Perris city feature
About this landmark
A heritage railway museum spanning 100 acres in Perris.
The Southern California Railway Museum is located at 2201 S. "A" Street, Perris, California. It operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization governed by a member-elected Board of Directors, with annual elections held in January. The current President/CEO is Michael Vargas. The museum's 100-acre site contains locomotives, rail cars, trolleys, 3-foot-gauge equipment, and model trains collected over seven decades. The National Trust recognizes the organization as a "Distinctive Destination."
Foundation and organizational growth
On March 23, 1956, fourteen members of the Southern California Division of The Electric Railwaymen's Association gathered at Ronald Longworth's home and established the organization under the name Orange Empire Traction Company. The group received its California state charter of incorporation on July 20, 1956, as a nonprofit educational organization (Corporation #324213). The organization relocated to Perris in 1956 and has remained there for nearly seven decades. The museum adopted its current official name in 2019, having operated previously as Orange Empire Trolley Museum from 1958 and as Orange Empire Railway Museum from 1975.
The museum is governed by a member-elected Board of Directors with annual elections held in January. The current President/CEO is Michael Vargas. Six operating divisions manage the organization, including Railway Operations, Vehicle Maintenance, and Visitor Experience. The official website provides information and can be contacted at (951) 943-3020 or [email protected]. The organization's official railroad reporting mark is OERX, assigned by the Association of American Railroads.
Collections and visiting
The museum holds the largest collection of Pacific Electric Railway rolling stock in the world. This includes over 30 pieces of Pacific Electric equipment and more than two dozen pieces from Los Angeles Railway, representing a comprehensive archive of regional rail history. The museum grounds are open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with trains and trolleys operating on weekends from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Parking and general admission are free except during special events. Visitors wishing to ride the museum railway or trolleys must purchase tickets.
The collection includes historical electric locomotives, Pacific Electric rail cars, Los Angeles Railway equipment, trolleys, 3-foot-gauge narrow-gauge equipment, and detailed model trains. The site spans over 100 acres and is recognized as a heritage destination for railway history. Located at coordinates 33°45′40″N 117°13′59″W, the museum serves enthusiasts and visitors interested in early twentieth-century transportation and electric railway history. The Perris location provides mailing address P.O. Box 548, Perris, CA 92572.
Insurance connection: Wildfire protection for heritage properties
Large heritage properties facing wildfire risk require careful insurance planning. Dwelling coverage should reflect rebuild cost, not market value, since homeowners insurance excludes land. California homeowners policies provide six standard coverages: Dwelling, Other Structures, Personal Property, Loss of Use, Personal Liability, and Medical Payments. After a declared emergency, owners have 24 months to rebuild instead of 12. Building code upgrade coverage is essential, as codes after fire often require structural changes exceeding policy limits. Eligibility and limits depend on individual policy. The issued policy controls.
Primary sources: museum visitor page, Wikipedia, and National Trust.
Insurance context is general information only. The issued policy and its endorsements settle coverage.