Nut Tree Railroad facts for kids

The Nut Tree Railroad is a fun mini-train ride located at the Nut Tree Plaza in Vacaville, California. It's a special part of the Nut Tree experience, offering rides to visitors of all ages.

History of the Nut Tree Train

The First Nut Tree Railroad

The Nut Tree Railroad began its journey in 1953. It was built to give rides to the many visitors of the famous Nut Tree Restaurant in Vacaville. Just two years later, in 1955, the train tracks were made longer. This new path allowed the train to travel all the way to the Nut Tree Airport. This way, pilots could easily get to and from the restaurant.

The main place to catch the train was at the Nut Tree Toy Shop. This is where people would buy their tickets before hopping aboard. Many famous people enjoyed rides on the Nut Tree train. These included Ronald Reagan, who later became a US President, actress Shirley Temple, actor Fred MacMurray, and California governor Pat Brown. Even champion boxer Max Baer and Bozo the Clown rode the train! After the tracks were extended in 1955, the train's route at the Nut Tree included a cool tunnel and a bridge.

Train Closure and Its Return

In 1996, the original Nut Tree property closed down. When this happened, the train, known as Engine Number 5, was driven into its tunnel and sealed inside. This was a sad time for many fans of the Nut Tree.

However, the City of Vacaville bought the train to make sure it would be saved. Many other buildings at the Nut Tree were torn down, but the city wanted to protect the train. When new companies wanted to buy the Nut Tree land, the city always had one important rule: the Nut Tree Railroad had to be reopened.

Finally, in 2006, a company called Snell & Co. reopened the railroad. It became part of the new Nut Tree Family Park. But in January 2009, the Family Park closed its doors again.

Good news came in July 2009 when another company, Westrust, bought the property. They brought the Nut Tree Railroad back to life! In August of that year, they also added a carousel and a children's park to the Nut Tree Plaza. Today, the Nut Tree Train is still giving rides. It even runs on an eco-friendly bio-diesel engine, which is better for the environment!

Images for kids

• 

  The Nut Tree Railroad train leaving the colorful Toy Shop on its way through the orchard to the Nut Tree Airport