From scale models to a fully restored 1879 business railcar, the Rosenberg Railroad Museum, just a few minutes from Veranda, is the perfect place for train spotting.
Located at the juncture of four active train lines in downtown Historic Rosenberg, the museum is a paradise for train lovers of all ages.
None of Rosenberg’s original railroad structures have survived except Tower 17, the switching and signals control tower that governed trains until it was decommissioned in 2004. That hasn’t stopped the city from doing its best to educate visitors about the extensive impact the railroad had on Fort Bend County.
The museum gallery is home to artifacts and photos detailing that history. Model train lovers can spend hours watching scale model trains chug through the Garden Railroad which depicts 1950s-era Rosenberg. Model trains operate on the 4th Sunday of each month, weather permitting. You can view H.O. scale models at any time in the Model Train Room.
Several structures are available for touring including Tower 17 which was removed from its original location and reassembled on museum grounds. Showcased in the switching station is the Interlocker which once manually controlled railroad signals and switches. An 1895 bath house used by railroad workers to sluice off the grime can also be toured.
Towers and bathhouses are fun, but if you want to climb aboard a real train (or at least part of one), the museum does not disappoint. Visitors can learn about the conductors, flagmen and brakemen who lived and worked in a 1972 Mopac caboose.
The crown jewel of the museum is the “Quebec,” an 1879 passenger coach built out of wood and used by Canadian dignitaries. Families can sit on the luxurious chairs and wander around the parlor with an observation deck, the dining room, three bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom and mechanical room.
To enjoy the museum even more, picnicking is allowed on the grounds, or you can purchase food from the Ol’ Railroad Café. A wooden train play structure is available for kids to climb on. A playroom indoors offers fun when it rains. The museum hosts birthday parties as well as special events.
On the fourth Sunday of each month, the Houston Area "G" Gaugers (HAGG) model train club meets to run their special trains on the tracks of the Garden Railroad Exhibit. The museum also hosts fun seasonal activities for the kids on this day. On Aug. 28, the theme is “School Year Fun for the Kids.”
Save the date for Saturday, Oct. 8, when the museum hosts the annual Fall Fun Fest. This year, the theme is “May the Steam Be with You,” featuring favorite characters from a galaxy far, far away.
The museum is open 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $9 for adults, $7 seniors, $6 children under 14 and free for children under age 2.
