Walt Disney was a charter member of the Los Angeles Live Steamers and donated his own rolling stock to the museum.
The club maintains a dedicated track gauge system that supports both 4.75-inch, 7.25-inch, and 7.5-inch gauge locomotives.
The museum grounds are situated on land originally part of the Griffith J. Griffith estate.
Many of the locomotives are custom-built by hobbyists and can take years to assemble, featuring functional coal-fired steam boilers.
The facility serves as a living museum, meaning the trains running on the tracks are active, functioning machinery rather than static displays.
The Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of live steam railroading history. Located in Griffith Park, the museum operates one of the most extensive miniature railroad systems in the world. Visitors can ride scale-model steam, diesel, and electric locomotives on several thousand feet of track. The site features an outdoor track system that winds through landscape designed to replicate prototypical railroad environments. Volunteers maintain historical equipment and offer public train rides on scheduled days. Walt Disney, a founding member of the organization, once kept his private Carolwood Pacific Railroad in his backyard, and elements of this history remain connected to the museum’s legacy.
The elevated boarding platform, where you can capture close-up shots of the steam engines as they pull into the station.
Wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes as you will be walking across gravel, dirt paths, and uneven terrain near tracks.
Check the official website calendar before visiting, as public operations are limited to specific Sundays and special event days.
Bring sun protection, as the train boarding areas and walking paths have minimal shade.
Do not attempt to walk on or across the tracks outside of designated crossings to ensure both your safety and the integrity of the equipment.
Open to the public only on selected Sundays; closed during heavy rain or extreme weather conditions.
Keep hands and arms inside the train cars at all times while moving; follow all instructions from the volunteer engineers regarding boarding and safety.
