This is a wonderful museum – even if you’re not a train buff. I learned a lot about the history of the railroads and really enjoyed seeing all of the real train cars that they had on display, as well as all of the memorabilia.. You even get to walk through an old time sleeper car and dining car. Everything is done in such a top-notch fashion -- my husband and I both agee that it is probably the best museum we have ever been in. And to think that it wasn’t even part of our original trip itinerary, but we were talking with someone while in another city and when they heard we were going to the Sacramento area, they raved so much about the museum and how awesome it was. We are so glad that we listened to them, because this museum really is THAT good! All of the displays are indoors, which is a big plus in the summertime. Just one thing to note – parking is not free. There is a garage right by the museum however. We were there for about 2-1/2 hours and it cost us $7.00. The museum will not validate parking, but they did say that some of the shops surrounding the museum will. In any event, this museum is well worth the cost of admission and parking

You don't have to be a train lover to be more than impressed by the CA State Railroad Museum. (My wife is the proof.) From the moment we stepped into the door, staff members made us feel welcome and wanted.

Most train museums are mainly a collection of static equipment. This one's collection is truly OUTSTANDING, with some of the finest and most highly decorated engines and cars from the 1850s forward, but it rates far higher on the interpretive scale than most of its peers. The CA State RR museum goes out of its way to point out the impact of railroad transportation on life in general and the economy in particular -- both in California and the nation.

Start with the 20-minute introductory film that sets the stage for your visit. You'll move directly from the theatre into a huge room that shows how surveying parties searched for a route through the Sierras, the beautiful locomotives of the era, and how miles of snowsheds had to be built, who built the railroads, how they were built, etc.

You'll see one of the spikes used to finish the Transcontinental RR in 1869 and follow the progression from antique wooden coaches to luxury trains with bedrooms and dining cars that served 4-star meals on specially thrown china (major collector's items today).

You get up close to a wide variety of steam and diesel engines, from a small yard switcher to the huge Cab Forward that you can enter, sit in the engineer's seat and ask questions of a very well informed guide.

There is an excellent collection of model trains of all sizes -- including a lot of live steam models -- and a large operating layout of pre-WWII Standard Gauge Lionel equipment you can operate by pressing buttons. Young kids were having a great time playing at three or four tables of the little wood trains that are held together by magnets.

I went out of my way to visit this museum, which involved choosing to drive five hours to my ultimate destination -- and then five hours back to fly out of Sacramento. No regrets whatsoever!

I had a very pleasant visit to this museum and learned a lot about the role the Central Pacific Railraod had in unifying the country. Excellent tour guide who truly brought all of the exhibits to life.

I really enjoyed going through the railroad museum in Sacramento. I was surprised by how much there was to look at and how much history there is in that place. They show you a short 20 minute video to get started, then you are allowed to go through the museum at your own pace. For the $8 per person that it cost, I would consider it well worth it.