for a few more volunteers to help on June 6 with Open Cab Day and dinner set up. Please sign up on the Crew Call page on the website or email [email protected] if you want to help out.

Please note that the Volunteer Lounge Car will be closed until late afternoon as the Election Committee will be using it for ballot counting.

Thank you!

05/30/2026

The Western Pacific Railroad Museum will be holding a special event on Saturday, June 6:

OPEN CAB DAY

WPRM docents will be on hand to provide in depth information on several of our locomotives and cars, including a look inside. Visitors can also purchase train ride tickets and enjoy caboose train rides from 11 AM to 2 PM. Gates open at 10:00 AM and the museum closes at 5:00 PM.

The WPRM is now in its operating season. Train rides are running every Saturday and Sunday from 11 AM to 2 PM. Come check out one of the western United States' largest railroad museum in Portola, California, located in the Feather River region.

For more information, go to https://www.WPLives.org.

05/10/2026

TSGMultimedia took an indepth look at the Big Boy Event.

early April of 2026, the Union Pacific 4014 Big Boy visited the Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola, CA on i...

05/10/2026

Crew training and a great turnout. Welcome to our new volunteers. Saturday, May 9.

05/06/2026

The FRRS Annual Members Dinner will be held on Saturday, June 6 at 5:30 PM followed by the Annual Membership Meeting at 7:00 PM.

Dinner will be catered sandwiches. If anyone would like to bring a potlock item to share, either entrée or dessert, please contact us at [email protected].

Please come and join our fellow members at the museum!

05/04/2026

Saturday, MAY 23, 2026 - Caboose Train and Run-A-Locomotive season opens at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum.

Our world famous Run-A-Locomotive program is now open for reservations for the 2026 season, running through October 4, 2026. YOU are the engineer running a real diesel locomotive in the beautiful Sierra Nevadas.

For more information and to make a deposit and / or order a gift certificate, go to https://www.RunALocomotive.com

Also, our weekend Caboose Train Rides will start Memorial Day weekend running through Labor Day. Come tour the museum and take a ride on our variety of preserved railroad cabooses.

For times, fares and info, visit https://museum.wplives.org/Train%20Rides/

And don't forget the museum is open Fridays 12 noon to 4 PM until October 2 and Thursdays 12 noon to 4 PM June, July and August.

The WPRM at Portola, California has summer weekend train rides available.

04/16/2026

The Big Boy visit covered in the Plumas Sun. Check it out!

The Western Pacific Railroad Museum welcomed the arrival of Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 in Portola on the evening of April 8. The event magnetically

04/07/2026

Advance admission sales for Wednesday's Big Boy Event have now ended.

Anyone still wanting to attend can purchase at the gate on April 8 starting at 9 AM.

Adult admission will be $25 at the gate. Youth (5-18), Senior (65

04/05/2026

Please Note: The Western Pacific Railroad Museum will only be open to the public on April 8th for the Big Boy Event.

We will NOT be open April 7 or 9 except for event volunteers, vendors and Union Pacific / City of Portola personnel.

There will be a lot of things going on including trains and rubber tire equipment in motion. Do not come onto the museum grounds those days unless you are working to prep for the event.

Thank you! Your help to make this event a great one is appreciated!

Send a message to learn more

04/05/2026

A reminder for Big Boy ticket purchasers: PLEASE print out of have on your phone either your checkout receipt or your receipt email. This is your proof of payment. Bring that to the entry gate to get your entry wristbands on Wednesday. There will be volunteers at the gate to give you your wristbands.

No physical tickets are post mailed or emailed. Your receipt is your proof of payment.