This page provides a directory of railroad historical societies, railway preservation groups, and websites offering a history of railroads in Western USA and Canada.
Active & Abandoned Railroads of the Pacific Northwest - Extensive photos and histories of abandoned railroads, logging railroads, structures, bridges, tunnels, and train wrecks, plus active shortlines, tourist railroads, and steam locomotives
Alaska Midland Railroad, The - A brief history of The Alaska Midland Railroad
Amazon.com Railroad History Books - Thousands of new, used, and out-of-print railroad history books
Astoria Railroad Preservation Association - Promotes the historical importance of railroads in the Astoria, Oregon area, and working to restore 1925 Baldwin steam engine No. 21
Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Subjects - Information about Santa Fe depots, coaling towers, water facilities, motive power, and rolling stock
Bay Area Rails - Photos of historic Bay Area railroads including Sacramento Northern, Santa Fe, Western Pacific, Key Route System, Southern Pacific, and more
Black Butte Center for Railroad Culture - Supports the development of an interpretive arts and resource center focused on nomadic railroad culture in the western US; Weed, California
Bridges, Stations & Tunnels - Guide to the earliest, longest, highest, and largest railroad structures
California Trolley and Railroad Corporation - Restores, preserves, and interprets historic railroad equipment used in the Santa Clara Valley; San Jose, California
California Zephyr Virtual Museum - Historical information, memories, memorabilia, and photos; by Alan Radecki
Carson & Colorado Railway - Non-profit dedicated to the restoration and operation of Southern Pacific narrow gauge locomotive #18
Cascade Rail Foundation - Dedicated to the rehabilitation and historic preservation of the Milwaukee Road facilities at South Cle Elum, Washington
Centerville Depot - History of the Southern Pacific depot in Centerville, California
Central Coast Chapter, NRHS - Santa Clara, California
David Coscia's Southern Pacific Railroad Website - Prototype and modeling information for the SP Railroad
Dayton Historical Depot Society - Train memorabilia and photos in a restored depot in Dayton, Washington
E&N Division, CRHA - Collects and preserves railway equipment and artifacts from Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
Early Railroads - Records and firsts for railroad construction and operation in the U.S. and worldwide
El Dorado Western Railway Foundation - Restoring Diamond & Caldor Railway Shay Locomotive #4 in El Dorado County, California
Electric Railway Historical Association of Southern California - Guide to the electric traction heritage of the Los Angeles region
Espee Modelers Archive - History, rosters, photos, and more for Southern Pacific modelers and historians
Feather River Rail Society - Preserving the history of the Western Pacific Railroad, its people, and its related companies
Folsom, El Dorado & Sacramento Historical Railroad Association, Inc. - Operators of the Folsom Railroad Museum, Folsom Handcar Derby, and operations on the original right-of-ways of the Sacramento Valley Railroad; Folsom, California
Foothill Rails - History, maps, photos, and rosters of shortlines in the heart of the "Gold Country" of Nevada, Placer, El Dorado, and Amador Counties in California
Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society - Restores and operates heritage interurban cars on the original BC Electric Railway Route through Surrey and the Fraser Valley of British Columbia, Canada
Friends of OR&N 197 - Restoring Oregon Railway & Navigation Co. 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive #197 at Brooklyn Roundhouse in southeast Portland, Oregon
Fullerton Railroad Days - Annual festival with railroad and model railroad exhibits each May in Fullerton, California
Great Northern Railway - History, photos, timetables, modeling information, links, and more
Great Northern Trains - Historical information and photos about the Great Northern Railway
High Desert Rails - Extensive history of the railroads of the Oregon High Desert
History of Railroads in Grays Harbor - History of the Northern Pacific Railroad in Grays Harbor, Washington during the late 1800's
