california tourist railroads

THE 10 BEST California Scenic Railroads

Scenic railroads in california.

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1. Wild West Day Trip to Virginia City from Tahoe with Train Ride

2. Skunk Train: Wolf Tree Turn from Willits

3. Santa Barbara 1-Day via Amtrak Starlight Coastal&car tour from LA

4. Skunk Train: Pudding Creek Express from Fort Bragg

5. Central Downtown LA Tour

6. San Francisco City Half-Day Private Custom Tour

7. California Coast Big Sur Monterey to Los Angeles - 2 Day

8. Private Elegant & Sophisticated Wine Food Pairing Experience from San Francisco

9. LA in a Day Tour: Hollywood, DTLA & Santa Monica

10. Reel to Real Los Angeles: Hollywood & DTLA Tour

11. Yosemite and Glacier Point Tour from San Francisco by Amtrak

12. Private Napa Wine Train Glamorous Dining Experience from San Francisco

13. Napa Valley Wine Train Tour Glamorous Dining Experience

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Want a Relaxing Alternative to a California Road Trip? Hop on a Train.

From rides through redwood forests to wine country, these train trips through california offer plenty of adventure..

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The Pacific Surfliner takes travelers 351 miles along the California coast, but other trains explore different parts of the state.

Photo by Cory Woodruff/Shutterstock

With a coastline over 1,000 miles long north to south, California is an enormous and geographically diverse state, well known for scenic road trips . But consider exploring the state in a different way to remove the stress of potential gridlock in car traffic and gain a novel perspective: by train .

The state’s railroad offerings include historic journeys through redwood forests, luxurious wine trains, and Amtrak routes along the vibrant Pacific coastline and beyond. Here are five of the most scenic train rides to take in California.

1. Pacific Surfliner

• Where: San Diego to San Luis Obispo

Amtrak’s iconic Pacific Surfliner offers a 351-mile trip through San Diego , Orange, Los Angeles , Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties, with stretches of the route abutting the Pacific coastline in Southern California.

Head from San Diego through Anaheim (a useful port of call for Disneyland), then up through L.A.’s historic and lively downtown environment. Next is Santa Barbara—the so-called American Riviera for its coastal views, fine wines, and film festivals. The end of the line to the north is San Luis Obispo, known for outdoor activities, farm-to-table dining, and world-class wineries.

How to do it

• Book a trip: pacificsurfliner.com

The Pacific Surfliner route offers five daily round-trip services between Santa Barbara and San Diego, and 13 between San Diego and Los Angeles. Prices start at $16 for a single leg of the journey. Many stations are within walking distance of key attractions; various transit providers also offer free bus connections to Pacific Surfliner passengers .

Extend the trip with a longer stay in downtown Los Angeles, which has abundant hotel options, including the historic Hotel Figueroa , one of the city’s oldest; it opened nearly a century ago as lodging for professional women travelers, a rarity for the era. The Spanish adobe-style building has 268 rooms and suites and offers a lively, creative scene with top-notch food and drink outlets.

2. Coast Starlight

• Where: San Diego to Seattle

Up for a long haul on Amtrak? Take the famous Coast Starlight all the way through California (with the possibility of continuing to Oregon and Washington). The entire 35-hour route goes from Los Angeles to Seattle with views of snow-peaked mountains, green forests and valleys, and stretches of the Pacific Ocean, too. It’s widely considered one of the most beautiful train trips in the country.

• Book a trip: amtrak.com/coast-starlight-train

Travel the entire route, and the Coast Starlight will be a starting cost of about $100 to $150, or closer to $200 for a business-class seat. There’s also the option to sleep aboard, with the cost of a roomette about $700, or a family room about $1,300—which includes meals, water, and coffee.

3. Napa Valley Wine Train

• Where: Napa Valley

Visiting California’s wineries in Napa can be a nuisance and potential hazard by car. Instead, hop aboard the private Napa Valley Wine train , a 36-mile winetasting loop with wine and artisanal food cooked to order on board.

The train includes vintage Pullman rail cars restored with mahogany paneling, brass accents, etched glass partitions, and posh armchair seating that evokes the glamorous rail travel of the Gilded Age.

