Millbrae Train Museum

Swung by here with my stepfather who’s really into his trains (he has several full sized ones!) on a recent visit to SF.
This place is a hidden gem, although only small it’s a treasure trove of discoveries for the train enthusiast and casual observer alike.
The highlight for me was definitely the semi restored train carriage which showed how the most luxurious sleeper cabins were laid out in the ‘San Francisco’. It took around a day to reach Chicago on this journey and for those with the $$$ you could certainly travel in style.
There is also a restored box car and fire truck and loads of maps, posters and paraphernalia related to the golden days of rail travel. wish they had a gift shop with more replicas and reprints of the poster to purchase.
The docent who showed us round was awesome; knowledgable and really took the time to explain all the details of the various exhibits. He was happy to answer questions and then let us wander around the museum at our own pace.
Although not well publicized this really shouldn’t be missed, adjacent to Millbrae BART and Caltrain it’s well worth the visit and a fascinating journey into the history of railways in the Bay Area. Hope they can continue their long term plans of reinstating a mile of track and operating the classic trains very soon :)

Great knowledgeable people. Fun for kids and adults. There is a 40’s train car to explore and an old depot to check out.
Kids are allowed to touch things and love the firetruck rides.

I really enjoyed myself in this small but noteworthy museum dedicated to a small part of the railroading history of the area. First the highlights: 1) 1929 Ford model AA Railway Express truck, 2) 1930 Southern Pacific fire truck, 3) 1941 City of San Francisco Pullman sleeper car which ran on the Overland route from San Francisco to Chicago, 4)1907 train station which contains passenger seats with the SP Railroad sunray logo drilled into the back portion. It should be noted that sleeper car is still a work in progress but from the the three bedrooms displayed, this example is definitely a showstopper. Plans are underway to add a few more pieces of rolling stock and a mile length of track. The folks here will give the visitor a personal tour and explain the significance of certain displays.