Inland Empire Chapter, NRHS - Depot, displays, and shops at the Spokane County Interstate Fairground in Spokane, Washington
James J. Hill - Essay titled The Empire Builder by Christopher Muller
Kinsol Trestle - Effort to save the historic 1921 trestle for the Trans Canada Trail; Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
Locomotive Records - Guide to the earliest, fastest, heaviest, largest, and most powerful steam locomotives
Los Angeles Railroad Heritage Foundation - Preserves and presents the history of railroading in Los Angeles, California through three core programs: public outreach, archival preservation, and multi-media publishing
Los Angeles River Railroads - Photos of the Southern Pacific, Union Pacific, and the Santa Fe railways that ran their tracks over and beside this river of concrete
McCloud River Railroad - History, map, and photos of a former hundred mile shortline near Mount Shasta, California
Morton, Washington Depot - Milwaukee Road depot that will soon be undergoing relocation and restoration by the Cowlitz River Valley Historical Society
Mount Emily Shay #1 - Shay geared steam locomotive operates on excursions from Prineville, Oregon
Mount Lowe Preservation Society - Preserves the history of a scenic mountain railroad that operated 1893-1938 on Echo Mountain and Mount Lowe, north of Los Angeles, California
Narrow Gauge on the Net - History of American narrow gauge railroads including Carson & Colorado, Nevada-California-Oregon, Eureka & Palisade, and Lake Tahoe Railway & Transportation
Nevada Northern Railway Archives - Historic photographs, artifacts, documents, maps, and more from the museum collection; Ely, Nevada
Nickel Plate Road 190 - Restoring an ALCo PA-1 diesel locomotive as NKP 190 at the Brooklyn Roundhouse in Portland, Oregon
Northern Nevada Railway Foundation - Rebuilding of the Virginia & Truckee Railroad, currently running 2 1/8 miles from Virginia City, Nevada, with a goal of reaching Carson City
Northern Pacific Railway - Dozens of articles about the history of the NP; by J.A. Phillips, III
Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association - Dedicated to preserving the history of America's first northern transcontinental railroad
Northwest Steam Society - Pacific Northwest society for those interested in steam engines of all types, include steam locomotives
Northwestern Pacific Railroad Historical Society - Dedicated to preserving the rich and colorful heritage of Redwood Empire railroading, including the William R. Hogarty Memorial Library with a priceless collection of photos, maps, drawings, and other related memorabilia associated with the NWP RR
Ocean Shore Railroad Car 1409 - Restoring a railcar from the Ocean Shore Railroad; Pacifica, California
Oceano Depot - Preserves the 1904 Southern Pacific Railroad depot in Oceano, California
On Duty at the Railroad - Vintage rail photos from the crossing of Union Pacific and Santa Fe at Hobart Tower in Vernon, California
Onderdonk's Way - Photos document one of the most remarkable engineering feats in Canada's history, the building of a railway from Port Moody to Craigellachie in British Columbia
Oregon Coast Historical Railway - Working to preserve the region s railroad history by providing a place to restore and display vintage equipment; chapter of the NRHS
Oregon Electric Railway Historical Society - Operators of the Oregon Electric Railway Museum and the Willamette Shore Trolley
Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation - Proposed rail complex will combine a maintenance shop, historic roundhouse and turntable, and interpretive displays of historic rail equipment; Beaverton, Oregon
Oregon, Pacific & Eastern Railway - History of a shortline railroad in Oregon that was abandoned in 1994
Pacific Electric Railway Tours - Photo tours of each line of the extensive electrified freight and commuter railway centered in Los Angeles with over 200 route miles of commuter lines
Pacific Northwest Chapter, NRHS - Portland, Oregon
Pacific Railroad Society - Owns private railcars that represent the history of streamlined passenger service; San Marino, California
Placer Sierra Railroad Heritage Society, Inc. - Preserves the history and artifacts of the Central Pacific/ Southern Pacific route from Roseville to Truckee, California
Portland Vintage Trolleys - Dedicated to the history and current operation of streetcars in Portland, Oregon; site contains maps, rosters, photos, and more
