Pacific Southwest Railway Museum

What a truly incredible experience !! We weren't exactly what to prepare for. The store was a lot of fun, ( we got a ducky). The staff made it a lot fun with costumes and decorations. It's secluded and antique. Who knew that we had a San Diego to Arizona railroad. There are incredible opportunities to volunteer and donate. If you want to contribute to something that will be around for a loooooonnngg time, here is your Nirvana ! We will be going again !!

What a great experience. We took a ride on a vintage train. The trip was 'The North Pole Limited." Informative, and Entertaining. Santa and Mrs. Claus even rode on the train when we reached the North Pole. I would make this trip again.

This was a very nice experience. The staff is amazing and they are all volunteers. They really could use some more lights and small building to sell the North Pole. But it was cute. The cookies are really good!!! The Hot Cocoa was okay. They need at least two books per car when reading the Christmas Story. Kids at the other end are unable to see it. And the speakers are very loud.

My daughter’s family and my spouse and I attended a train expedition to the North Pole with a visit from Santa & Mrs Claus! Our three year old grandson was enchanted and for this the trip is worth 5 stars. Our trip which was the least expensive was $300 which many families cannot afford.

This place was a great place to take the kids, seems that the new gift shop attendant isn't friendly nor customer service oriented. If this is a volunteer museum his time on his phone was more important and most of all very certain race friendly, he completed a paragraph text prior to speaking and we spoke first, however his only question was "Did you purchase tickets online" his phone began to be priority, mind you we've been coming here since 2008 when it was a GEM and Tecate trips were fun, now after our last little ones attended, we don't feel as if its the same experience as prior visits, however Dave, his counterpart and Teresa were very nice, but theres always one to spoil it for people

Outstanding, weekend trip destination. You can ride trains and see amazing railroad cars from the 1920s. Also learn more about the impossible railroad. Learn how a locomotive works. There is also a small store to buy some postcards and other train memorial. Good place to take kids. They also have a small shuttle that drives you the half mile to the exhibition hall.

Very nice museum with a lot to look at. It was nice to be able to go into and explore the old trains. They also have multiple trains out back to "look" at. Great fun for the family. Train ride was pretty cool. It was a hot day, but when the train is moving, you get a lot of air circulation.

Amazing experience coming to visit the Campo Railroad museum. Take the 94 east and enjoy scenic San Diego, the 8 is boring. The railroad museum boasts an array of rail cars and engines to look at. The restored cars are exquisite all the way to the wood inlay details. We learned a lot about trains and railroads here. The train ride takes you on a nice journey, on your return trip it will take you to the museum which is not even a 100 yards from where you board. If you need it there is a small shuttle that will take you back. All in all a great experience and worth every penny. This volunteer run organization puts a lot out there for kids young and old to enjoy!

Every single person working here is a VOLUNTEER. They dedicate their free time to bring joy back to the community. I'm very grateful for all of them. It's sad to see someone people come here to complain and put down their efforts. I would recommend coming here if you appreciate history and the outdoors.

They tried. This review is only for the sip n scare train ride. I was SO excited to do this. There was nothing scary on or in the train. I thought there would be scares or something. Alcohol was wine beer or an ounce of something premixed with some sprite added. Felt and tasted absolutely nothing. Train stops not at the original station and in the pitch black dark. We sat there for about 10 minutes until other passengers came back on and told us we're all supposed to get off. We walked across the the other side of the tracks to a band still setting up, a bbq stand that had zero smell food for purchase and one small craft tent. Then we were told the shuttle back is unfortunately not working. I had in kitten heels because i didn't anticipate a hike. I had converse in the car that I would've put on instead had we known about the shuttle prior. A quarter mile walk back to the car in the pitch black darkness in heels was a really bad ending to a lackluster time at best. Luckily my boyfriend would literally walk on rocks for me... he let me rock the J's while he suffered. A good laugh was had there for that. Don't waste your money unless you know what you're getting into and are ok with it. I would've done the haunted trail or something instead of driving all the way out for this. Cool place though and nice staff. I just didn't like not knowing what was going on and I think a bar in first class which we paid for was misleading.

