HOME OF THE SANTA FE WARBONNETS

The Galveston Railroad, established in 1900 as the Galveston Wharves Railway, continues to serve the Port of Galveston today, off-loading goods arriving by sea and transporting them to parts north. While the details of its operations are of interest to railroad buffs, its rolling stock isn’t near as entertaining as the collection at the Galveston Railroad Museum. Not only can you get up close and personal with engines, cars, and cabooses at the museum, you can actually take ride on their Harborside Express. The Galveston Railroad Museum is also home to the Warbonnets, two of the most colorful and decorative railroad engines on display today. Decommissioned after years of service, these handsome engines were purchased and restored by the museum. Restorers adopted the striking red and yellow hues of the “Warbonnet” color scheme designed by Leland Knickerbocker and patented in 1937 by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. Bright red covers much of the front of the engines, enhanced with yellow outlines and black pinstripping, all designed to suggested the Native American ceremonial headdress. Elsewhere in the museum, additional rolling stock (considered one of the largest collections in the southwest) and a changing exhibit of elaborate model trains make the museum a favorite stop along Galveston’s Strand. A gift store provides plenty of options to delight your favorite railroad enthusiast.