Tourist & Museum Railways in

California

12 inch gauge steam locomotive Cricket on the Folsom Valley Railway.

Angels Flight Railway funicular railway in Los Angeles, between South Hill Street and South Olive Street in the Bunker Hill district. The railway is just 298 ft (91 m) in length, with a gradient of 1 in 3 (33%).
Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad 15 in (381 mm) miniature railway, 1 mile (1.6 km) in length, in Los Gatos. Operates daily in summer and at weekends all year. Usually diesel hauled, steam train operates on summer weekends.
Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm Line Railroad 2 ft (610 mm) gauge miniature railway located in Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm, Wheatland. Diesel hauled. Farm is open to the public daily in spring and autumn, and is available for private parties in summer.
Bonafante Railroad 2 ft (610 mm) gauge miniature railway, about 1100 yards (1 km) in length, in Gilroy Gardens, Gilroy. Operates on days when the gardens are open.
Calico Railroad 3ft (914 mm) gauge line 1 mile (1.6 km) in length, steam hauled using ex-Denver & Rio Grande Western material, located in the Knott’s Berry Farm theme park near Buena Park. The park is open every day except Christmas Day, and also includes the Calico Mine Ride and the Grand Sierra Scenic Railroad, 2ft (610 mm) gauge lines using replica equipment. Not to be confused with the Calico & Odessa Railroad
Calico & Odessa Railroad 2ft 6in (762 mm) gauge line operating in the Calico Ghost Town, near Barstow. The town is open every day except Christmas Day. Not to be confused with the Calico Railroad (Website contains little information relating to railway)
Casa de Choo Choo 16 in (406 mm) gauge miniature railway, some 2 miles (3 km) in length, located at Casa de Fruta, near Hollister. Diesel hauled. The railway operates at weekends all year, weather permitting.
Castle Park amusement park in Riverside has a miniature railway circling the central area of the park. The list of attractions includes the Castle Park Railroad and the Riverside Express; these are in fact the same operation. Admission to the park is free, you pay only for rides. Trains operate Fridays to Sundays throughout the year.
Dana Point Funicular technically a rack railway rather than a funicular, connects the Headlands Reserve with the beach 120 ft (36 m) below
Descanso, Alpine & Pacific Railroad privately owned 2 ft (610 mm) gauge line in Alpine. Open to the public most Sunday afternoons during summer and at other times
Disneyland Park near Anaheim has three passenger carrying railways:
- Disneyland Railroad 3ft gauge steam hauled railway running 1½ miles (2.4 km) around the perimeter of Disneyland Park and serving four stations located in Main Street USA, New Orleans Square, Tomorrowland and Mickey’s Toontown
- Disneyland Monorail overhead monorail connecting Downtown Disney with Tomorrowland
- Horse-drawn Streetcars in Main Street USA
The neighbouring Disney California Adventure Park has a replica electric streetcar operating on Buena Vista Street. Both parks are open every day throughout the year, and have various other rail based amusement rides.
El Dorado East Regional Park in Long Beach has an 18 in (457 mm) gauge miniature railway. Trains operate Friday, Saturday and Sunday all year (Website contains little information relating to railway)
El Dorado Western Railroad Shingle Springs to El Dorado. Possible future extension to Diamond Springs. Standard gauge. Diesel powered passenger carrying works vehicles operate most Sundays for short trips from either Shingle Springs or El Dorado. Occasional journeys cover the whole line.
Emerald Hills Railway private 12 in (305 mm) gauge miniature railway in Redwood City, open to the public typically 4 days each year.
Folsom Valley Railway 12 in (305 mm) gauge steam hauled miniature railway, about ¾ mile (1 km) in length, in Folsom City Park. Operates weekends throughout the year and Tuesday to Friday mornings for most of the year.
Fun Town at Micke Grove 16 in (406 mm) gauge miniature railway in the Fun Town amusement park at Micke Grove Regional Park,near Lodi. Diesel hauled. Operates daily throughout the year. Admission to Fun Town is free, just pay for rides (Website contains few details relating to railway)
The Getty Center has a “tram” (technically an air cushion supported funicular) connecting the main entrance and car parks with the Center buildings. Admission to the Center and use of the tram is free; there is a charge for car parking, but the site can also be reached by public transport (Website contains no details relating to tram)
Griffith Park & Southern Railroad in Los Angeles (near the Travel Town Museum) has an 18½ in (470 mm) gauge miniature railway, 1 mile (1.6 km) in length. Replica steam and diesel locomotives powered by propane engines. Open every day except Christmas Day.