Attended the Sip n Scare event which was amazing! Themed sunset rain ride in the first class car included a drink and snacks. More drinks available for purchase. Back to the station for a haunted maze attraction in one of the vintage trains - super spooky! They got me to scream and jump a few times! Outside is a delicious bbq food truck, vendors and a live band. Perfect date night experience. An earlier reviewer knocked them down for the long walk back to the car, while this was a bummer, they had a shuttle originally set up for us that broke down last minute. Things happen.

My updated review is in response to the company's reply. I have to say, I am extremely saddened we had to have a lesser experience because people who chose to sit in our (4) paid seats, refused to move. I paid for 4 business class seats, and only got 2 seats because my kids had to sit on our laps. Multiple staff members kept saying the train oversold and that it happens all the time. For those that chose to sit in our paid seats, did they pay business class too? How did this even happen? I strongly recommend you consider this an opportunity for improvement moving forward, for all your customers. Otherwise, if someone else sits in another persons seat, will they have this experience too?

Fun little ride through the backcountry would recommend, kids really love it! Christmas ride easter ride..weekend rides...various events through the year. If you feel like taking a break from the city this is a good spot although right now its a little hot.

Had the most AMAZING time riding the Easter event on the San Diego & Arizona Railway hosted by the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum in Campo, CA. The train ride was a great experience in a historic train built in 1916. The 45 minute ride was worth the nice views you get to see. During March & April, you'll get to see hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) at the start point sign. Be sure to check out the museum after train ride. A must visit with your kiddos they'll have a great time!!

We made the drive out to the remote town of Campo for the first time in at least 20 years to visit this unique backcountry museum. Totally worth it. Make sure to check the website for its train times, because you definitely want to take a ride on one of its vintage trains, rather than only visit the museum. You'll take a leisurely 45 minute ride into the backcountry, with an interesting view of the border wall. I highly recommend moving around the car a bit -- you'll get a better view in the cargo car and out the back of the train. At the end of the ride, it drops you off at the main exhibit hall, where there are fascinating trains, cars, and artifacts about all things train. You can explore several train cars and learn about this mode of transportation that in many ways defined our country for a large part of its history. Outside, more train cars await, in various states of decay. Take your time and enjoy the unique setting. It's definitely a bit of a schlep to get there, but the drive is pretty, and the payoff is quite unique. Also, be sure to catch the video about the building of the train route through the desert to San Diego. It's a fascinating look at San Diego's history and the building of this "impossible railroad" through the unforgiving desert mountains.

The Pacific Southwest Railway Museum is a great day trip adventure from San Diego. It's located about 50 miles east of San Diego in Campo. The main highlight of the adventure is that you can purchase a ticket to ride the train. The route starts south toward the US/Mexico boarder. You don't cross into Mexico, but you get pretty close. Then the train stops and heads back to Campo. The train passes the museum for about another mile or so, before it stops and heads backwards again. Along the ride, there is a recording that tells you all about the history of the area. The train ride is about 30 minutes. When the ride is over, it will drop you off at the Exhibit Hall. The hall has some pretty incredible restored pieces, including a United State Postal Service mail car. Tickets to ride the train and visit the museum where $18 for adults and $9 for kids. A little high for the length of the train ride, but it's still a fun experience. During Christmas, they also do a North Pole train ride experience that is fun as well. Depending on what time you go, there is a morning train (10am) and afternoon train (3pm), make time to stop at the Motor Transport Museum that is also in the area. It is only open on Saturday, and is free (donation suggested). It's a bonus adventure to enjoy with the drive out to Campo.

This was actually more fun then I thought. The staff was very friendly and informative. Great views on the train ride. Its the scenic views we were looking for. Pretty spacious train and well taken care of for how old it is.

