Preserving large and rare locomotives at Fairplex in Pomona.
Overview
RailGiants Train Museum is located at Fairplex, the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds, in Pomona. Operated by the Southern California Chapter of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society, the museum preserves large steam and diesel locomotives, passenger and freight rolling stock, the historic Arcadia Depot, archival material, and railroad artifacts.
For Western Rail Archive, RailGiants connects Union Pacific, Southern Pacific, Santa Fe, Pomona, Fairplex, locomotive engineering, equipment preservation, and the restoration of Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014.
Quick Facts
| Location | Fairplex, Pomona, California |
| Operating Organization | Railway & Locomotive Historical Society, Southern California Chapter |
| Collection Focus | Large historic locomotives, rolling stock, archives, and railroad artifacts |
| Notable Steam Locomotives | Southern Pacific No. 5021; Union Pacific No. 9000; Santa Fe No. 3450 |
| Notable Diesel Locomotive | Union Pacific DDA40X Centennial No. 6915 |
| Historic Structure | Arcadia Depot |
| Former Major Exhibit | Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 |
Railway & Locomotive Historical Society
RailGiants is operated by the Southern California Chapter of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society. The organization preserves historic locomotives, passenger and freight cars, railroad records, photographs, technical material, operational artifacts, and the history of railroading in Southern California and the American West.
Southern Pacific No. 5021
Southern Pacific No. 5021 is a signature artifact of the museum. Built by ALCO in 1926, it is a three-cylinder 4-10-2, the wheel arrangement known as the “Southern Pacific” type. It is the only survivor of the 49 locomotives of its type built for Southern Pacific, and RailGiants identifies it as one of four surviving three-cylinder steam locomotives built in the United States. Southern Pacific donated it to the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society, Southern California Chapter, on March 8, 1956.
Its preservation supports interpretation of Southern Pacific freight operations, heavy steam power, mechanical engineering, and the railroad’s California history.
Union Pacific No. 9000
Union Pacific No. 9000 is another surviving three-cylinder steam locomotive and one of RailGiants’ signature pieces. Together, Nos. 5021 and 9000 give the museum an important role in preserving a locomotive technology that largely disappeared from North American railroading.
Union Pacific Centennial No. 6915
Union Pacific No. 6915 is a preserved DDA40X Centennial diesel locomotive. The Centennial class represented some of the largest single-unit diesel locomotives constructed for North American railroad service.
For Western Rail Archive, No. 6915 connects steam-era heavy power with dieselization, Union Pacific freight operations, oversized equipment, and the preservation challenges created by exceptionally large locomotives.
Santa Fe No. 3450
Santa Fe No. 3450 provides a direct connection between RailGiants and the history of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway. Its preservation complements WRA coverage of Santa Fe passenger operations, BNSF, Pomona, San Bernardino, and Cajon Pass.
The Arcadia Depot
RailGiants preserves the historic Arcadia Depot, adding railroad architecture and passenger-station history to a collection otherwise dominated by locomotives and rolling stock.
Big Boy No. 4014
Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 was displayed at RailGiants for decades after retirement. Its long residence at Fairplex made it one of the museum’s best-known exhibits and preserved it until Union Pacific was prepared to undertake an operational restoration.
Union Pacific reacquired No. 4014 in 2013, and the locomotive departed Fairplex in January 2014 to begin its journey to Cheyenne, Wyoming. Union Pacific completed the multi-year restoration and returned No. 4014 to operation in May 2019 for the 150th anniversary of completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad.
- RailGiants protected the locomotive after retirement.
- Union Pacific reacquired it in 2013.
- The locomotive left Fairplex in 2014.
- It underwent a multi-year restoration in Cheyenne.
- It returned to operation in 2019.
The story is a successful relationship between long-term museum preservation and an active railroad heritage program. Without the decades of preservation at Pomona, the later operational restoration would not have been possible.
Replacement Equipment and the 2014 Move
When No. 4014 left Fairplex, Union Pacific donated additional equipment to RailGiants, including SD40-2 diesel locomotive No. 3105, a boxcar, and a caboose. This exchange continued the museum’s relationship with Union Pacific while replacing part of the physical collection lost through the Big Boy transfer.
Los Angeles County Fair and Fairplex
RailGiants is closely connected with Fairplex and the long history of railroad displays at the Los Angeles County Fair, including Fairplex transportation history, special-event operations, public railroad education, and preserved equipment.
Library and Archives
RailGiants maintains library and archival material in addition to its locomotive and rolling-stock collection.
Why RailGiants Matters
- Two surviving three-cylinder steam locomotives
- Southern Pacific and Union Pacific heavy-power history
- Union Pacific Centennial No. 6915
- Santa Fe steam preservation
- The historic Arcadia Depot
- Long-term preservation of Big Boy No. 4014
- Direct involvement in the operational restoration of Big Boy No. 4014
Related Railroads
Related Locations
- Cheyenne
- Fairplex
- First Transcontinental Railroad
- Los Angeles County Fair
- Pomona
- San Bernardino
Related Museums
- California State Railroad Museum
- Pacific Southwest Railway Museum
- Southern California Railway Museum
- Travel Town Museum
- Union Pacific Railroad Museum
- Western America Railroad Museum
Gallery
Photo gallery coming soon.
- Southern Pacific No. 5021
- Union Pacific No. 9000
- Union Pacific Centennial No. 6915
- Santa Fe No. 3450
- Arcadia Depot
- Rolling stock and artifacts
- Big Boy No. 4014 at Fairplex
- No. 4014’s 2014 departure
- No. 4014 under restoration
- No. 4014 operating after 2019
- Replacement Union Pacific equipment
- Fairplex and Los Angeles County Fair history
Western Rail Archive Notes
The Big Boy No. 4014 story is the narrative centerpiece of this page. RailGiants did not merely display a well-known locomotive. It preserved No. 4014 until Union Pacific was prepared to return it to operation, creating a direct line from static preservation in Pomona to the world’s best-known operating Big Boy.
Archive Status
| Page Status | Category | Type | Gallery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundational Article | Museums | Railroad Museum | In Development |