Western Pacific Railroad Museum

Located at the historic site of a former Western Pacific locomotive facility in Portola, the Western Pacific Railroad Museum (WPRM) is a premier heritage railroad dedicated to the “Willing People” of the Feather River Route. Spanning 37 acres, the museum is home to one of the most complete collections of a single railroad family in North America, featuring over 35 locomotives and 80 pieces of rolling stock, including the iconic California Zephyr passenger cars. Unlike traditional static displays, WPRM is a “living” museum where history is experienced through movement. During the operating season—typically from Memorial Day to Labor Day—visitors can enjoy caboose train excursions that circle the museum grounds, offering a nostalgic ten-minute journey in vintage equipment. For those seeking a deeper connection to rail history, the museum’s world-famous Run-A-Locomotive (RAL) program allows guests to take the throttle of a real diesel locomotive under expert instruction, making it a unique destination where heritage is not just preserved, but actively operated.