I absolutely recommend this place, whether you're a train enthusiast, enjoy history, or just like to check out local points of interest. This made for a great outing for my father-in-law's birthday; he reminisced about his youth spent taking the train in the Philippines and looked like a schoolboy again. We all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We booked the 45-min train ride, during which a conductor punches your tickets and points out interesting bits about the vintage train. The music selection is delightful, and over the speaker, a voice draws your attention to this and that along the route. You can get up and check out a few different cars or sit back and relax. When the train stops at the museum, which is a short walk (they also will provide transportation) from the gift shop, bathrooms, and parking lot, you really must disembark and spend some time exploring the insides of the postal and passenger cars, the numerous valves and other train components, and the various maps, plaques, and posters that vividly describe the undertaking that was the railroad system. Then head outside to check out additional train cars. The entire enterprise is run by volunteers, who not only dress the part, but whose passion is infectious. This stop is great for all ages, but due to moving and rustic parts, make sure you've brought enough supervision for the kiddos. The bathrooms are clean and modern. You can take drinks and snacks on the train ride. And it's clear that, with additional donations, they have much more they hope to offer in the future. I'd say you'll spend at least 2 hours altogether, though certainly you could spend more. It's a reasonable drive from cities like San Diego. The entry fees aren't exorbitant. And there are a couple of other places (Gaskill Brothers Stone Store Museum and Motor Transport Museum--will have to catch the latter on my next trip out there) within minutes that are worth seeing, which makes for an entire day trip. Please support this place as it grows! My husband went years ago and, though he liked it then, he says it has grown exponentially in the years since! P.S. I know they allow photography for private use; it would be a neat spot for a photo shoot.

What little of the museum we could see looked cool. I checked out some of the outside displays and saw the train depart. They don't tell you on the website that pets aren't allowed. There is a sign as you head into the dirt road to go back to the museum so this review is also a tip. It looked cool and we might try again if we are ever down that way.

Went today 10/30 and my 3 year old LOVED it. The ladies at the gift shop were wonderful. They have a little playground type area out front with a swing set, and sand box. The train ride was great. After, the train dropped us off at the 'pumpkin patch' where there is decorated trains, etc. it was great. Two of the lines were insanely backed up so we went to get out pumpkin first (look 3 minutes) and went back to the train on the right (if walking into the train museum) and there was a small chair maybe a quarter out blocking the hallway of the train so my 3 year old and an elderly man literally YELLED at my son and I, and stared. I looked at him and said he was 3, and then he said "that chair is there for a reason" and completely puts the chair in front of the hallway and put a Halloween ' caution' tape over it. He completely killed the entire vibe of the experience. He was highly unprofessional and shouldn't be working at a place where families are.

Great visit to the Halloween Express. Highly recommend to anyone in the Spirit looking for something different to do. There is a haunted train, pumpkin patch, kids activities, and the train ride itself.

I have to say that I was really impressed Pacific Southwest Railway Museum. Considering the location, I was even more impressed. When you arrive at the museum, it doesn't look like much. You start your adventure at the Campo train station. That is where you will find the gift shop and where you purchase your tickets to ride the train. Yes, there is a train you can ride. Anytime I can ride a train, I am there. Tickets for adults are $18.00 and $9.00 for kids. A little pricey, but totally worth it. Once we boarded the train, it was about a 40 minute ride all together. The surrounding landscape doesn't look like much at first, but once the train gets you into the back country of Campo, the beauty is breathtaking. Just as a side note, there are not bathrooms on the train so if ya got to go, go before you leave the station. When the train arrives back at Campo, you are dropped off at the actual museum. This is where the surprise kicks in. There is some very impressive equipment in that there shed. Some beautiful old railway cars, steam engines, diesel electric engines. Some in good shape and some in arrested decay I guess you would say. You could probably see the entire museum in about an hour. There are a few exhibits inside the shed, but the bulk of the exhibits are behind the shed. Overall a really great experience in a totally unexpected place.

It's perfect for a family trip to spend with your love ones. Everyone is so friendly and kind. The area it's beautiful, I definitely recommend this place.