Grove Trolley battery electric replica tram (streetcar) operating on a ¾ mile (1.3 km) track connecting the Grove Shopping Center in Los Angeles with the Farmers Market. Operates afternoons and early evenings, daily throughout the year.
Irvine Park Railroad in Irvine Regional Park has an 16 in (406 mm) gauge miniature railway. Open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Years Day.
Key Holidays operate the Reno Fun Train and Sierra Scenic Train, private cars attached to Amtrak services between Emeryville and Reno NV, offering meals and entertainment.
LA Rail excursions in historic luxury rail vehicles attached to scheduled Amtrak services departing Los Angeles. Regular services operate to Santa Barbara and San Diego, with occasional longer excursions. Vehicles are also available for private charter
Los Angeles Live Steamers steam and diesel hauled miniature railway. Society offers rides to the general public most Sundays on its 1½ mile (2.4 km) 7½ in (190 mm) gauge line
Mackerel Flats & Goat Hill Junction Railroad diesel hauled miniature railway. Society offers rides to the general public typically one weekend each month on about 1 mile (1.6 km) of its extensive 7½ in (190 mm) gauge line
Market Street Railway heritage electric trams (trolleys) on the Muni system of San Francisco. Operates daily throughout the year on Muni Route F; Route E proposed.
Napa Valley Wine Train Napa to St Helena. Standard gauge. Daily lunchtime and evening diesel hauled trains, with dining options and possibility of winery visits.
Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railway from the museum in Nevada City to Northern Queen Inn, on a loop of track about ¾ mile (1.2 km) in length. historic diesel railbus. Operates Saturdays, May to October.
Niles Canyon Railway Niles to Sunol, about 6 miles (10 km). Standard gauge. Operates on most Sundays from January to November, and most days during early December. Passengers may join at either terminus. Usually steam hauled. A further 5 miles (8 km) to Pleasanton is used by occasional excursions and is planned to enter regular operation in the future.
Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris has a 1½ mile (2.4 km) standard gauge line and a dual gauge electric tram loop. Museum open every day, trains (usually steam hauled) and trams operate weekends and holidays.
Orland, Newville & Pacific Railroad 15 in (381 mm) gauge miniature railway, about ½ mile (800m) in length, in Orland. Operates daily during the Glenn County Fair in May, on a few other days during the year, and by private charter
Outback Express 15 in (381 mm) gauge miniature railway, about 1 mile (1.6 km) in length, in Oakland Zoo. Operates daily when the Zoo is open, which is most days of the year.
Pacific Southwest Railway Museum Campo to a point near the Mexican frontier, about 6 miles (9 km) on the tracks of the former San Diego & Arizona railway. Diesel Hauled. Operates most weekends and certain other days throughout the year.
Pixie Express 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge miniature railway in the Pixie Woods Amusement Park, Stockton. Diesel powered replica steam locomotive (Website contains little information relating to railway)
Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad Folsom to Latrobe. Standard gauge. Steam or diesel hauled trains operate between Hampton and White Rock or between Hampton and the Sacramento / El Dorado county line. Diesel powered passenger carrying works vehicles operate between Hampton and Latrobe and on a short section of line near Folsom. Irregular operating dates, consult the website calendar.
Poway Midland Railroad unusual narrow gauge (3ft 6in, 1067 mm) railway in Old Poway Park, Poway. Operates most Saturdays and Sundays throughout the year. Depending on the date, the train is either a steam locomotive hauled passenger coach, a converted streetcar, or a works vehicle.
Railtown 1897 Jamestown to Rock Spur, about 3 miles (5 km) on part of the route used by the Sierra Dinner Train. Standard gauge. Operates on weekends during the summer, and on certain dates in December. Steam hauled.
Redwood Valley Railway 15 in (381 mm) gauge miniature railway modeled on narrow gauge practice, located in Tilden Regional Park, Berkeley. Usually steam hauled. Operates daily in summer and at weekends all year.
Riverside Live Steamers 7½ in (190 mm) gauge miniature railway in Hunter Park, Riverside. Steam hauled. Open to the public typically 2 or 3 Sundays each month.
Roaring Camp Railroads two separate lines:
- Redwood Forest Steam Train Roaring Camp to Bear Mountain. Steam hauled, 3 ft (914 mm) gauge. Operates weekends and holidays throughout the year, and weekdays in the summer.
- Santa Cruz Beach Train Roaring Camp to Santa Cruz. Standard gauge, diesel hauled. Passengers may join at either terminus. Operates weekends from late May to the beginning of October, weekdays in summer, and on certain days in December
