Pacific Southwest Railway Museum

The Pacific Southwest Railway Museum (PSRM) in Campo offers an authentic encounter with the “Impossible Railroad.” Operating on a historic segment of the San Diego & Arizona Railway—a line famously completed in 1919 by tycoon John D. Spreckels—the museum preserves a massive collection of over 120 pieces of rolling stock across its 140-acre campus. Visitors can explore the beautifully restored 1916 Campo Depot and a sprawling display building housing everything from massive steam locomotives to vintage Pullman cars. The museum also maintains the historic La Mesa Depot Museum, providing a unique “living history” window into small-town railroading at the turn of the 20th century.

The museum’s signature excursion is the Golden State, a 45-minute round-trip journey that winds through the high-desert scenery toward the international border. For those seeking a more hands-on experience, the museum offers a Locomotive Cab Ride program, allowing guests to sit alongside the engineer in a vintage diesel-electric locomotive. PSRM is particularly beloved for its high-production seasonal events, including the Pumpkin Express, which takes families to a themed patch in the hills, and the North Pole Limited, a magical Christmas journey complete with hot cocoa and a visit from Santa.