The archives are located at the Thomas Grose Archival Facility on our main site in Perris, California. The Museum’s collections are almost entirely the result of individual gifts during its more than 65 years of existence and actively seeks photographs, records, drawings, books, timetables, advertisements and ephemeral materials from our focus in the railroads of Southern California.

The Museum’s Collection Policy defines five focus companies, the major railroads and transit companies that served Southern California: the Pacific Electric, Los Angeles Railway, Santa Fe , Southern Pacific and Union Pacific railroads, as well as predecessor and related companies. We specialize in materials relating to the Southern California operations of these companies, with our largest holdings being materials from the Red Cars of the Pacific Electric and the Yellow Cars of the Los Angeles Railway.

The Museum actively seeks photographs, records, drawings, books, timetables, advertisements and ephemeral materials from our focus companies. If you have materials that you think might be a good fit with our collection, please contact us. You spent a lifetime assembling your collection, and it deserves a home where it will be appreciated and shared with the world. Too often heirs have no idea how to deal with these types of collections, and all too often they end up scattered without recognition of their value as a whole, or even disposed of without any understanding of their importance. Our archives are also a major source of information for the restoration of our historic collection of railcars and locomotives, and so your materials may even contain that vital piece of information we need to complete one of our restoration or exhibit projects.

The Thomas Grose Archival Facility is open most Mondays and Saturdays from 11;00AM to 5:00PM.  Contact the Archives Manager for additional details at archives@socalrailway.org. Volunteers and visitors are always welcome!