The ductile performance of one-column bridge piers under earthquake, which are used frequently in the railway bridge, is studied by pseudo-static test for 24 large-scale pier models. According to the test data, force-displacement relation, hysteresis hoop mode and so on are studied, and the effects of model parameters, such as longitudinal reinforcement ratio, hoop reinforcement ratio and shear-span ratio, are compared. Also the consumption energy characteristics, the embracing curve rule of force-displacement, and the relative statistical characteristics and influencing factors and the effects of model parameters on them are studied. Furthermore, some conclusions and suggestions are proposed for the ductility anti-earthquake design of railway bridges in China.