The state known for it's incredible coastline and beautiful mountain scenery, also boasts of over 5800 miles of railroads. Dominated by two major networks, the Union Pacific and the BNSF Railway, California is also rich in the history and development of the west through it's railroads. Beginning with the Sacramento Valley RR in 1856, today California hosts many excellent scenic train rides and railroad museums.
Listed in Parade's "America's Greatest Train Rides" Amtrak runs the classic California Zephyrand the Southwest Chief from LA to Chicago.
The California State Railroad Museum, in Sacramento is among the finest interpretive railroad museums in the country. Several outstanding rail excursions are operated on the Fillmore & Western. For luxury excursions, excellent accommodations can be found at either Rail Journeys West or LARails in Los Angeles. And for an elegant dining experience, the Shasta Sunset Dinner Train and the Napa Valley Wine Train both offer gourmet dining with impeccable service. The Hollywood favorite, the Sierra Railroad Dinner Train offers a variety of different excursions as well. The Sacramento RiverTrain serves up food, drinks and entertainment. For some real Southern Pacific steam action in the Bay area, the Golden Gate RR Museum runs special steam excursions on the Niles Canyon RR throughout the year. Santa Cruz, Big Trees & Pacific Railway Company runs scenic excursion tourist trains between Felton and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. You can also ride a train at Yosemite Park. Travel throught the giant California Redwoods aboard the popular Skunk Train. Along with steam engines made famous in Hollywood, Railtown 1897 provides an Old West steam train excursion ride experience.
You can experience a Polar Express train ride in California at the California State Railroad Museum during the month of December.
Look for the Santa Fe 3751 steam engine in Los Angeles.
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Western American Railroad Museum provides outdoor displays of rolling stock, locomotives and general railroad operating equipment offer opportunity for visitors to see, up close, railroad equipment normally viewed from a distance. Additional outdoor displays include maintenance of way, signaling and track equipment displayed in traditional context or interpretive manner. Directions.
Knott's Berry Farm's 1880's Ghost Town Calico narrow gauge railroad train ride and theme park is a family favorite. Despite years of bandit hold-ups, this is one of the last year round attractions operating narrow gauge railroads that still departs daily from Ghost Town Station for a round-trip train ride around the Park. Directions.
The Pacific Southwest Railway Museum runs excursions on many weekends on portions of the San Diego & Arizona Railway utilizing actual vintage equipment. One-hour, 12 mile round trip train ride from Campo to the International Border Tunnel at Division, which includes admission to Railway Museum grounds and Display Building at Campo. Directions
Roaring Camp Railroads 1880s, narrow-gauge steam train rides travel over trestles, through towering redwood groves and up a winding narrow-gauge grade to the summit of Bear Mountain. Four steam locomotives are Shay or similar designs, including an 1890 built 0-4-0T. One hour round trip. Directions.
The Fillmore & Western RR is the home of Hollywood movie trains and scenic train rides that include a Murder Mystery Dinner Train. Railway offers several year round special themed train excursions, including holiday excursions, such as a Dinner with Santa train ride and a New Years Eve train ride. Daytime weekend locomotive cab rides are also available. Directions.
The Moonlight Special features a delicious New York Steak BBQ dinner and The Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine RR features two vintage Shay steam locomotives that run a 4-mile scenic steam train rides at Yosemite Park's south gate. As you travel through the Sierria Mountains, you will follow the route of former logging steam trains that operated until 1931. Directions.
Climb aboard the Skunk Train Rail scenic steam train ride and travel through the scenic wilderness of the giant California Redwood trees. You have a choice of boarding at either Fort Bragg or Willits. Train rides run year round.and include a special Christmas train ride with Santa. Steam powered train rides are provided by one of the most popular American class locomotives, a 1924 Mikado type 2-8-2.
The Pacific Locomotive Association, Inc. operates the Niles Canyon Railway as a living history museum interpreting the importance of our heritage railroads in the development of California and the nation. Museum include early 20th century steam tank engines, a shay, South Pacific's #2467, various coaches and rolling stock. Scenic steam train rides run on Sundays during most months and the Nile Canyon also offers a rent a train ride program. Boarding for the Niles Canyon Railway can be made in either at the Niles Station in Freemont or the Sunol Depot in Sunol. Directions.