Rails West - History of railroad construction, technology, equipment, and operations in California
Railway & Locomotive Historical Society - Pacific Coast Chapter - Preserves railroad history and equipment in California
Randsburg Railway - Dedicated to preserving the history of the railroad, constructed in the Mojave Desert of California in 1897
Record Railroad Routes - Guide to the highest, steepest, and longest railroad grades worldwide
Roots of Motive Power - Preserves and restores steam and diesel-powered equipment used in the California north coast logging industry; Willits, California
Sacramento Northern On-Line - Meeting place and reference for fans of the Sacramento Northern Railway; by Garth G. Groff
San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society - Home of Santa Fe steam locomotive #3751 in San Bernardino, California
San Diego Electric Railway Association - Dedicated to the preservation of the history of the San Diego Electric Railway which operated from the late 1800s to 1949
San Francisco Trains - Restoring State Belt Railroad 0-6-0 steam locomotive #4 and Bayshore Roundhouse in Brisbane, California
San Jose Trolley Historical Restoration Project - Six vintage streetcars restored to operate on the Downtown Center Plaza in San Jose, California
San Leandro Historical Railway Society - Maintains a Southern Pacific depot with railroad memorabilia and model railroads; San Leandro, California
Santa Clara River Valley Railroad Historical Society - Preservation and restoration of the railroad corridor between Montalvo and Saugus, California
Santa Maria Valley Railway Historical Museum - Dedicated to the preservation of the railroad heritage of California, the Central Coast, and the Santa Maria Valley
Santa Susana Railroad Historical Society - Avid model railroaders and railfans in Southern California's Los Angeles and Ventura Counties
Scenic Mt. Lowe Railway Historical Committee - Volunteers working to preserve the remnants of the Mount Lowe Railway system in the San Gabriel Mountains above Altadena, California
Scenic Mt. Lowe Railway Historical Committee - Volunteers who work to preserve the remnants of the Mount Lowe Railway and associated structures in the San Gabriel Mountains (Angeles National Forest) above Altadena, California
Skagit River Railway - Built by Seattle City Light to haul personnel and supplies to construction projects in the Skagit River Valley, about 140 miles northeast of Seattle, Washington
Society for the Preservation of Carter Railroad Resources - Acquires and restores railroad cars constructed by Carter Brothers in Newark in the late 1800s; Fremont, California
South Bay Historical Railroad Society - Restored Santa Clara Depot and Interlocking Tower (ex-SP) on SF Peninsula commuter line includes a signals museum and operating N and HO-scale museum-quality model railroad layouts; California
Southern California Railway Plaza Association (SCRPA) - Dedicated to the preservation of rail heritage in Southern California, plus educational programs for youth
Southern California Scenic Railway Association, The - Dedicated to assisting the Recreation and Parks Department in bringing the Travel Town Museum to life and to operating an ever expanding demonstration railroad; Glendale, California
Southern Oregon Chapter, NRHS - Operates Medford Railroad Park with live steam train rides and an operating HO scale model; Medford, Oregon
Southern Pacific Daylight 4449 - Maintains and operates the SP 4-8-4 steam locomotive, restored in 1975 to lead the American Freedom Train tour of all 48 contiguous states
Southern Pacific Depots & Freight Houses - Photos of surviving SP structures
Southern Pacific GP9 5623 - Photos of the restoration and operation of SP diesel locomotive 5623 on the Niles Canyon Railway
Southern Pacific Historical & Technical Society - Dedicated to preserving and disseminating the historical record of the Southern Pacific Railroad and its affiliates
Southern Pacific in The Cascades - Photo essay of the Southern Pacific Cascade Line between Oakridge and Crescent Lake, Oregon
Spokane Portland and Seattle Railway Historical Society - Founded in 1981 to preserve the history of the SP&S and disseminate information to its membership about the railway and its affiliate lines including the Oregon Trunk, the Oregon Electric, United Railways, Astoria & Columbia River, and the Gales Creek & Wilson River
