South Bay Historical Railroad

Urban Sketchers: South Bay Historical Railroad Society (Santa Clara)

Tucked beside active rail lines in Santa Clara, the South Bay Historical Railroad Society (SBHRS) offers a dream setting for urban sketchers. Housed in the historic Santa Clara Depot, this free, volunteer-run museum features the Edward Peterman Museum of Railroad History, complete with vintage artifacts, detailed HO and N scale model train layouts, and beautifully preserved railroad structures like the iconic Santa Clara Tower. The textures of weathered wood, steel rails, signal levers, and historic architecture make this a rich place to draw slow and look closely.

What makes SBHRS especially magical is that it’s a working museum. As you sketch, real trains pass by on active tracks Caltrain commuters, Amtrak long-distance routes, and Union Pacific freight adding movement, sound, and storytelling to the page. It’s a place where past and present meet, and where our sketchbooks can capture not just buildings, but living history. Bring your pens, watercolors, or pencils, and let the rhythm of the rails guide your lines. 🚆✍🏽