Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum

This place is greater than the others near by. Very inexpensive and fun for all ages. If you have not been here you’re missing out!!!

Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum is only open once a week for four hours, so it’s not something you can just go to. You would definitely have to plan a half day around coming here. What you’ll find when you get there is perhaps some of the biggest set of model trains you will ever encounter. The cost for riding these giant model trains is free, but they ask you for a $ 3 donation before giving you tickets. You can refuse to pay. but its $ 3, so don’t be cheap!
The lines can get long, which I hate. The model train ride is about one mile and takes about seven minutes. The train passes by a couple of model houses, goes through two tunnels, and goes over two impressive mini bridges.
Non-​members cannot walk around the grounds. I spoke to a museum member and they pretty much have their way with the park for less than $ 40 a year — which is probably only worth it if you really love model trains. Even if you aren’t a model train enthusiast, this is a cool stop for anyone visiting Los Angeles with kids and looking for something to do on Sunday afternoon.

This was so fun I went with my Sisters who are teens, and parents and little brother who’s 8. My lovely boyfriend accompanied us as well it was super cute and creative I especially like the Frankenstein set up!

This is a gem in Griffith Park. Located between Walt Disney’s barn and the Travel Town Museum. L.A. Live Steamers is a collective of old Walts personal steamer trains and some tracks & little rideable steamer trains from the members throughout the years. This track is immense and diverse for a small scale. I’m talking the whole ride might last close to 20 mins long. It goes through tunnels and on top of miniature bridges. Miniature western scenery like mine towns and some life size scale scenes are set up too.
The steamer trains themselves are gasoline powered mini diesel trains that are amazingly powerful enough to pull up to 20 passengers. They look like authentic to micro scale trains and I kinda feel like King Kong being transported across the west on them. You sit on flat board seat train cars and the tracks are a bit tight in some spaces, so do keep all arms and legs to yourself. Not too sure, I think it’s safe, but you wouldn’t want to be the guy who tips over the train.
Griffith park is right by the Hollywood Hills and you may be lucky (or unlucky enough) to spot some celebrities while you’re there. Do keep in mind that usually the celebs are there for their family outings so please refrain from becoming paparazzi or becoming TMZ all of a sudden. Just last weekend, NO JOKE, we parked in the space next to my ex-​girlfriend Megan just as her and her recently separated husband were heading back to their car with their kids. My girl is from East Los’ so I had to ask her to please not start anything with her. For the kids sake. Luckily Megan Fox was courteous and hopped in the back seat of Brian Austin Greens white BMW X5 with no incident. This story actually happened. Gwen Steffani is known to head over to the steamers sometimes too.
It’s only 4 dollars for adults and 2 $ for the kids, I think. On certain days you can head over to Walt Disney’s barn hide out when it is open once a month. It can make for a fun 1 hour total outing to check out the Steamers next time you head to L.A., vato. Minus 1 star for replacing the Charles and Ray Eames designed train station and ticket office years ago though.

This is specifically about the Ghost Train. I have not been to this establishment when it was not the Ghost Train. I am a big fan but pretty frustrated by the price increase. I think $ 15 a person is pretty steep. Mainly because it’s all the same. Only a couple of things were new and some of the stuff is looking pretty shabby. Speakers not working, train stopping all the time with long waits. Not sure I’ll be back next year at these prices.

As for a miniature trains, LALSRM ranks at the top of my list. It’s a sit on top train with a really long ride. They usually have a couple of trains and if you’re really lucky, they might be running a real steam engine. Went today in October and most of the halloween décor is up so it adds to an already cool ride. It’s probably the longest ride for kids going through tunnels and over and under bridges. When you ride on top of a mini train, it’s so much cooler than riding inside a car. Maybe it’s the long grass slapping your leg as you cruise along or seeing the joy in adults’ and kids’ faces alike as you chug along. This is the best train in the LA area. NOTE: Your kid needs to be at least 34″ tall.