Campo, California (near the Mexico border by Tecate). The Campo region is interesting. It's obviously filled with awesome dual-cultures being a border town away from the filthy Tijuana. The museum itself is a magnificent gem that has ambitious expansion plans. This museum is not ideal for disabled, elderly or CHF combatants due to it's sheer size, proximity to everything, and lack of proper roads for easy wheelchair riding. Pacific Rail Museum, upto this point in my life journey, is the most extensive. Many train museums have a certain theme like Passenger cars, industrial equipment, etc. This one is general that has it all from equipment, trade/commerce, mining, passenger, the station life itself and so much more. And of course it is filled with maps =). The museum has four main components that I will try to generalize for simplicity's sake: i. Entrance Building. Contains general info, gift shop, and a nice garden with placards and stuff. ii. Enclosed Museum. Filled with trains, signage, information, booths, etc, Located about half to one mile from the Entrance building. iii. Train Tracks. Has a lot of trains adjacent to an active rail track w/ placards galore so please be careful. iv. Yard. Boneyard appeal to trains. This is the largest portion filled with amazing artifacts. Trains, passenger cars, industrial cars, and equipment. Access/Roads: C Semi-paved roads. Shouldn't be an issue for passenger cars but it is rough road, and you can get stuck if it's muddy. Parking: A Plenty and Free on the semi-paved road mentioned above. Distance: F Campo is far from civilization. Nestled between San Diego and El Centro off of Hwy 94. Campo is appx 30-45 minutes from I-8. Costs: B Bit pricy at the $15 range but I understand why. Nearby Attractions: The Jamul, and Acorn Casinos are nearby. Some Native American Tribes and sites are nearby. Outdoor activities galore from hiking/fishing to AWD dunes between Hwy 94 & I-8. The Gaskill Stone Museum is walking distance. The museum shares roads with private property so be aware of potential trespassing issues. Overall: A I love this train museum. It's so big. The only bummer is the hours. Basically opened on weekends, and you need more than one day to enjoy the museum to it's fullness. Safe travelings my friends. www.cleeshyun.com IG @cigarcpa

I love trains. Campo is lucky to have a real train yard with (old) trains. On weekends you can ride on them for a nominal fee. They also have a train museum to visit with memorabilia on dale. During the holidays there's always something going on. Check it out!

Was educational, paid for a train ride. Children enjoyed the experience. A place to take the family and learn some history.

this is very cool!! it takes you to another world! It was a very cool day for our family! we are grateful to all the workers for keeping the trains and we can see the past through them! thank you ! bring the kids - everyone will love the place!

I visited the museum again last weekend after not having been there for ten years. The museum is located in Campo about one hour east of San Diego. For driving there I recommend taking the 8 Freeway and Buckman Springs Road instead of Route 94 which has traffic lights and stop signs. You can save up to one half hour taking the 8 depending where in San Diego you are driving from. The museum is completely staffed by volunteers and all the employees were friendly to us. Twelve of us with my photo group went there to take photographs of the trains and equipment. Most of the equipment is outside. There is a large building with several trains inside, but we could not board them due to COVID restrictions. Most of the more interesting equipment is on the north side of the museum grounds. As a lot of the equipment has been sitting outside for decades and has acquired a patina which makes for interesting images. For photography I would recommend going when the museum opens and to pick an overcast day. As this area has an extreme climate, freezing in the winter and hot as hell in Summer, I would recommend April or May.

Love this place, the train ride is short but very relaxing. Best to become a member and return visit as much as possible. Walk around the museum (very nice). It seems like every visit brings out something new and unique.

Great place for families, train lovers and all around great visit for destination fun. The site is great, family and kid friendly, the train ride is fantastic. A must see and do in the San Diego County.

This was a great place, lots of history and a knowledgeable staff of volunteers. We are seniors and other seniors plus families made it a nice community event Nice back country location and we took 94 to get there for a scenic drive

Took my 2 daughters for their Bunny Train ride. They had a blast. If you haven't been on a train before definitely worth the drive to check this out. The museum is pretty interesting as well. Worth a trip.