• Book a trip: winetrain.com

Choose from three- or six-hour daytime journeys or a two-hour dinner ride. The new “Tasting on the Rails” trip launches in May, with tickets starting at $395. The experience will include a three-hour journey aboard the 1915 Pullman Lounge car, complete with an observation platform exclusive to guests of this experience, as well as a seven-course meal and seven wine pairings from the valley.

The wine train is located in downtown Napa , which is only a 15-minute walk from the Andaz Napa . The Hyatt property offers 141 guest rooms, with hardwood hickory floors and midcentury furnishings. The hotel bar, the Mercantile Terrace, has a bar menu and firepits with a convivial atmosphere.

The Skunk Train offers two journeys year-round: the Wolf Tree Turn and and Pudding Creek Express.

Photo by photosgenius/Shutterstock

4. Skunk Train

• Where: Mendocino

This train goes back to the 1880s, when it ran along the Fort Bragg Railroad to make transporting lumber easier in Northern California’s Mendocino County . That was the genesis of what is now commonly known as the Skunk Train (for the pungent fumes it once emitted). Now, it offers dreamy rides through the majestic redwoods with a heavy dose of nostalgia; the views have remained largely unchanged since its original days.

• Book a trip: skunktrain.com

The train offers an array of trips starting at $50. The seven-mile round-trip Pudding Express departs from the Fort Bragg depot and runs along the estuary of the same name, where blue herons, ospreys, egrets, and more wildlife all make their homes.

Or spend a unique day on the tracks by railbike: These are nearly silent, electric-powered two-person railbikes that breeze along the serene track. Prices start at $265 per bike.

5. River Fox Train

• Where: Sacramento

Originally built in 1911 by Northern Electric Co., the River Fox Train now offers an opportunity for visitors to explore the Sacramento River along a 10-mile stretch of track through Yolo County’s countryside. Theme rides range from beer and wine experiences to murder mystery trips to holiday excursions. Think riverfront views and ivy-draped woodlands. And like its sister Skunk Train in Mendocino County, this track also offers the whimsical railbike experience.

• Book a trip: riverfoxtrain.com

Prices for the train start at $59 for adults and $29 for kids. Railbikes start at $109, which covers two riders midweek. The train boards in West Sacramento. Make a trip of it with a stay at the Citizen Hotel in Sacramento, with curated political art throughout and architecture from George Selland, the first state architect of California.

A Complete Guide to Train Travel in California

The romance and convenience of train travel is something that countries throughout Europe and Asia have embraced with open arms. Trains are easy to navigate, budget-friendly, space-saving, and are oftentimes safer than driving. Plus, it sure beats having to keep your eyes on the road while venturing up the beautiful California coast.

Perhaps the best part? Trains are much better for the environment than flying or driving. Amtrak trains, for example, are 47 percent more energy efficient than traveling by car and 36 percent more efficient than domestic air travel. Trains can move a larger number of people at once than cars can, which means they produce less CO2, lower pollution levels, and healthier air quality. Win, win, win.

So, what are you waiting for? TripSavvy rounded up some of the best train routes in California to supplement your staycation, road trip, or domestic travel plans.

Coast Starlight

Amtrak’s Coast Starlight train is considered by many to be one of the most scenic train tours on the west coast, passing through spectacular cities like San Francisco, Santa Barbara, and Portland. Passengers have the opportunity to pass by each climate that California is famous for, from snowy Mount Shasta to the coast of the Pacific Ocean and everything in between. If you choose to travel the Coast Starlight, you’ll get to enjoy an onboard theater and arcade room to help pass the time (or if you need a break from the scenic views) and sleeper car passengers even have access to local wine and cheese tastings in the Parlour Car. It’s about as California as it gets.

The route takes passengers on a journey from Los Angeles to Seattle, stopping in Sacramento and Portland along the way. The whole trip takes about 35 hours start to finish and the train departs daily, with different accommodations to fit different travel styles and budgets. Choose from Roomettes with two seats that fold up into bunk-style cots at night and a private restroom with shower; a Bedroom with twice the space; an even bigger Bedroom Suite; and a Family Bedroom with room for two adults and two children. Private rooms get priority boarding, a dedicated Sleeping Car attendant, access to the train lounge, and complimentary meals included. For guests traveling with a disability, the train has several Accessible Bedrooms located on the entry level with space for a wheelchair and two adults.