Cool little train ride, definitely worth the $ 3 a person to ride. Was much longer then I thought T first. Nice scenery and a unique experience!

UPDATE… Today a MEMBER OF THE TRAIN club LIVE steamers (and wanna be cop) responds to my sad review of how we were treated by saying «GOOD dont come back!»
So OBVIOUSLY this is proff of how rude and Unkind these people are. To respond to a bad experience and say“good” I’m happy we were mean to you. .WOW great place for kids, not!!!
My friend and I and 3 kids went there recently Sunday afternoon and was like others said they experience, being treated rudely and yelled at by the pushy staff at the gate. No one said thank you or goodbye when we got off either. It is a place for a train ride you can’t get off and walk around go to Travel town and visit the great museum!

Me and my older boy 7 have come here since he was 3 and now I’m here with my new 3 yr old and it just gotten worse and worse. I know this place is run by train enthusiasts and they are to operate for the public to keep their «private» club on public property, but good grief they should show up on time on Sundays and start the trains on time at 10:45 as they say!
I don’t know what’s going on, but it appears that each year they become lazier and lazier, I will give special props to the only two conductors who showed up to run their train today for everyone… One train running and there’s clearly around 200 people here.
The Disney barn should be moved as this place seems to forget who pays for the park and why this museum resides in Griffith Park and I’m sure Walt would be disappointed with this current operation.
I will give it two stars because of course– the trains are still awesome!
Simply put you all can do better.

This place is so awesome. I’ve been next door at Travel Town several times, and always was curious what this place was next door, as every once in a while I’d see a huge plume of steam or hear whistling. Well, question answered: a fantastic scale model of a railroad powered by different miniature steam engines. An incredible amount of detail went into this track: I was in awe of all the tunnels, bridges, and small ghost towns we travelled through in the span of about a 10 minute train ride. So much more fun than the one in Travel Town that goes around the perimeter of the park… and only $ 3!
Your first visit may be a little confusing due to a lack of signage. There’s two lines: hit the one on your right first to buy your ticket, then line up on the left to wait for the next train. Entry into the park itself is limited to one Sunday a month, and you get in there through an entirely separate entrance further down the road.
Beware: they strictly enforce the 34″ height requirement due to insurance liability. So even though our toddler’s hair was touching the line, he was deemed too short and will have to wait a few weeks until he’s tall enough.

This place is awesome!!! Open ONLY on Sunday’s from 11am to 3pm. Ample parking. Once u get in, stand in line to get tickets for the train ride. U cannot walk around to look at train in here. Strictly for rides only and there’s a small enclosed area when u see miniature tracks and trains near the entrance.
$ 3 per ride. No babies. Kids must be above 34″ to ride and must be accompanied by one adult. The ride itself was AWESOME! A good 10 mins if not more. So worth the price and u get to see all these mini trains and riding on one!

We love spending part of our Sunday with our four year old riding the trains at LA Live Steamers. Club members are always friendly. We’ve been on inaugural train trips. They have Walt Disney’s old train barn onsite.
This is not the type of place where you «go for the day», however with so many other fun Griffith Park activities, you could easily make a day of it!

Great for kids, and grown up train lovers. The Haunted Halloween train ride is a good seasonal nightime event in October for 6 – 9 year olds… but be ready for crowds.
Disney fans should make an extra effort to come when they open «The Disney Barn» Walt Disney’s train shed (THIRD Sunday of the month)

It’s pretty decked up during the Halloween season and you can enjoy an almost half and hour train ride in this miniature train park. The steam trains are the star of this place. They are detailed to the t’s. This is our favorite best kept secret in Los Angeles and definitely one that we enjoy during Halloween.

