Railroad museum moving to Tomball

Tomball plans to finalize the purchase of the property to house the museum in January or February.

Museum leaders began looking to relocate from their home of 35 years at the Railwood Industrial Park when property owners decided to expand their business, and the museum lost its lease there.

Last year, Tomball City Council took one step toward moving the museum to town when it voted to approve an agreement with the Gulf Coast Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society.

It has not been determined how many of the museum's 18 rail cars will be moved to Tomball, Shackelford said. The museum will be housed inside the rail cars.

The Houston Railroad Museum holds a collection of locomotives, railway express equipment, freight cars and artifacts. The museum is moving its collection to temporary storage and remains closed.

A similar railroad museum is being developed in Frisco. Tomball city leaders and representatives from the museum are traveling to Frisco at the end of November to meet with Frisco's mayor and visit the museum and seek advice.

Shackelford said the museum would be a great addition to Tomball.

"We think it would be a good destination point," Shackelford said. "It could work into a very nice tourism aspect for the community and the whole area. We were founded on the railroad, so it's a natural fit."