Take a train to the Mexican border. Came on a weekend to catch a ride on the Golden State. The ride on this electric diesel engine is about an hour long going to the border tunnel at Division and back. Adults 15 bucks, kids 6 and under free. Be sure to check the schedule as different types of trains run on different days. At the end of the trip, you're dropped off at a really nice museum where you walk though painstakingly restored train cars. There is also a lot behind the museum that has rows of non-restored trains. Worth a trip with the family. Know this - - A fun activity on the train ride is to count the number of border patrol agents you can spot in the hills. - When the train disembarks, they don't drop you off at the station. They drop you up the road at their museum.You'll have to walk back to your car with may be a problem if you are disabled. They did say they had golf carts, but I didn't see any. - If you're driving the 8 to Campo stop by Fred's Burgers in Alpine and get a 3 Pound Gigantor burger.

We took our kids here to ride on the first class North Pole train and it was absolutely amazing. Everyone was so nice and helpful. And when Santa came to visit he took his time and listened to each child. They served drinks and snacks. It was truly a great way to kick off the Christmas season.

We took our toddler here during their Halloween event and it was a good experience, he enjoyed the train ride, enjoyed picking his first pumpkin and decorating it, they had Halloween treats and awesome decorations. I personally enjoyed the haunted train with lots of animatronics. I missed the Christmas event they had because the seats got fully booked fast. I didn't know we have a place like this close to our home and we might come back here for the next Halloween event, and hopefully get to buy tickets early for the upcoming Christmas event this year.

Kids had a great time! A must go if you like trains and enjoy learning about them. The train ride was fun too!

This is a gem in California. Right south of the I8 and in the town of Campo it is a superb little museum. Also, the docents are a wealth of knowledge and friendly to boost. Only open on Saturdays and Sundays but well worth the drive over. So much history here. Anyone who passingly like trains or Southern California history just has to come over. Impressive as it relies mostly on donations and volunteer effort. Thanks to all those that make it possible. I was impressed. After a year or so of delay I made it a point to drive over from San Diego today. What a fun morning. Went on the train ride through the countryside and had a wonderful time. Excellent movie in the boarding area while waiting to depart. Just facts after facts of things San Diego I had not known. Kids will love the train ride and the museum. There are interactive displays and lots of things to view and admire.

Great place for the whole family, and for those of you who like the old fashioned trains. The staff at the train station were very polite, and made our ride unforgettable. This was my kids first train ride, and they had a blast. Right now they have the Halloween theme so the train looks very spooky, I think it will be a lot of fun to ride at night time.

Surprisingly popular - and not just with train lovers. Tickets can bought on site - and would recommend doing so rather than purchasing online (for a variety of reasons). The train ride itself is okay but doesn't really go anywhere - especially compared to in the past (when you could ride the train into and out of Mexico) - and seems a bit pricey at $18 per person but is worth doing (once) and includes admission to the museum - which currently features "Signal Science" and African American railroad history. There is also quite a few outdoor exhibits and signage. The train ride includes some onboard narration and several volunteers and crew on each car eager to answer questions and share information they are often passionate about.

I was really looking forward to checking this place out, but when I arrived there was nobody home (10am on a Saturday). I tried calling, no answer. Came back an hour later, gate still locked. Called again, no answer. I try to be understanding of volunteer-run outfits but if you're not planning on being open during your posted hours at least put a notice on your website or social media to let people know. Especially when you're so far out in the middle of nowhere, I wasted half a day driving out there from LA!

Great staff. All volunteers that sometimes drive hours just to ensure the museum is there for all to enjoy. They made my child's visit magical, every single person who interacted with us. Consider donating and getting a pass if you live close enough. it is well worth it for them to utilize the funds to get trains in their collections up and running again, also to help current running trains stay in working condition.

This was a run side trip, a 45 min train ride from Campo to the Mexican border, then train reversed for return trip. Also a nice museum & a small gift store. Tickets for 65+ were $15 pp. We could see the border wall during part of the trip. Very scar in - they do special things for the holidays too w/ Santa aboard. All personnel were volunteers & did a great job. I'd recommend this trip for a fun outing. Check their website for days, times, & ticket prices.

