[1] As of April 2016[update] a total of 53 rolling stock items are on display at the museum.

The Opening-eve ceremony was held on October 9th 1972 from 1:00 p.m. At the beginning, JNR president Mr. Isozaki planted a memorial young black pine tree.

There is an original English epitaph on the monument, as follows; May the glory of steam locomotives over the past century be remembered and their gallant sight preserved here forever.10 October 1972 Japan National Railways.At the end of the ceremony, a special ceremonial train was run by the C62 2.

On 19 December 2012, JR West officially announced its plans to modernize and expand the Umekoji museum.

The expansion became necessary due to the aging facilities of the Modern Transportation Museum in Osaka.