Railtown 1897 offers a 6-mile, 40-minute roundtrip steam excursion train ride that will take you past the water tower from "Petticoat Junction ," and transport you from the backyards of Jamestown to the rugged hillsides of California's Mother Lode country. At the end of the line (Rock Spur), your steam train will pause as the locomotive uncouples, "runs around" your train on a side track, then re-couples at the train's opposite end for the return trip to Jamestown. Train rides feature comfortable enclosed coaches and (subject to availability) unique, open "mountain observation cars" once used in the Canadian Rockies for sightseeing. The Sierra Ten-Wheeler No.3 came to the California Sierra Railroad in 1891. It is most noted for it's appearance in such Hollywood movies as Gary Cooper's 1929 "Virginian" and "High Noon", as well as Clint Eastwood's "Unforgiven " and from the Michael J. Fox trilogy, "Back to the Future III". No.3 is expected to be back in service in 2010 after extensive restoration. Directions.
This train ride includes a 1-mile round trip aboard an 18-inch narrow gauge mining railroad, disembarking to explore an authentic 1870 Julian gold rush mine, gold panning and more! A very fun and educational adventure in the beautiful mountains of Julian. The Smith Ranch & Julian Railroad, offers a wide variety of rolling stock, including flat cars, tank cars, timber cars, ore cars, and more. The locomotives used are storage-battery powered “tunneling” locomotives. Because they are electric, they are non-polluting and environmentally-friendly. Each locomotive is rated to pull 87 tons on level track. Directions.
Built in 1966, museum with adjacent railroad themed park dedicated to the proud era of the steam engines. Displays include a Southern Pacific Railroad Steam Locomotive, a Mogul 2-6-0 #1765 (1902-1960) and Tender. Other displays include a 1910 Union Pacific CabooseWater Tower. and a modern all-steel Santa Fe caboose. Also on display are a 1923 Union Oil tank car and a 1913 Southern Pacific outside-braced wood box car. Directions.
Los Angeles is home to a number of unique vintage rail cars from the 40's & 50's. Through the hard work of individual owners these cars have been beautifully restored to accommodate luxury charters for groups from 10-100. Check schedule for public train rides.
Tioga Pass is a private passenger rail car service. Traveling in a luxury private railroad car can be much more affordable that you might think. Public train rides are available. Trips range from one day to a whole week or more. Because you share the cost with your fellow passengers, the fare is actually quite reasonable. Private charters available for individuals or a groups. Services include almost anything you may want, from weddings to birthday parties, business meetings to movie premiers. Gourmet chefs prepare gastronomic delights to enjoy in the dining room as the scenery passes you by. Attentive waiters cater to your every need as you relax in the living room. Choose from dozens of destinations.
Steam engine displays include two Consolidations type 2-6-0, from 1899 and 1909, a 1920 Mikado 2-8-2, a 1904 Atlantic 4-4-2, as well as several other locomotives and rolling stock.
The Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum runs scale train rides and displays of extensive 4¾" and 3½" gauge model trains layouts. The 7½" gauge model trains offer train rides for both kids and adults, from 11 am - 3 pm every Sunday (weather permitting) except for the Sunday before Memorial Day and the first Sunday in October. Directions.
The Shasta Sunset Dinner Train operates over the historic McCloud Railway, with roots back to 1897 and the early logging days of Siskiyou County. Your 3 hour excursion train ride travels over the southern flank of 14,162-foot Mt. Shasta as you dine aboard a rebuilt "Pullman Green" with gold exterior finish cars, originally built for the Illinois Central Railroad in 1916. Steep grades, sharp curves and a unique "switch back" ARE all part of the features of the original construction "over the hill" that Dinner Train guests experience today. Also available, open-air scenic excursion train rides through the forested southern slopes in the shadow of Mt. Shasta . Scenic excursion train rides are little over an hour in length, operating weekends in the summer months, departing from the historic town of McCloud. All trips features diesel locomotives. Directions.
The Napa Valley Wine Train begins its three hour train ride at the McKinstry Street Station in Napa. The Napa train then travels north to St. Helena, where the locomotive disconnects from the north facing side of the train and re-connects to the south facing side of the train in preparation for the return journey. Ride along in elegant style while enjoying gourmet food and a glass of wine. Listed in Parade's "Unforgettable Day Trips by Rail" Directions.
