Research & Artifact Collection
Over 52,000 cataloged pieces of railroad history
The Arizona Railway Museum currently has over 52,000 cataloged pieces of railroad related artifacts stored in our archives.
The collection is available for academic research. However, due to our all-volunteer staffing, access to the collection is BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.
We are always interested in donations that will expand our collection.
42,324
2D/3D Artifacts
Lanterns, rule books, tickets, timetables, maps, menus, passes, documents, track tools, and more
9,679
Audio/Visual Materials
Photos, 35mm slides, film, records, recordings, and other media
2,135
Different Sources
Railroads, manufacturers, and organizations represented
📚 Reference Library
The museum maintains a collection of books relating to railroad history.
Currently, the collection contains over 4,600 titles.
Our library covers a wide range of topics including railroad operations, locomotive technology, company histories, and regional railroad development.
📰 Periodical Library
The museum maintains extensive collections of railroad periodicals and magazines, including:
- Trains
- Classic Trains
- Railroad History
- Pacific Rail News
- Passenger Train Journal
- Diesel Era
- NRHS "Bulletin"
- Key, Lock & Lantern
- Narrow Gauge & Shortline Gazette
- "Warbonnet" (Santa Fe)
- "Streamliner" (Union Pacific)
- CTC Board
And many more periodicals covering all aspects of railroad history and operations...
📈 Collection Growth Over Time
Our collection continues to grow thanks to generous donations and ongoing acquisition efforts:
| Date | Artifacts | Audio/Visual | Total Items | Organizations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2025 | 42,324 | 9,679 | 52,003 | 2,135 |
| March 30, 2023 | 36,062 | 8,361 | 46,423 | 1,952 |
| March 17, 2022 | 34,769 | 7,719 | 42,488 | 1,863 |
| October 1, 2020 | 30,814 | 6,499 | 37,313 | 1,692 |
| June 1, 2019 | 25,139 | 5,216 | 30,355 | 1,452 |
📧 Research Inquiries
Inquiries for research should be made by emailing the museum Curator:
Email Curator for Research Request
Please note: Due to our all-volunteer operation, access to the collection is by appointment only. Allow time for scheduling and preparation of materials.