It was good, we weren't able to ride the 45 min train because their conductor didn't show up until later, but by that point my son was over it. I would highly suggest calling before making the long drive! The staff is very friendly.

It sounded all so good on paper, but I can tell you that it was not worth the trip nor the money! We drove 1.15 hours, and the Polar Express experience was sorely disappointing. The train was minimally decorated. It probably was the oldest train in San Diego so it didn't have any sound nor speaker; I expected there to be Christmas carolers singing the night away. Instead, the unenthusiastic workers dressed in elves were handling out booklets with Christmas songs and we had to sing them ourselves. Going at the speed of 5 mph in this two-hour train ride with nothing better to do was also a little tortuous for me. I couldn't wait to get off. I don't suggest getting the 7:00 time. We purchased the 5:00 time and the weather was okay when we got there, but it got really cold when it was finished. Keep in mind that the train doesn't have any air control either. I would have given this one star, but at least they did everything they were supposed to do, like having each child write a note to Santa and getting a big cookie and the hot chocolate was nice and hot. My two kids (3 and 5) were still young enough to enjoy it. They got to see Santa Claus and experience the "North Pole", but really, you're not missing out on much. Do yourself a favor and take your kids to the mall to see Santa instead.

This is a review of the special train ride they offer around Christmastime, not of the museum. Unfortunately, I did not have time to visit the museum. Campo is a hike from just about anywhere in the County so you better have a good reason for driving all the way out there. We went for the special train ride in December which, more or less, plays on the whole "Polar Express" story (and if you haven't seen the movie, it is pretty great even if you do not have any kids). So, you get on the train when it is dark out, "elves" serve you hot chocolate, they read the Polar Express story to the kids, then you look outside when they tell you to look and you see Santa at the "North Pole." Santa somehow makes his way inside the train (because you do not exit the train during the ride) and then meets with the kids. Finally, there are some singalongs and you head back to the depot. It is not cheap, but it is a very memorable experience and the kids seem to love it, which is what it is all about anyway. Highly recommended.

If I could give more stars I would! We just got home from the Polar Express Train Ride and this event made memories that even Griswold (Christmas Vacation!) would shed a tear in joy for! Kids were dressed all warm in PJ's... I didn't prepare so much... recommend be prepared and bringing warm jackets and blankets. It gets chilly out there. We got there at 3:30 for a 5:00 pm Polar Express Ride and appreciated the extra time for stress free parking and in front of the line since they board first come first serve. Christmas memories for a lifetime. Only other Christmas lovers are here so everyone is pretty cool - no scrooges allowed! When we sang Christmas carols- EVERYONE sang - and it was awesome! Such a good time. Elves served us hot chocolate and tasty chocolate chip cookies. Santa even showed up on the train to take photos and chat with all the kids. Purchase tickets ASAP because it does sell out. Beautiful scenic drive on the way out to Campo sets the tone for slowing life down a bit.

I don't know what we were expecting when we visited. I guess we were just hoping for more of a "wow" factor. We took our daughter for the "Pumpkin Patch" train ride this past October. This was our first real day trip out of San Diego, and it was a hot. We certainly had the impression that it would be a short round trip ride with a makeshift pumpkin patch. We were not ready for an hour and a half open air round trip to the border and back. This was the slowest, longest train ride we had ever been on. The train literally goes to a tunnel on the border, pops it in reverse, and inches back. They drop you off an additional few hundred feet down the track at the "patch" to trick the kiddos. We did not fall for this. I will say that the museum itself is neat and informative. It looks like an old run down rail yard in the middle if nowhere . Everyone we encountered was extremely friendly, mad the kids all seemed to like it. I suppose that's what matters. It just is not worth the drive..