Museum dedicated to the preservation of the 1876 mining Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad. Originally, a twenty-two and a half mile route that began in Nevada City, traveled to the railroad's headquarters in Grass Valley, and then on to Colfax for connections to the Central Pacific.
The Narrow Gauge Railroad was built in 1874-1876 featuring the property of the 86 room Northern Queen Inn. The line was originally 22 miles long, beginning in Colfax and destined for Nevada City. Engine #5 was featured in over 200 movies and TV programs and was returned to Nevada County from Universal Studios in 1985. The three mile round trip train ride covers 33 acres for a 1 1/2 hour ride in open top excursion cars.
Known as "the Movie Railroad" the Sierra Railroad Dinner Train, provides visitors an opportunity to travel on the historic Sierra Railroad while enjoying a delicious meal, beautiful countryside, and a wide range of entertainment. Every week of the year, the Dinner Train ride offers romantic dinners, fun murder mysteries, lunches, Sunday brunches, wild west shows, wine tasting, and much more. Train rides depart from the Oakdale station that is conveniently located 1+ hours from the San Francisco Bay Area or Sacramento, on the way toward Yosemite National Park. The Sierra RR has been featured in over 300 Hollywood movies. Directions.
Irvine Park Railroad is a 1/3 scale train ride through beautiful and historic Irvine Regional Park located in the foothills of Orange. This ride is ideal for everyday outings, picnics and birthday parties. Irvine Park Railroad offers several activities and special events year round. Directions.
Begun in 1956, the Orange Empire Railway Museum operates a Museum Railway where visitors can ride on the historic trains and trolleys that helped shape the Southern California we know today. Two trolleys run on a half-mile loop line, while another train operates on the mile and a half standard gauge line, pulling either freight or passengers. Train rides are either a caboose or an open gondola car. The Museum Railway operates every weekend and on most major holidays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and also on weekdays for charters and other special events. The Museum grounds are open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the exception of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Cab rides and locomotive rentals as well as a Day Out WithThomas are also available. Directions.
Model train layouts. The museum is open and model trains are running every Sunday from Noon-5pm during the months of April through December. Directions.
Santa Fe Depot from Arcadia, California. The depot was built in 1887 and is a classic example of the architecture of the late 1880's. Also on display are various locomotives including a 4-6-4 high speed passenger locomotive (#3450) and a wooden caboose from the Santa Fe; Union Pacific R.R. is represented by the Big Boy 4-8-8-4 (#4014), the largest steam locomotive ever built, the three-cylinder 4-12-2 (#9000), and a Centennial (#6915), the most powerful diesel in existence. The Southern Pacific R.R. is represented by a three-cylinder 4-10-2 (#5021), built in 1926. Some other locomotives consist of the Outer Harbor Terminal Railway 0-6-0 (#2) which was built in 1887, the Fruit Growers Supply Company's Climax type locomotive (#3) which was built in 1909, and the U.S. Potash Company's narrow gauge (#3) was built in 1903. A Santa Fe horse express car, a Pullman business class car, an ice refrigerator car, and a track motor car are also on display.
The Western Pacific Railroad Museum has over 35 locomotives and 80 cars of various types, including Western Pacific No. 165, a 0-6-0 switching steam locomotive, built in 1919.
Unlike many other museums, visitors to the Western Pacific Railroad Museum soon discover that this is a hands-on facility where they are encouraged to climb up in the cabs of locomotives, sit in the engineer's seats, and browse through the many cabooses and passenger cars that are on display. It is also home to the World Famous "Run-A-Locomotive" program. Western Pacific RR Museum live web cam. Museum is open 7 days a week 10am - 5pm starting the first Saturday in April through the first Sunday in November.
California State RR Museum train rides operate on a 40-minute, six-mile round trip route atop the levees of the Sacramento River. At the end of the line, the authentic steam locomotive "cuts off" the passenger cars and "runs around" the train, coupling onto the other end for the train ride back to Old Sacramento. Steam train rides run weekends April-September. Special themed excursion train rides run October - December that include the magical Polar Express train ride in December. The California State Railroad Museum is reguarded as one of the most popular railroad museums in the country. Directions.
The Sacramento Valley Live Steamers Railroad Museum is located within the Hagan Community Park in Rancho Cordova, California. The main line is over 6,300 ft. with many sidings and several yards. The scenic train passes through tree'd areas, and provides a fine view of the American River which passes within 100 ft. of the railroad. The railroad also features 5 wooden trestles, a 40ft truss bridge as well as a girder deck bridge. The track is 7 1/2" and 4 3/4" gauge. Directions.
