PERRIS TRAIN FIELD GUIDE
Throttle Up: Take the Engineer’s Seat on the Run One Program in Perris
A one‑hour, instructor‑led chance to operate a locomotive or streetcar on the Southern California Railway Museum’s mainline or loop line—this guide explains what to expect, what to bring, and who can take the controls.
Throttle Up: Take the Engineer’s Seat on the Run One Program in Perris.
The Run One Program at the Southern California Railway Museum in Perris puts you in the driver’s seat: after a briefing from a qualified engineer you inspect the equipment, learn the controls and spend a full hour operating a locomotive or streetcar on the museum’s mainline or loop line. Each session includes an engineer’s cap and a certificate of accomplishment, making the experience as tangible as it is memorable.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
One hour at the throttle
Under the instruction of a qualified engineer you climb into the driver’s seat, learn how the equipment works and operate a locomotive or streetcar for a full hour on the museum’s running track.
Cap and certificate
Each rental includes an engineer’s cap and a certificate of accomplishment to mark the experience.
Who may take the controls
The program accommodates adults and supervised minors: participants are 18+ or 5+ with parent supervision, and minors must be accompanied as required by the museum’s rules.
What the day feels like
What it feels like to run one
The flow is direct and hands‑on: arrival at the museum, a focused briefing and walk‑through of the locomotive or streetcar, then into the cab for a solid hour of operation under an engineer’s supervision—an intimate, mechanical lesson in momentum and control.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this experience suits—and who should look elsewhere.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Each Run One session is one hour long.
Bring a digital or print copy of your tickets from your confirmation email.
Arrive at the Southern California Railway Museum in Perris for check‑in and briefing.
Participants must be 18 or older, or at least 5 years old with parent supervision; museum rules govern cab occupancy during training.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is a Run One session?
Each session lasts one hour.
Who can participate?
Participants must be 18 or older, or ages 5 and up with parent supervision.
Can more than one person be in the cab while driving?
Only one trainee is allowed in the cab with the engineer at a time; exceptions for minors require a supervising adult per museum policy.
What does the session include?
The program includes instruction by a qualified engineer, hands‑on operation of a locomotive or streetcar for an hour, an engineer’s cap and a certificate of accomplishment.
What should I bring to the session?
Bring a digital or printed copy of your tickets from the confirmation email.
Where do I check in for my experience?
You check in at the Southern California Railway Museum in Perris when you arrive for your scheduled session.