Do you have a budding engineer, or simply a child with delight for all things locomotive? Here are some opportunities to indulge in those delights! For train information including where to view trains, local model railroads, train shows, museums, events and even songs, read on!

True Value Hardware in Orinda
Mini model trains that you can activate via buttons and a coin operated ride for kids with enhanced sound allows you to enjoy a good cup of coffee while your little one has 30 minutes of fun!

Tilden Park’s Steam Train
Operated by the Redwood Valley Railway is a perfect ride for the little ones.  The rides are about 12 minutes long, and take you along the scenic ridge on a scaled-down steam train. Open 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. weekends and holidays (except Thanksgiving and Christmas) year round, plus noon - 5:00 p.m. weekdays starting in June 18 through August 31.  $2 per ride, $8 for 5-ride family ticket, under 2 free. Check the website for the latest schedule and changes.  http://www.redwoodvalleyrailway.com   (510) 548-6100

Niles Canyon Railway
Offers rides plus a chance to enjoy the wildflowers.  Trains depart Sunol on one-hour long round-trip scenic rides every Sunday, April through September starting at 10:30 a.m. http://www.ncry.org/home.htm.  

Amtrak
Take a ride to Old Sacramento and view the California State Railroad Museum, or just hop up to Martinez to go play in the park by the rail station.  Amtrak trains have the whistle, conductor, and snack car to give you the all the wonders of a great train ride.  The Capitol corridor offers scenic views as you travel from Berkeley to Sacramento.  www.amtrak.com.

California State Railroad Museum 
Throughout the year, experience lavishly restored trains, engaging exhibits, and unique special events. Every weekend April-September, ride behind a steam locomotive on the Museum’s Sacramento Southern Railroad.  Railtown, the 1897 State Historic Park  located in Jamestown is home to one of America’s last authentic, operating railroad roundhouses.  http://www.csrmf.org/.

The Sierra Railroad (Oakdale)
Connects the central valley to Gold County. The train station in Oakdale is conveniently located 1+ hour from the San Francisco Bay Area or Sacramento, on the way toward Yosemite National Park.  209-848-2100 www.sierrarailroad.com.  

The Skunk Train (Fort Bragg) 
The trains pull covered cars as well as open observation cars – for a journey through redwoods and more. You will travel from the depot in Fort Bragg to the Northspur station.  866-45-SKUNK (457-5865) http://www.skunktrain.com.

The Sacramento River Train (Woodland) 
Offers visitors the unique opportunity to take a scenic ride through the Sacramento area on a real steam engine - along the Sacramento River, through beautiful orchards and across an old-fashioned wooden trestle bridge.  800-866-1690 www.sacramentorivertrain.com.

The Western Railway Museum (Suisun)
Gives visitors the opportunity to ride historic streetcars and interurban electric trains from all over California and other western states. Streetcars loop the shaded picnic grounds. Interurban cars run over the restored main line of the old Sacramento Northern Railway. With over 50 historic cars on display, railway exhibits and large, shaded picnic grounds, the Western Railway Museum will make for a fun family outing. Year Round: Sat. & Sun., 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Adults: $8; Children (2-14) $5. (707) 374-2978  www.wrm.org. 

Sonoma Train Town
Off Highway 12 in Sonoma offers a scale railroad with roundhouse. The steam train takes you around the town with a stop at the petting zoo. A great day adventure. Besides the train, Train Town offers other rides. www.traintown.com.

Roaring CampRailroads (Felton)
Holds a special event for all the Thomas and Friends fans: Day Out with Thomas. The event provides an opportunity for kids to ride on board a train pulled by Thomas and have their pictures taken with Sir Topham Hatt, the Controller of Thomas' Railway. Besides the train, the family can enjoy petting zoos, pony rides, face-painting and magic shows. www.roaringcamprr.com.

Model Railroads

Walnut Creek: http://www.wcmrs.org/ The Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society (WCMRS) operates the Diablo Valley Lines Railroad. This model railroad is HO scale and has standard gauge, narrow gauge, Alweg-style monorail, and interurban (overhead electric) freight and trolley lines.

Pt. Richmond: http://www.gsmrm.org/ If you are interestd in model railroads, check out the The Golden State Model Railroad Museum (GSMRM) consists of 10,000 square feet of O, HO and N scale model railroading, located in Point Richmond, California (just north of San Francisco, at the north end of the East Bay). Inside the Museum, you will find three large model railroads, constructed and operated by the East Bay Model Engineers Society (EBMES)

Train viewing

If you want to simply watch the trains go by, there are many locations that offer good vantage points: in Berkeley, anywhere along the 3rd or 4th street corridor, or Aquatic Park, or by the “Berkeley Station” allows a great view of the loud cars zooming by.  You can view all kinds of trains – passenger, freight, private cars and others.  These are also visible from the Emeryville Depot – by the Public Market – you can grab a bite to eat and watch for the trains to go by. Jack London square is also a great place for train viewing.  Some of the trains that go by can by seen on the internet at http://www.bayarearailroading.com/ .   The pictures and identification of a variety of trains that have been spotted in our neck of the woods is useful in case you need to have answers to “What kind of train is that, mamma?”

Train Events

Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society: www.wcmrs.org
Offers model train viewings for a fee typically the last Friday night of the month and a few weekends a year. Visit their website for a listing of event dates and times.

Day Out with Thomas - Felton, CA
Day Out with Thomas is an exciting way for children and grown-ups to enter the world of Thomas & Friends. The event provides an opportunity for kids to ride on board a train pulled by Thomas and have their pictures taken with Sir Topham Hatt, the Controller of Thomas' Railway.

Each of the events offers visitors a fresh and unique experience that distinguishes host U.S. railroads. Different forms of entertainment - from petting zoos and pony rides to face-painting and magic shows - make each Day Out with Thomas event special. In addition, every location includes a special viewing station for Thomas & Friends videos, story time and temporary tattoos of the Island of Sodor friends. At the Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton, CA. For schedule of events, visit www.roaringcamprr.com.

Great American Train Show - San Jose and Pleasanton
For a schedule of events, visit www.gats.com.

Great Western Train Show - San Rafael
For a schedule of events, visit www.greatwesterntrainshow.com.

Train Songs

So a train trip is not on plans immediately?  You can still get in the mood by singing some favorite train songs: http://www.maplestreetmusic.com/Westerns/iron-horse.htm; or http://www.trainsinger.com/train/songs.html.

As always, please contact the facility before going, as the information may change!

Did we miss one? Let us know!