A Brief Stopover At The Southern California Railway Museum


Photos and Story by Ken Hulsey

 I have to admit that one of my favorite places to explore is the grounds of the Southern California Railroad Museum (at the time these photos were taken, it was known as the Orange Empire Railroad Museum). Several years ago I was traveling through Perris, so I decided to take a break wandering around the grounds. Time limitations didn't allow for much wandering, so I just poked around the southern end of the property.

There was a group of old switch engines parked on a siding just outside the museum's workshops. I can only assume that they were waiting their turn to be restored. Just beyond the locomotive, there was a line of vintage passenger cars along with a Santa Fe caboose.

As a railfan and photographer, I took full advantage of the opportunity to capture these vintage examples of railroad equipment for posterity.










Map:




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Spectral Truck and Driver Who Terrorized the Albuquerque Desert! | A True New Mexico Ghost Story

Image
Written By Ken Hulsey With Halloween quickly approaching, I wanted to share a little ghost story from my past. Back in the 1980s, I lived in Albuquerque, in a subdivision known as Heritage Hills. When my family moved in during the late 1970s, this area was brand new. In fact, these were the only homes located on the furthest north side of the city. Beyond our subdivision, there was nothing but open desert, with dirt roads and a few scattered structures. This area remained undeveloped for quite some time. 
Read More »

Experience the Vibrant Colors of Fall at Fresh Pickin's: A Harvest Haven in Lafayette!

Image
 If you have any doubts that it is indeed Fall in Southern Louisiana, a trip to Fresh Pickin's Produce Market in Lafayette will clue you in to the seasonal change. Though the temperatures are just starting to cool down and the leaves are still mostly green, this fruit and vegetable stand (that's what we used to call a place like this in the good old days) is full of Fall colors. The oranges of pumpkins and the reds. yellows and browns of gourds and Indian corn delight the visual spectrum. 
Read More »

Join the Sky-High Fun at the 41st Annual Natchez Balloon Festival: A Must-See Celebration of Music, Family, and Adventure!

Image
Experience the 41st Annual Natchez Balloon Festival: A Celebration of Music, Family, and Adventure Information from the Natchez Balloon Festival - Photos by Ken Hulsey.   The Natchez Balloon Festival is back for its 41st year, bringing excitement and entertainment to Natchez, Mississippi, on October 16-17, 2026. Set against the stunning backdrop of Rosalie Mansion's high bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River, this festival has become a staple in the community, attracting visitors from near and far.  
Read More »

Rediscovering Smith's Landing: The Story of Louisiana's First Train Station and Its Legacy

Image
Today, I want to share the story of the first railroad built in central Louisiana. Known as the Red River Railroad , or sometimes the Ralph Smith Smith Railroad , this was the very first railroad constructed west of the Mississippi River. It was a simple and roughly built line that transported cotton and other goods that were brought in by barges on Bayou Boeuf .   The place where this railroad began is called Smith’s Landing , and the remaining building in the town of Lecompte is recognized as the first train station built west of the Mississippi. The tracks ran from Lecompte to the banks of the Red River in Alexandria , but much of this route has been lost to time. During the Civil War , Union soldiers tore up the tracks to create a levee, and because of that, we don’t know exactly where the railroad used to go. Interestingly, when crews were constructing the old Jefferson Highway that runs between Lecompte and Alexandria, they found some remnants of the Red River Railroad, whi...
Read More »

Mysterious Monsters in the Bayou: Eyewitness Accounts of Bigfoot Lurking in Central Louisiana

Image
Written by Ken Hulsey. Though I couldn't find an account of a Bigfoot sighting in the town of Lecompte, the big hairy fella has definitely been lurking nearby. Indian Creek: 15-minute drive from Lecompte: BIGFOOT- 2 Encounters Made a Believer of Pineville Man By Andrew Griffin The Town Talk They are hairy, tall, and usually smell bad. They are elusive and mysterious and are known by different names throughout the world-Yeti and Yowie, Sasquatch and Skunk Ape. In the United States, these enigmatic primates are primarily known as Bigfoot. Some people believe in Bigfoot creatures, and some do not. Scott Kessler of Pineville is a believer. Since he was a young boy growing up in rural Rapides Parish, Kessler has had an obsessive fascination with Bigfoot, mainly because he says he has had two encounters with the hulking ape-like beasts. His first encounter with a Bigfoot was in the mid-1970's. He was camping with his family near Woodworth in the Indian Creek area. Late one nig...
Read More »

Mad Monster Party - Relive the Spooktacular Fun: A Campy Classic Where Monsters and Laughter Collide!

Image
 Written By: Ken Hulsey. Retiring from the monster business, Dr. Frankenstein plans to pass the reins to his hapless nephew, Felix, at an upcoming convention attended by an assortment of famous creatures - Frankenstein's monster, Dracula, the Werewolf, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, among others. But when the incompetent and overly kindhearted Felix proves unfit for the role, the monsters hatch a plot to eliminate him and seize control of Frankenstein's latest, and most dangerous, discovery - the secret to total destruction.
Read More »

Experience Serenity and Scenic Beauty at Riverview Park: A Hidden Gem in Shreveport!

Image
 Photos and Story By Ken Hulsey Last week, I stayed overnight in Shreveport for an early-morning meeting in Bossier City. After the meeting, I visited one of my favorite places in Shreveport, Riverview Park, along the majestic Red River. The weather was pleasantly cool for a change, with a lovely layer of fog hanging in the air, so I thought it would be a great opportunity to stretch my legs and take some photos of the area.
Read More »

Returning to the Lair of the Fouke Monster - The Legend of Boggy Creek and Beyond | Ken Hulsey

Image
I, like many others, first became fascinated with the infamous "Fouke Monster" in the 1970s when the film "The Legend of Boggy Creek" was released in theaters and drive-ins across the country. Although I didn't see the movie until it aired as a Saturday afternoon feature on a local TV station in the 1980s, the original trailer had a lasting impact on my young and impressionable mind—it scared the crap out of me. A big, hairy creature reaching through windows to grab young girls (the Fouke Monster doesn't hold a candle to King Kong), girls screaming, guns firing, people chasing the monster, the monster chasing people-all set in what looked like the creepiest place on Earth: Boggy Creek. I hid under my bed until I was ten!  
Read More »