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California Train Rides and Excursion Trains

It's probably no surprise that there are such a large number of California train rides to choose from given the size of the state and its history with railroads. If you love excursion trains the state offers a lot of different options from the ultra-luxurious Napa Valley Wine Train to the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad and California State Railroad Museum, which showcase historic steam locomotives pulling their trains. Of note, California is also home to several railroad museums. Finally, the information included here highlights all of the state's tourist line currently operating, providing a brief description of them along with their contact and website information.

Per capita, California train rides offer perhaps the most luxury of any other state. Most excursions include some kind of first class accommodations and many offer the option of dinner trains. The Napa Valley Wine Train, mentioned above, likely provides the best dinner train service anywhere in the country using restored streamlined equipment that features a five star restaurant atmosphere and overall dining experience. Naturally, it is a bit expensive but well worth the price if one can afford it. You can also find Rails Journey West located in California, which is not so much an excursion train as it is a private rail car service for those who would like to ride aboard Amtrak in complete privacy. It is another quite pricey proposition but offers an unforgettable journey by rail. And finally, you have your choice of trolley rides offer by organizations like the Orange Empire Railway Museum and California Trolley & Railroad Corporation.

California Train Rides And Excursion Trains

California State Railroad Museum

The California State Railroad Museum offers steam powered excursion trips using an 0-6-0 steam locomotive. It operates April through September on Saturday and Sunday every hour while the museum is open and features a six-mile round trip that follows the Sacramento River. For more information about riding the trolley please visit their website by clicking here.

California Trolley & Railroad Corporation

This railroad museum looks to preserve the history of rail transportation in the the Santa Clara Valley. They also hope to soon open a small section of interurban trackage for their trolley at their property in Santa Clara. For more information please visit their website by clicking here.

California Western Railroad

The famed Skunk Train, one of the most popular California train trains is located in the northern region of the state between Fort Bragg and Willits. The tourist railroad operates both steam and diesel locomotives to power their trains, which run year-round. For more information please visit their website by clicking here.

Fillmore & Western Railroad

Located in Fillmore, California just up the coast from Los Angeles the Fillmore & Western Railroad offers numerous different train rides to choose from, including dinner trains and murder mystery specials. The railroad is perhaps best known for being the location of many films. For more information please visit their website by clicking here.

Napa Valley Wine Train

One of the most popular excursion trains operating anywhere in the country and perhaps offering the best dinner train experience you can enjoy the Wine Train features a wide range of dinner options (including wine) aboard their train which operates through the beautiful Napa Valley region. For more information please visit their website by clicking here.

Nevada County Traction Company

Once a week the narrow-gauge Nevada County Traction Company excursion train offers a barbecue dinner and live entertainment along its property in San Jose. For more information please visit their website by clicking here.

Niles Canyon Railway

The Niles Canyon Railway features a number of different train rides on its 1 hour, 15 minute round trips, which highlights both steam and diesel locomotives used for power. For more information please visit their website by clicking here.

Orange Empire Railway Museum

This railroad museum offers several excursion trains to choose from including steam powered trains and trolleys (you can also operate a diesel locomotive), which operate along their 1.5 mile system. For more information please visit their website by clicking here.

Pacific Southwest Railway Museum

Every month but December the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum offers at least one of its many excursion options along its 16-mile round trip railroad near Campo, California. For more information please visit their website by clicking here.

Port of Los Angeles Waterfront Red Car Line

As its name implies the Red Car Line operates along the Port's waterfront on a former stretch of the once vast Pacific Electric Railway's interurban operations in the city and surrounding region. For more information about riding the trolley please visit their website by clicking here.

Poway-Midland Railroad

Located in Poway the Poway-Midland Railroad operates on a half-mile of track in the city's park using a standard-gauge 0-4-0 steam locomotive and trolley car. For more information about riding the trolley please visit their website by clicking here.

Rails Journey West

Less of a true tourist railroad, Rail Journeys West offers private rail car services if you plan to travel by train (i.e., such as via Amtrak). This service truly hearkens back to the "Golden Age" of rail travel with full meals provided as well as entertainment. For more information please visit their website by clicking here.

Roaring Camp Railroads

Owned and operated by the same organization that operates the Skunk Train the Roaring Camp operates a number of different trains including a beach train and forest train. Also, throughout the year the railroad operates special dinner trains that feature entertainment. For more information please visit their website by clicking here.

Sierra Railroad

Also operated by the same organization that owns the Skunk Train and Roaring Camp the Sierra Railroad offers their Sierra Railroad Dinner Train, which features both dinner and entertainment. For more information please visit their website by clicking here.

Western Railway Museum

The Western Railway Museum operates trolley service on a former segment of the Sacramento Northern Railway's main line located near Suisun City. For more information please visit their website by clicking here.

Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad

A narrow-gauge operation that uses four miles of ex-Madera Sugar Pine Lumber Company property this tourist railroad still uses two Shay steam locomotives. Also, during select times throughout the operating season the railroad operates specials known as the Moonlight Special, which feature dinner and entertainment. For more information please visit their website by clicking here.

Please Click Here To Return To The Main Tourist Railroads Section

If you may be interested in learning a little more about the state's history with trains please click here. For more information about California train rides you might want to consider the book Tourist Trains Guidebook, which is put together by the editors of Kalmbach Publishing's Trains magazine. The guide below is the latest, released in just April, 2011 that now includes more than 470 museums and tourist trains (it also lists all of Alabama's rail museums). In any event, if you're interested in perhaps purchasing this book please visit the link below which will take you to ordering information through Amazon.com, the trusted online shopping network.

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