Redwood Valley Railway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Redwood Valley Railway |
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Locomotive No. 7 "Oak" and passengers
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| Line length | 1.2 mi (1.9 km) |
| Track gauge | 15 in (381 mm) |
| Highest elevation | 497 m (1,631 ft) |
The Redwood Valley Railway is a fun miniature train ride located in Tilden Regional Park near Berkeley, California. It's a special kind of railway where the trains are smaller than regular ones, but still big enough for people to ride! The tracks are 15 in (381 mm) wide.
Contents
History of the Railway
The railway started way back in 1952. It was created by a person named Erich Thomsen. Back then, it was called the Tilden South Gate and Pacific Railway. The tracks were 12 in (305 mm) wide at first.
Erich Thomsen worked as an engineer for a big railroad company. He even had special inventions patented! The railway is built on land that used to be a place for anti-aircraft guns.
When the railway was first built, 800 redwood trees were planted. These trees are now very tall and grown up! In 1968, the railway changed its track size to 15 in (381 mm). This new size allowed two adults to sit side-by-side on the trains. It also made the trains look more like the narrow-gauge railroads from American history.
Some of the Redwood Valley Railway's locomotives have even traveled to England! They ran on other 15-inch gauge railways there. After Erich Thomsen passed away in 1995, his daughter Ellen took over running the railway.
How the Railway Operates
A ride on the Redwood Valley Railway lasts about 12 minutes. As of January 2023, a ticket costs $4.00 for anyone aged 2 or older. Younger children under 2 years old can ride for free. You can also buy a five-ride ticket for $16.
Train Schedule
The Redwood Valley Railway runs every Saturday and Sunday. It operates from 11 am to 6 pm all year round. During the winter, it closes at sundown if the weather is bad.
In the summer, from mid-June until Labor Day, the railway is open every day of the week. On weekdays, it runs from 11 am to 5 pm. On weekends, it runs from 11 am to 6 pm.
Special Events
The railway hosts a special event called the Anniversary Meet. This usually happens on the first full weekend in June. During this time, many of the railway's own locomotives are running. Sometimes, other special trains from different railways visit too!
Another fun event is "Winterfest," which usually takes place on the first and second weekends of December. The railway stays open after dark until 7 pm. You can experience the forest lit up with lights and enjoy a festive atmosphere. There are even themed areas about water and a special train with Father Solstice! Ticket prices for Winterfest are the same as regular days.
The Trains and Cars
The Redwood Valley Railway has different types of trains and cars.
Locomotives: The Engines
The railway has four steam locomotives. These are the engines that pull the trains using steam power. Erich Thomsen designed them, and they were built right there at the railway's Redwood Valley Shops. They look like real American trains built between 1875 and 1910.
The railway also has one diesel-hydraulic locomotive, which is engine number 2. This engine is mostly used for work trains, not for carrying passengers.
Here are some of the locomotives:
- Number 2 Juniper: This is a diesel-hydraulic engine. It's mainly used for railway work. It was rebuilt in 2008.
- Number 4 Laurel: This is a steam engine. It was built in 1965. It has a new boiler and tender tank.
- Number 11 Sequoia: This is a steam engine built in 1976. It started carrying passengers in 1978 and was rebuilt in 2018.
- Number 18 Anne: This engine was built in 2001 and was given to the railway in 2022. It's used for special events.
- Number 02: This is a small rail truck built in 1995.
Cars and Other Rolling Stock
The Redwood Valley Railway has 13 wooden gondola cars. These cars are like open wagons with seats for up to eight adults. They are the main cars used to carry passengers.
The railway also has three stock cars. These were built especially to carry passengers too. Kids often love riding in these! Even adults can fit comfortably inside.
Other equipment includes:
- A boxcar.
- Two convertible gondolas that can carry passengers or be used for maintenance work.
- 13 "jimmies," which are small four-wheel cars used for special maintenance jobs like welding or replacing ties.
- Four flatcars, which are open platforms used for carrying materials.
- A coal gondola, which used to carry extra coal for engine number 4. Now it holds folding chairs for events.
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A favorite car for everyone is the caboose! This small car rides at the very end of most passenger trains. It's designed like a real caboose from the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad.
Future Plans
The railway has plans for new trains and cars! Parts for two new steam engines, a 2-4-4 Forney and a 2-6-0, are ready to be put together. There are also plans for a second caboose. They even want to build a fancy business car with tiny furniture and wallpaper!
As of late 2024, the main parts for engine number 13, the 2-6-0, have been made and are at the railway.
Former Trains
The very first steam locomotive used when the railway opened in 1952 was Number 1 Cricket. It was a 12 in (305 mm)-gauge engine. This engine and some other 12-inch gauge cars were later sold to another railway in Folsom, California.
Storage Areas
The Redwood Valley Railway has three barns where they store cars when they are not being used. They also have a roundhouse, which is a special building for engines. It has a window where you can see the steam engines inside. There is also a tunnel that was meant for a new track, but it collapsed. Now, the tunnel is used to store four cars.
Images for kids
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Locomotive No. 5 "Fern"
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Locomotive No. 7 "Oak"
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