My wife got tickets on Groupon, and we decided to take my Mom out the week of her birthday - which it turned out was during their "Pumpkin Express" rides, so the Groupon didn't work. Negative stars for Groupon, once again. But I went ahead and sprung for more tickets, what the heck, $15. Since we were in the area, decided to go to Tecate for lunch. WHY ISN'T YELP IN TECATE??? Because I could have used help finding a place to eat, somewhere to buy stuff - I grew up near Mexicali and I was expecting at least a few more tourist shops; all they really have is carts in the plaza. Was okay, though, had lunch at a taquerilla and got some Pan. Border line was about 15 minutes, for about 50 cars - not sure why the delay, but I swear when I answered "Reason for your visit to Mexico?" with "Lunch" the officer sneered at me. Oh, yeah, the train ride. The Campo station has been restored and it has decent bathrooms and a gift shop. The train was a 3-car, the one we sat in was open, which was nice since it was a beautiful pre-fall day. I guess we rode a couple of miles down the line toward Mexico, reversed and headed back to the museum. The ride was nice enough, the brakeman and ticket-taker were friendly and chatty. Lots of screaming kids, since this was halloween special. Got back to the museum and wandered around a bit there; they have some interesting hardware. Trains are really large, while still on a human scale - if you have any interest you should read "Nothing Like it in the World" about the transcontinental railroad. http://www.amazon.com/Nothing-Like-World-Transcontinental-1863-1869/dp/0684846098 Got a pumpkin at the museum and a shuttle back to the station, though it's only about 200 yards away. All in all a pleasant way to spend the afternoon.

2018 Santa Train - (taking into full consideration that this is a volunteer-based organization): It is not worth the expense and time - and the most frustrating part of our family's experience is that there is so much wasted opportunity here to have this be something spectacular - which it was not. There was an overall sense of apathy from every employee/volunteer there - EXCEPT for the self-proclaimed Hobo - he was fantastic and engaging and committed to his role in creating what could have been a truly magical experience - so bravo to him! The drive out, the cold temperatures and the line to board the train are not the issue at all with this experience because google maps, the weather app and common-sense eliminate any excuse for arriving late or not bringing a jacket or being shocked people queue up when it's time to board. Every element of this experience was lack-luster without the need to be. The employees/volunteers playing the "characters" who set the tone of the experience were anything but "magical" or enthusiastic. There was no greeting, no welcome aboard the train, no festive music (Bluetooth magically could eliminate the current conundrum of how to play music through out the antique train), no whistle blow to kick-off the departure or conductor announcing our destination, no story was read on our car, teens and young children "led" the train in the most awkward bout of choral singing that left patrons confused and frustrated and Santa's Workshop was an underwhelming hodgepodge of 1980s garage sale decorations that had been added to the scene as an afterthought. The cookie and hot cocoa were served as advertised and the issue of cookie or cocoa sweetness is moot - the fact that they were doled out right at the start of the ride led to a sort of children-of-the-corn shared sugar high by all the youngsters about 47 minutes into the ride. That's really the point when, as I took a few moments to glance at the other families aboard to benchmark my own semi-state of anguish, I noticed most smiles had faded and terse threatening whispers of timeouts and lost privileges were hissing through the air. How could I hear this? Well precisely because there was absolutely nothing happening on the train. Not. One. Thing. I would guess we were subject to 30 minutes of zero anything going on and to fill their time parents argued or one spouse sent daggered glances to the other whose idea to go on this trek-to-nowhere it most likely was. Children licked the glass windows, crawled under the bench seats, and writhed in place in desperate attempts to expel the pent up energy they not only naturally have but now was exacerbated by the cookie-cocoa sugar bomb. The elf volunteers huddled like at either end of the train cars I'm sure to avoid any interaction with the collective group - and I don't blame them. Finally though, we received a slight reprieve to this festiveless chasm when a teenage elf yelled at the top of his lungs "EVERYBODY!!! JINGLE BELLS ON ONE! TWO! THREE!" and for the next 40 minutes our car was in charge of choraling itself back to the station with no instrumentals, certainly not professional singers, and a song book that resembled the condition of a menu you get from the locals greasy spoon. Santa was great - truly and thank god for his arrival in our train car. A sincerely welcomed distraction. Mrs. Clause was lovely as well and because of her tiny gift to each child, the drive home was filled with the sweet, gentle and absolutely not annoying sound of jingling bells in the hands of a toddler. We can and should do better for the price of this ride.