Awesome place to take the family! U can absolutely tell that everyone out there gave their heart and soul in putting the Halloween show together. The people who work there are fantastic and down to earth. U can feel the passion they have for our community and TRAINS! Check out their halloween show its a must see…

This place is great for any kids that likes trains. These are trains that you straddle on, not sit in a chair. Really cool. It’s also a long train ride. There is also a miniature train section, where you can watch them go around.
Downside. The workers there look like volunteers, so some aren’t very friendly. Some are, but some aren’t. You can’t go inside the park or museum, just ride the train.

For people wondering about it:
My wedding was at this Venue. It was amazing! They were accommodating and SUPER helpful. The volunteers went out of there way for us even making us a wedding sign to go over the mine portion of the ride. So it had our initials and then it said Forever Mine. It was wonderful! It was the prefect Venue for us and the pictures were AWESOME! Honestly, It was more then I EVER could have hoped for. All my guest had an amazing time and said they wanted to come back again. My Facebook page is riddled with selfies of all my guests riding the trains. Trust me go with your family and if you love trains become a member. Awesome place with Amazing People! I would give this place 10 stars if I could. :)
To the train club:
I want to send a thank you out to all the Volunteers at LA live steamers train club. I just wanted to thank everyone for the WONDERFUL well wishes. The out pouring of love and the support that Randy and I received from you all. My wedding was a fairy tale to me, It was the MOST wonderful Day I could have asked for and I know that I never would have been able to pull it off with even a smidgen of fun it it wasn’t for you Guys. The willingness you all had to step in and help and to bring your trains. I am forever grateful to you all. I LOVED the wonderful sign you made for me and Randy. The Forever Mine was AWESOME! It was such a wonderful wedding gift to see you all take the time to make something so special for us. We will Definitely have it in our home. I feel so blessed by you all and I want to thank you for letting us use the club. The pictures I have seen were amazing and I will try to get you all a CD if you want so you can use the Photos we have of the guests riding the trains. I honestly couldn’t have asked for a more wonderful wedding day. Thank you for going above and beyond for us and making our day the fairy tale we had always dreamed of. Love you Guys! Love, Diedre

Yes, I was the only adult without a child riding this. No, I felt no shame. Yes, it was the best $ 3 I’ve ever spent in my life.

Last night my family and I went to the Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum for their annual Halloween Ghost Train Ride. I knew about it for a few years but never decided to go, so last night we decided to find out what it was all about. At arrival you will be amazed with the awesome Halloween decorations and a pumpkin story telling while waiting in line and then real fun starts with a spooky family friendly train-​ride through the hill side with scary dolls, clowns and a laser tunnel and much more. While riding the train nothing will jump out at you to try and scare you. (It’s for your own safety)
I recommend taking your family and enjoying an awesome spooky train ride ;)
TIME-7:00pm-10:00pm
DATE– 2013 October 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 30 and 31
$ 10.00 per person
Passengers must be at least 34″ in height and weigh under 350 lbs. to ride.

**THIS REVIEW IS FOR THEIR HALLOWEEN ATTRACTION**
Came here on Halloween night for their haunted train ride attraction. Tickets were $ 10 and at about 9pm and it wasn’t crowded at all. I saw a listing for this ride on Unilocal and as someone commented, this place is not easy to find for non-​locals. It’s kind of a hidden gem, which means that even on Halloween night, we didn’t have to wait hours for the ride.
When I heard it was a train ride, I was thinking it was an actual, full size train. What pulled up at the station was much, much cuter! From the pictures, you’ll see it’s a small train and you don’t sit inside the cars, you sit ON TOP of ‘em. The ride lasted about 20 minutes (really worth the $ 10) and went through the «park» twice, although on different tracks. They really made use of all the space, creating specific and scary themes for each area. Definitely not for easily scared young children (there was one section where inmates were getting shocked in the electric chair, but that was still very mild compared to actual haunted house attractions in LA), but for braver kids and adults alike, it was a lot of fun.
The parking lot is rather small and the cars seemed to be parked haphazardly there. Since it wasn’t crowded, it wasn’t a big deal. But if the event grows in size next year, a parking attendant might help!