Erwin Welsch Research Library
The Erwin Welsch Research Library is located inside the San Diego Model Railroad Museum, up the stairs toward the back of the museum. It is free to the public with museum admission. Our library volunteers are very knowledgeable and happy to help with questions/research.
The library's focus is prototypical railroading in North America and worldwide with a regional emphasis on Southern California and the Southwest. Our collection of books, magazines, and other materials covers:
North American standard, narrow gauge, short line, industrial, and scenic railroads
North American transit, interurban, and light rail systems
Railroads and transit systems of the world outside North America
Railroad motive power and rolling stock
Railroad construction, maintenance, and operation
Model railroad subjects
The collection consists of over 10,000 books, serial publications, drawings, manuscripts, maps, sound recordings, computer files/databases, and folders containing additional pieces of railroad memorabilia (catalogs, timetables, travel brochures, pocket maps, dining car menus, and newspaper clippings). The Library also has over 15,000 photographs and slides. We offer reference service on-site as well through email to: library@sdmrm.org
Library Hours are currently 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM Tuesday-Friday, and are subject to volunteer availability.