Sacramento RiverTrain Woodland to West Sacramento, 14 miles (22 km), standard gauge. Operates on most Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays throughout the year, Wednesdays in summer, and various weekdays December. Diesel hauled. Inclusive dining on most trips.
Sacramento Southern Railroad Old Sacramento to Freeport, 3 mile (5km), standard gauge. Operates on weekends during the summer, and most days during early December. Usually steam hauled.
Sacramento Valley Live Steamers steam and diesel hauled miniature railway in Rancho Cordova. Society offers rides to the general public typically one Saturday afternoon and one Sunday afternoon each month on its 1¼ mile (2 km) 7½ in (190 mm) gauge line
San Fransisco Zoo has a 22 in (559 mm) gauge miniature railway, some ⅓ mile (0.5 km) in length, known as the Little Puffer. The steam locomotive itself is of considerable historical interest, having been build around 1904 by Cagney Brothers of New York. The zoo is open every day of the year, train operates most days subject to weather and maintenance schedules.
History San José historic electric trams on a loop of track about ⅓ mile (0.5km) in length in Kelley Park. Standard gauge. Operates weekends throughout the year.
San Mateo Central Park Train 12 in (305 mm) gauge miniature railway about 220 yards (200 m) in length. Diesel hauled. Operates weekends throughout the year.
Santa Cruz & Monterey Bay Railway proposed tourist passenger service. Standard gauge. Diesel hauled. Inclusive dining facilities available on most trips.
Sierra Dinner Train Oakdale to Tuolumne City, 57 miles (92 km), standard gauge. Operates on most Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays throughout the year, and other weekdays in April and December. Diesel hauled. Inclusive dining on most trips.
Skunk Train Operated as two separate sections, Fort Bragg to Northspur and Willits to Northspur. Standard gauge. Trains operate from Fort Bragg most days of the year, from Willits most days during the summer and on holidays. Some trains steam hauled during summer. Other trains may be diesel hauled or railcars. Inclusive dining on many trips. On certain days, also offers excursions in pedal powered trolleys ffrom Fort Bragg to Glen Blair Junction and return.
South Coast Railroad Museum offers the following:
- The Goleta Short Line ½ mile (0.8 km) miniature railway in the grounds of the Museum. Operates Fridays to Sundays throughout the year
- Short rides on a standard gauge, self propelled handcar. Operates typically one Saturday each month
- Excursions in historic private saloons from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo on the tracks of Union Pacific. Diesel Hauled. Operates on a few days each year
SPCRR 3ft (914mm) gauge horse drawn railway about 1½ miles (1.8km) in length, located in Ardenwood Historic Farm, Fremont. Operates Tuesdays to Saturdays and holiday Mondays, April to mid-November.
Strand Beach Elevator in Dana Point. Small cabin on a rack railway providing access to the beach from the car parking area off Selva Road
The Timber Heritage Association has recreated a standard gauge logging railway between Samoa and Manila, about 2 miles (3 km), in Fort Humboldt State Historic Park. Steam trains operate typically one Saturday each month from May to September, rides in a maintenance railcar are offered on all or part of the line on a few other days.
Train Town 15 in (381 mm) gauge highly detailed miniature railway in Sonoma, 1¼ miles (2 km) in length. Steam and diesel haulage. Open Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays all year (except Christmas Day and Thanksgiving), every day in summer.
Waterfront Red Car Line historic electric trams (trolleys) on about 1½ miles (2.4 km) of line with 4 boarding points in San Pedro, Los Angeles. Operates Fridays to Mondays throughout the year, and on other days when cruise ships are moored.
Western Pacific Railroad Museum at Portola offers caboose rides behind diesel locomotives within the museum grounds on weekends during the summer. Rides are also offered on a few days in December when the museum is otherwise closed. Standard gauge.
X Wine Railroad Los Angeles or Burbank to Santa Barbara and return, about 100 miles (160 km) on the tracks of Union Pacific; a tour of wine producers in the Santa Barbara area is included. Standard gauge, diesel hauled in private cars attached to regular Amtrak services. Operates typically 1 or 2 days per year, or by private charter.
Western Railway Museum located at Rio Vista Junction, near Suisun. Historic electric interurban rides from the museum to Birds Landing Road, about 5½ miles (9 km). Standard gauge.
Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad Fish Camp to Sugar Pine, about 2 miles (3 km), 3ft (914 mm) gauge. Railcars operate daily in summer and on various days at other times of year, weather permitting. Steam trains operate daily in summer.

Back to Top

Railways Home

Railways of the World

Railways of the USA

Tourist & Museum Railways

Glyn Williams’ Home