A blast from the past. Spent half a day here with my family and I have to say this is more than a museum it is an historical experience. Kids both young and old will truly appreciate this hidden gem of American history. The volunteers that man this place make the experience very informative and fun. Kudos!

We take the kids here about twice a year. The boys love the trains and the girls like themed rides we take. Easter bunny around Easter, Xmas time is fun as well. We've taken my handicap father and he did ok but that's not on them. Lots of uneven walking. I'd also suggest not going when it's really hot. Could make for a long day if you have little ones or handicapped but again that's not on the PSR. Everyone should check this place out at least once.

Sad experience and a waste of my money. It was way to over priced and disappointing for me and my 9 and almost 11 year old. Skip the $50 dollar tickets and do something real! Only kids under 4 would fall for the " fake" North Pole. Train ride was slow and dark nothing to really see. Elves on board were fake and people on board hardly listened to them. Santa seemed fake as did Ms Clause in her hiking boots. Their house/ workshop was like a glass motor home. Far from the workshop we imagined.Blowups at the house sad. And the Bells with a big "made in China" sticker individually wrapped seemed fake... Staff not fully in character, fake. Again, for the money we spend I was expecting much more..and a more realistic Experience for my kids. Save your Money and don't do it!! Sorry but I really think they could do better!!

Choo Choo has been always a familiar sound since I could recall growing up. As much as my brother liked trains I found a fascination on how these steel monsters on wheels became such a huge part of the America's history. So jump to the present and finally became a annual member for this establishment after reading about it for so long. Locates out in Campo on the back roads of San Diego exist one of the many train depots. Pacific Railway where they are in the works of using their members donation and fees to continue to preserve a huge part of history. We made our way out this way for the "Bunny Train" perfect pre Easter for many kids especially 'kid at heart ' . Upon arrival we parked and made our way to the bustling area where the tickets were obtain in the gift shop. Than made our way to the waiting area for them to announce the arrival of the train. Upon arrival we lined up and boarded these relics and was nicely greeting with men dress as conductors and ticket collectors. The train was well preserve as we noted the condition of the bench we sat on. The train held fun visitors and sight seeing place. It lasted one way about 25 minutes before re-routing on their routine where the kids enjoyed the festivities set up in their museum. If you are a lover of these steel giants the membership is worth the money to invest in they have different tiers. With exception of theme train such as Bunny Train and North Pole Express. "ALL ABOARD" TO history.

We were not sure if this would have a lot to do, but we were pleasantly surprised. The train ride is worth the extra money! Our kids are 6, 4, and 2. They all enjoyed themselves.

As a child, I loved trains. My father bought a kit and we spent fantastic times putting it together. Needless to say, as an adult , I hold trains dear to my heart. The Pacific Southwest Rail Museum area is comprised of a train depot with a few restored train jewels, and many a wrecked trains just outside of the building. It also has a charming little shop where you purchase (or pickup) your museum tickets. I bought tickets for the cabin and rode next to the conductor and the engineer -- had a great time because I also got a fun History lesson. The train does not go all the way to Tecate because part of the rail has collapsed (and I was told repairs are now in the hands of the Baja California governor). I hope the tracks get repaired soon. I highly recommend visiting the Museum, and while you are there enjoy a train ride.

I hadn't been to the Campo Railway in twenty years- since my kids were little. We took our 5 year old grandson today and were amazed by the changes. The train ride was really fun- friendly people provided a welcoming experience. The engineer and conductor provided a lot of great information. I especially enjoyed talked to the Docent in the train museum. The museum is educational, interactive and a lot of fun. We all enjoyed ourselves and I highly recommend making the trip to East County.

Out in Campo on gated property is this interesting and fun railway museum. There were many vintage trains, and an antique mail train you can go into. Walking back along the railroad was fun too. Great place to take photos.