Preserving the railroad history of the Pacific Southwest through historic equipment, Campo excursions, and the story of the “Impossible Railroad.”
Overview
The Pacific Southwest Railway Museum is a nonprofit preservation and educational organization based in San Diego County. Its principal facility in Campo combines historic railroad equipment, exhibits, restoration activity, the Campo Depot, and operating excursion trains.
The organization also maintains the La Mesa Depot Museum. For Western Rail Archive, PSRM connects the San Diego & Arizona Railway, San Diego & Arizona Eastern, the “Impossible Railroad,” Carrizo Gorge, Campo, San Diego electric railway history, Southern Pacific, and modern COASTER preservation.
Quick Facts
| Principal Facility | Campo Railroad Museum |
| Additional Facility | La Mesa Depot Museum |
| Organization | Pacific Southwest Railway Museum Association |
| Founded | 1961 (incorporated 1964) |
| Primary Focus | Railroads of the Pacific Southwest |
| Visitor Experiences | Historic equipment; exhibits; depot; excursions; seasonal events |
| Notable Modern Artifact | COASTER F40PHM-2C No. 2103 |
Organizational History
The organization grew from the Railway Historical Society of San Diego, formed after local railfans documented the final operations of the San Diego Electric Railway in 1949. Founded in 1961, it incorporated as the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum Association in 1964 and developed a broader preservation collection of locomotives, railcars, structures, and artifacts.
Campo and the “Impossible Railroad”
Campo is closely associated with the San Diego & Arizona Railway and its successor, the San Diego & Arizona Eastern. The route became known as the “Impossible Railroad” because of the difficult terrain and engineering challenges involved in connecting San Diego with the Imperial Valley.
- San Diego
- National City
- San Ysidro
- Campo
- Carrizo Gorge
- Jacumba
- Tecate
- El Centro
Historic Campo Depot
The Campo Depot serves as the operating departure point for museum excursions rather than only as a static structure.
Train Excursions
The museum operates vintage excursions from Campo. The Golden State excursion has operated since 1986 and is described by the museum as an approximately 50-minute round trip on the historic San Diego & Arizona Railway. Schedules and special events vary, so visitors should verify operations before traveling.
Equipment Collection
- Steam and diesel locomotives
- Passenger cars
- Freight cars
- Maintenance-of-way equipment
- Street railway material
- Railroad artifacts
- Equipment undergoing restoration
COASTER No. 2103
COASTER F40PHM-2C No. 2103 was part of the five-locomotive fleet that inaugurated COASTER service in 1995. After NCTD replaced the fleet with Siemens Charger locomotives, the retired F40s were donated to the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum Association, and the museum selected No. 2103 for its collection, preserving a direct connection to the startup of modern commuter rail in San Diego County.
See COASTER / SPRINTER for the full story of the fleet. Companion locomotive No. 2105 is preserved at the Southern California Railway Museum in Perris.
San Diego Electric Railway History
The museum association’s origins in documenting the final San Diego Electric Railway operations give it an important connection with streetcars, electric transit, and the later San Diego Trolley story.
La Mesa Depot Museum
The La Mesa Depot provides a second location for interpreting San Diego County railroad history.
Volunteer Railroad Operations
- Train crews
- Equipment restoration
- Track maintenance
- Visitor services
- Educational interpretation
- Event operations
- Artifact preservation
Why the Museum Matters
PSRM combines the history of the San Diego & Arizona, the “Impossible Railroad,” Campo and Carrizo Gorge, San Diego electric railways, operating excursion trains, and the preservation of modern COASTER equipment.
Related Railroads
- Amtrak
- COASTER / SPRINTER
- San Diego & Arizona Eastern Railway
- San Diego & Arizona Railway
- San Diego Electric Railway
- San Diego Trolley
- Southern Pacific Railroad
Related Locations
Related Museums
- California State Railroad Museum
- National City Depot
- San Diego Model Railroad Museum
- Southern California Railway Museum
Gallery
Photo gallery coming soon.
- Campo Depot
- Excursion trains
- San Diego & Arizona equipment
- Southern Pacific equipment
- COASTER No. 2103
- Passenger and freight cars
- Maintenance equipment
- Street railway material
- Restoration projects
- La Mesa Depot
- Maps and photographs
Western Rail Archive Notes
The museum’s collection is closely tied to the physical geography of the “Impossible Railroad,” including Campo, Carrizo Gorge, San Diego, the Imperial Valley, and the route through Mexico. Visitor schedules and display status can change; check with the museum before visiting.
Archive Status
| Page Status | Category | Type | Gallery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundational Article | Museums | Railroad Museum | In Development |