Locomotive Love at the Orange Empire Railroad Museum

Inland Empire residents came out to the Orange Empire Railroad Museum (OERM) in mid-Febraury to support the private non-profit and raise funds for the organization. Museum goers were able to ride the Steam Engine Ventura County No. 2 (VC-2) as part of the museum's Steam Weekend which happens ever third weekend up until May. Families walked around the museum grounds learning the history behind some of the locomotives on display while enjoying some birthday festivities. Jeremy and Irene Templeman decided to have their sons’ birthday at the museum and invited family to come and enjoy the day with them. Brothers Zach, who turned four, and Jake, 2, could be seen running around with friends and family enjoying the day. The Everts’ family also decided to come to the museum for the day because Grandpa Dave, a Veteran, wanted to introduce what the museum had to offer to his family, especially his daughter Dani and granddaughter Kayleigh. Grandpa Dave escorted his granddaughter around teaching her the museums history as well as the history of some of the trains on display. Originally built in 1922 for the Cascade Timber Company of Reliance, Washington, the Steam Engine VC-2 was used during WWII to help move supplies. The Steam Engine is brought out for visitors to enjoy a ride and experience how locomotives and railroads were used to function. The Steam Engine gave a historical feel and served as a main attraction at the museum. The museum also hails locomotives and trolleys that can be seen throughout the premises and are available to be ridden by visitors. The Pacific Car 717 takes patrons around the grounds to see what the museum has to offer. Operated by Terry Bye, the modes trolley also known as “Hollywood” travels very well around the premises, giving visitors a beautiful view of nature and history rolled into one. The L.A. PCC Car was built in 1943 and is operated by Kevin Cartwright and is yet another example of the many locomotives and trolleys available for transportation. Volunteer Janet White explained how the museum was founded and why locals are so drawn to its historical atmosphere. The museum was founded by fourteen teenagers who could foresee trolley cars popularity coming to an end in Los Angeles. According to the museum website the group’s first home was a Travel Town, an already-established display of retired railway equipment in Los Angeles’ Griffith Park. By 1958, the group changed their name to the Orange Empire Trolley Museum and brought 10 pieces of equipment to Travel Town. White added that the museum came to its current location after the group purchased a potato field in Perris, CA. Some of the locomotives and trolleys that can be seen around the grounds have been donated. Ward Kimball, the famous Disney Animator who created Jiminy Cricket, the Dwarfs from Snow White, Donald Duck and countless others, donated the Grizzly Flat Railroad collection to OERM in 1990. Fox studios also donated trolley cars to the museum. OERM is a quite hidden adventure in the city of Perris with a rich history visitors of any age can touch and enjoy.