Spokane, Portland and Seattle (SP&S) 700 - One of the largest operable steam locomotives in North America, on public display at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center in Portland, Oregon
Steve's Disney Railroad Adventures - Photos and history of Walt Disney's railroads including the Carolwood Pacific Railroad, Disneyland Railroad, and Walt Disney World Railroad
Swanton Pacific Railroad Historical Society - Operates 1/3 scale 19" gauge steam railroad equipment built for Pan Pacific International Exposition of 1915 as a people mover; Davenport, California
The Mount Tamalpais and Muir Woods Railway - History of the railway that went up Mt. Tamalpais between 1896 and 1930
Tidewater Southern - History, roster, and photos of the Tidewater Southern Railway, an electric interurban running south from Stockton, California through the Central Valley
Tonopah & Tidewater Railroad - History of the Tonopah & Tidewater Railroad, Bullfrog Goldfield, Death Valley, Tecopa, and Ludlow & Southern Railroads
Train Records - Guide to the fastest, longest, and heaviest trains in U.S. and world history
Train Wrecks - Guide to the earliest, deadliest, and strangest train wrecks, crashes, derailments, and accidents
Transit Museum Society - Restores, preserves, and operates trams on the Downtown Historic Railway in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Trestlewalker - Photos and histories of abandoned railroad and logging sites in Oregon and Washington
Truckee Donner Railroad Society - Operates the Truckee Railroad Museum in downtown Truckee, California
Truckee-Donner Historical Society - Serving the historical interests of the Town of Truckee, the Donner Summit area, and surrounding communities in Nevada/Placer County
Virginia & Truckee Railroad - History of the V&T which connected the Comstock silver mines around Virginia City, Nevada, with quartz reduction mills near Carson City, Nevada
Washington State Railroads Historical Society Museum - Dedicated to preserving the history of railroads and railroading in the State of Washington; Pasco, Washington
Washington, Idaho & Montana Railway History Preservation Group - Preserves the history of this North Idaho railroad
West Coast Railway Association - Dedicated to the preservation of British Columbia's railway heritage; Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Western Pacific F7 918-D - Photos and updates about the restoration and operation of Western Pacific F7 diesel locomotive 918-D
Western Pacific Railroad Historical Society - Preserving the WP's nearly 80 year history, from 1903 through 1982
Western Pacific Virtual Museum - Several virtual exhibit halls about the history of the Western Pacific and California Zephyr
Western Railway Preservation Society - Restoring narrow gauge freight cars since 2005; Powerland Heritage Park, Brooks, Oregon
White Pass & Yukon Route Historical Web Page - History of the White Pass & Yukon Route between Skagway Alaksa and Whitehorse Yukon; includes many historical pictures and information
Yakima Valley Rail and Steam Museum Association - Operates the Northern Pacific Railway Museum and the Toppenish, Simcoe & Western Railroad; Toppenish, Washington
Yakutat & Southern Railroad - Profiles the Yakutat and Southern Railroad in Yakutat, Alaska
Yaquina Pacific Railroad Historical Society - Displays a steam locomotive, RPO car, and caboose in Toledo, Oregon
Yosemite Valley Railroad - History and HO scale model railroad of the 77-mile long shortline that ran until 1945 between Merced and El Portal, California
Yosemite Valley Railroad - News, history, maps, photos, rosters, and more about the shortline that ran between Merced, California and the western boundry of Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Valley Railroad Co. - Envisions a year-round mountain railroad providing passenger rail service for Yosemite Park visitors between Merced/Atwater and El Portal, California
Zephyr Project - Program of the Feather River Rail Society to preserve the history of the California Zephyr passenger train and its people through the protection, restoration, and presentation of its artifacts, events, and rolling stock
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