Day Trip: Nevada State Railroad Museum Boulder City, Nevada

Nevada State Railroad Museum Boulder City showcases locomotives, rail cars, railroad equipment, and a permanent display on the construction of Boulder City and Hoover Dam. Four locomotives are displayed at the central pavilion, including two colossal steam locomotives – Union Pacific Locomotive 264 and Pacific Lumber Company Locomotive 35. Additionally, there are two Amtrak locomotives on display. Lastly, an impressive 1899 all-wood private passenger car is also on display.

Boulder City Train Museum Pavilion

The museum-covered Pavilion features a collection of rail cars, mail cars, cabooses, railroad artifacts, and equipment. These exhibits are located adjacent to the steam engines and are all outdoors. Only a few buildings are open to the public, with a small gift shop and restrooms. Visiting the Boulder City Railroad Museum on weekends when train excursions are offered is recommended.

Train Rides Nevada State Railroad Museum Boulder

Boulder City Train Museum offers train rides most weekends. The train travels about 4 miles to the 80-year-old Railroad Pass Casino. The excursion train runs along the track operated by Union Pacific Railroad from the Las Vegas line to Boulder City. A branch line was constructed from the museum’s current location to the Boulder Dam site to transport construction material. After the dam was completed, the line was no longer used and eventually abandoned. Presently, the right-of-way has been converted into a walking trail.

Union Pacific Henderson-Boulder City Rail Line

In 1985, the Union Pacific Railroad donated the Henderson-Boulder City segment to the Nevada State Railroad Museum. Weekend train excursions and Las Vegas Rail Bikes now run along a section of the Union Pacific Henderson to Boulder City line. The train ride covers a round trip that takes approximately 40 minutes. After the train departs from the station, visitors can explore the rail cars and choose to sit in the open-air car, which is the most favored spot. In addition, there are air-conditioned Pullman coaches available for passengers who prefer to stay out of the sun.

Railroad Pass Hotel and Casino

The Boulder City Museum train excursion travels about 15 miles an hour leisurely, giving passengers plenty of time to enjoy the desert scenery. People stuck in the long line of cars heading to Lake Mead wave to the train, and passengers wave back at them. The halfway point of the train excursion is the Railroad Pass Hotel and Casino. This historic 1931 hotel features Nevada’s oldest-running casino. The train briefly stops at Railroad Pass before returning to the museum.

Boulder City Train Museum Miniature Trains

The Boulder City Train Museum operates its miniature trains every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month. The 7½” gauge train rides are popular with children and adults. Furthermore, a model railroad car behind the ticket office features an HO and O scale layout. This car is open to the public on most weekends.

Charters and Special Trains

If you want a unique way to celebrate a special occasion, you can rent a train for birthday parties, weddings, or group events. The museum’s dining car has a seating capacity of 48 persons. Cab rides are also available for the weekend train rides, but there is an additional fee. And for those who want to experience something truly unforgettable, the “Engineer for an Hour” program is perfect as it lets you drive the train with a certified engineer.

Getting There

The Railroad Museum in Boulder City makes for an enjoyable day trip from Las Vegas. You can ride along the Boulder City branch line with your family. The Museum Pavilion is open daily from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm; admission is free. The museum’s address is 601 Yucca Street, Boulder City, Nevada. Train rides are available only on weekends.

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