At 27,000 sq. ft., the San Diego Model Railroad Museum has one the largest indoor model railroad displays in the world and the only accredited railroad themed musuem in USA. The individual HO and N scale layouts are among largest of their type. Construction of the model railroads is accomplished by volunteer club members.
The Trolley Barn replicates similar buildings of the 19th century trolley era, and was designed to reflect the same period of time as other buildings on the San Jose Historical Museum grounds. Trolley restoration projects continue at the Trolley Barn. Current restoration projects include Southern Pacific steam engine #2479 and Southern Pacific Railroad 0-6-0 steam locomotive #1215 built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1913. The Trolley Barn has become a permanent part of the museum. The Trolley Barn is located at the San Jose Historical Museum in Kelley Park. Directions.
A large and varied collection of historic railroad artifacts are on display. The Depot displays include two operational HO and N scale model railroad layout displays depicting various railroad eras and operations venues. Directions.
The Santa Cruz, Big Trees & Pacific Railway Company operates passenger and freight services on one of the oldest and most historic lines in California. Three hour round trip scenic train rides run from Santa Cruz through Redwood State Park. Directions.
Take a trip back in time takes on a scenic five-mile train ride to Gum Grove Station, a wooded glen far from the trappings of modern life. Family oriented museum offers themed festival events that include electric express train rides with departures throughout the day. Visit site for current schedule of events. Directions.
Niles Canyon Railway is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of steam and passenger railroad equipment, and the interpretation of railroad history in the San Francisco Bay Area. Home to a 1921 Southern Pacific steam locomotive, No. 2472, one of only 3 surviving Pacific class SP 4-6-2s. Directions
For additional information on scheduled scenic train rides visit the Golden Gate RR Museum.
The Truckee Railroad Museum uses railroad artifacts, dioramas, pictures and text displays to convey the impact of various types of railroads on Truckee. Static rolling stock include a GE center cab switcher, a rotary snow plow and a 1950 Southern Pacific passenger car. Directions.
Barn workshop used to build and maintain Walt Disney's Carolwood Pacific RR . Barn is in a beautifully landscaped part of the park, with several nice picnic tables and many benches. The barn was relocated to the Los Angeles Live Steamers at Griffith Park. The barn is open the third Sunday of each month, operated by the Carolwood Pacific Historical Society. Admission is free, and the Los Angeles Live Steamers are always on hand to give rides on small scale steam locomotives. Directions.
Thirty-two mile Sacramento River Train excursion train ride provides great food and entertainment while you roll along the Sacramento River and through the scenic countryside. Daytime and evening train rides are offered throughout the year, as well as seasonal special events. Open-air cars offer an enjoyable dining experience. Directions.
Fifteen mile scenic train ride over railway that was first established in 1889. The three hour round trip excursion train ride, with a stopover in Montague for lunch and exploring the "Old West" town, provides scenic views of Mount Shasta and the Shasta Valley. Excursion train rides run Saturdays and Sundays. Take a ride on an engine with the "Engineer For a Day" program which includes both steam and diesel locomotives. Depot includes some rail displays. Steam power is a 1915 Baldwin Mikado class steam locomotive, #19, a 2-8-2 arrangement. Directions.
and the Southwest Chief from LA to Chicago.
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is a scale train ride in theme park.
Railway, with roots back to 1897 and the early logging days of Siskiyou County. Your 3 hour excursion train ride travels over the southern flank of 14,162-foot Mt. Shasta as you dine aboard a rebuilt "Pullman Green" with gold exterior finish cars, originally built for the Illinois Central Railroad in 1916. Steep grades, sharp curves and a unique "switch back" ARE all part of the features of the original construction "over the hill" that Dinner Train guests experience today. Also available, open-air scenic excursion train rides through the forested southern slopes in 
. Scenic excursion train rides are little over an hour in length, operating weekends in the summer months, departing from the historic town of McCloud. All trips features diesel locomotives. 
is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of steam and passenger railroad equipment, and the interpretation of railroad history in the San Francisco Bay Area. Home to a 1921 Southern Pacific steam locomotive, No. 2472, one of only 3 surviving Pacific class SP 4-6-2s.
