South Bay Historical Railroad Society

A little hidden gem for train lovers both young and old. Our young train lover loves coming here to watch the model railroads run. Huge bonus is the train station behind the museum where train lovers can go outside to check out passing trains and go back in to enjoy the smaller version.And, did I mention this place is FREE? (Please do consider donating to their cause so this can remain free for little ones!) Would love to see this place grow and flourish!

We visited here on a Saturday afternoon and were able to spend a good 30 minutes with our toddler. The miniature railroad system is quite big and realistic, there are not only presentation of trains and cars but also old time landmarks, people with different professions(there is a fire station with impressive details inside). However there is an unpleasant smell to the room and we saw a big dead moth lying near the track which is why minus one star.There is a old time train outside which is my favorite part of the tour, it has all wood interior and very pretty, includes a lounge, few rooms, a study and a kitchen. When you come out of the old train you may happen to see Caltrain passing by, or airplane taking off from SJC. Our toddler is obsessed.Like other review mentioned, street parking is very limited, there is parking spaces in the nearby shopping area(where the Starbucks is) that can be used if not staying for long.

Came by this past Saturday and was entertained for a good 15-30 minutes (though if you have kids with you or you're an ardent fan of trains or railway history, you may feel inclined to stay longer). The highlight for me was the model railroad room, a spacious exhibition with lots of details to explore. The trains chugging along the tracks, the mountains and landscape, as well as other fun little features including miniatures of animals, homes, and businesses are not only enjoyable for kids, but impressive to adults like myself... the rest of what the SBHRS offers is basically extra. The main museum room (Edward Peterman Museum of Railroad History) has interesting train and depot elements on display, and Southern Pacific memorabilia, along with descriptions noting the history of such items. They also offer free Model Railroader magazines and VHS tapes here, and have snack and drink vending machines in the corner. Down some steps, near the restrooms, is a small library and historic passenger waiting room with some seating (benches from the original Santa Clara Depot which were restored in 2013) and a few exhibits detailing the history of train conductors, chefs on board, dinnerware and promotional items for the Southern Pacific Transportation Company (behind glass casing)... And with Caltrain running along the railroad tracks right outside, you'll feel like you are actually at the former train station of the past. Only open 2 days per week, Tuesdays and Saturdays, hopefully you can catch them during their extremely limited hours of operation. I can say it was definitely worth the cost to visit... that's mainly cuz it's free, but there were some pretty cool and amusing stuff here too, making time spent here worthwhile.

Such a fun place for littles! Our littles spent a good hour roaming around watching trains go by and loved going outside to see CalTrain. Free admission. Step stools for littles to see the trains more closely. Public restroom available. Only thing is parking is limited but I saw other reviews mentioning parking at a plaza down the street

Located at the Santa Clara train station, this is a must visit for model train fans. Member supported, there are two layouts, HO and N scale.

This is a cool, free museum that will delight anyone fond of trains. The parking in front of the museum is limited. If you do not get one of those, there is free 2-hour parking in the nearby shopping area with the Starbucks. The hours of the museum are limited, so check it out online before you go!

Took my 20 month old toddler here and it was a nice way to spend 30 - 45 minutes on a Saturday afternoon.PARKING - there are a few spots in the front but by the time we got there around 10:15 they were all taken. It would seem like you should be able to park in the Caltrain lot but I didn't want to take any chance in case we got ticketed. Instead, we parked in the shopping center right next to the museum and walked over. Technically I didn't see anything that say you can't park there, just that there is a 2 hour limit.FEE - it's free! part of the reason why it's worth it even if your little one is antsy or wants to leave half way.MUSEUM - once you walk in there are some artifacts, free magazines and books and then two areas to the left or right. On the left are the bathrooms, the library (very small room) and then the old style waiting room with benches and some more memorabilia. Most of the stuff in the "museum" is probably for older people who are into trains or train artifacts. A 20 month old is not going to care.On the right side are the model trains. They have tons of scenery and train tracks spanning all across the room. In the "authorized personnel" section you'll see people who actually own the trains that come and have a space to run their trains. They seem very into it. There are stools for older kids to stand and see but for our 20 month old, he can't see even when standing. That's one bad thing is you have to hold your child to see the trains, which can be tiring. If your child is like mine then he is very squirmy and antsy (and heavy!) so it was a bit tiring. The trains and scenery are very nice, detailed and elaborate. There is a sign that says you can ask to see Thomas, but I am not sure if anyone asked or if someone did and they didn't have it (I didn't ask). This is probably what was the most engaging for my 20 month old.The last thing is outside you can see the Caltrain trains come by (which is nice for little ones) and then there's an actual older style train that you can look at but you can't go inside (so, not as exciting for a child).Overall, for a little one that loves trains or if you want something to do on a Saturday morning, it's worth it to check it out since it's free. It's open from 10 - 3 on Saturdays.

Great for kids who love trains. The layout is fun and huge and they have a library and history mini museum.

This place is amazing. I love taking pictures of miniatures/model figures, so someone told me about this Museum in the old Santa Clara train depot.I decided to visit on a Saturday. I was literally a kid in a candy store. I was full of happiness and couldn't hold it back. The amount of details that goes into designer the model cities and model trains is beyond remarkable. The guys down there are amazing. I've made a promise to myself to donate at least every month. I took pictures while I was there, so enjoy,

Entering the Santa Clara Train Station is almost like going back to the 1860s. The restoration of the building is fantastic, and the train layouts are a lot of fun to watch when the trains are running. But in my opinion, the best part is the Edward Peterman Museum, filled with memorabilia of another age. Well done, SBHRS!