Coach passengers will still enjoy roomy, comfortable seats with much more legroom than a plane or car, and Business Class guests receive an onboard credit for food or drinks and a fully refundable ticket.

Pacific Surfliner

The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner serves stations on the southern side of the state. The route hugs the coast the whole way, stopping in 27 stations along 351 miles throughout San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obisbo counties. Once the train reaches the far north, passengers can go even further using the supplementary thruway bus systems.

Unlike the Starlight, the Pacific Surfliner doesn’t include any sleeper trains, making it more of a day trip type of train. Passengers still get comfy reclining seats with power outlets, free Wi-Fi, restrooms, bike and luggage racks, and massive windows to enjoy the views of the sea as it whips by. There’s also an onboard cafe with fresh food, snacks, and drinks.

Coach tickets are unreserved, so you can ride any Pacific Surfliner train from the origin station to the destination station listed on the ticket, making it a bit more flexible should travelers miss a train or if travel plans change. Business Class tickets offer guaranteed seating and a few other perks like more legroom and complimentary snacks, but advance reservations are required.

Amtrak San Joaquins

With 135 destinations to choose from, 365 miles of track, 18 stations, and over a million riders every year, the Amtrak San Joaquins offers a connection to the Central Valley and popular spots like Yosemite National Park. There are seven daily round trips featured on this train, five between the cities of Oakland and Bakersfield, and two between Sacramento and Bakersfield. The extensive Thruway Bus network can even take passengers as far as Las Vegas or Napa, and the train connects directly to BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) at the Richmond Station.

Some of the more scenic highlights of this route include the section between Stockton and Oakland with views of the Delta and the Bay, between Lodi and Sacramento through vineyards, and between Merced and Fresno with views of the sierras and Central California farmland.

There is free Wi-Fi available onboard as well as a cafe car for food and drink purchases. Keep in mind that this route has a lot of stops, and can get pretty crowded. Also, Amtrak San Joaquins doesn’t offer a Business Class ticket selection, so reserving seats isn’t possible.

Caltrain is a Northern California commuter rail line that services the San Francisco Peninsula and Santa Clara Valley. Because it is a commuter train and pretty casual, it is much cheaper than Amtrak, and will take you further than the BART and MUNI public transportation networks that mostly cater to the Bay Area regionally. It runs from the ballpark in San Francisco south through San Jose, Silicon Valley, and ends in Gilroy. It serves dozens of stations, but unfortunately doesn’t connect riders to the heart of San Francisco (you’ll need more local public transportation for that).

Similar to Caltrain, Metrolink offers services on a smaller scale, covering the Southern California regions connecting Los Angeles, Ventura County, Antelope Valley, San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange County, and the Inland Empire. Metrolink has a $10 Weekend Day Pass that is good for unlimited system wide travel either Saturday or Sunday (perfect for that Disneyland vacation) and a five day flex pass that gives riders 10 percent off. The company recently installed brand new ticket machines located at each station, but tickets can also be purchased through a mobile app.

Seats for both Caltrain and Metrolink commuter trains aren’t assigned, and are much smaller than the long-distance train, similar to city-wide public transportation or subways.

Napa Valley Wine Train

If the thought of traveling by train didn’t give you enough of a European feel, try throwing in the Mediterranean-esque views of the Napa Valley along with it. The Napa Valley Wine Train has been a must-do staple of Napa tourism for years thanks to its gourmet cuisine and world-class wine. The train cars are made up of restored vintage Pullman cars from the early 20th century and the decor is an homage to the glory days of luxury train travel with all its mahogany paneling, brass accents, etched glass partitions, and intimate seating.

The Wine Train isn’t so much about the destination as it is about the journey, since the track is a fairly short 36-mile loop starting and ending in the small town of St. Helena. Tour options range from 2-3 hour journeys complete with a four-course meal to full or half-day trips that last for 3 to 6 hours and include wine tastings at some of Napa Valley’s most famous wineries. You’re paying for the ride, but also for the food or wine along with it, so save this train ride for a special occasion.

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25 Places To Ride Trains in Northern California

by DayTrippen

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Enjoy our list of exciting list of train rides in Northern California. The list includes tourist railroads, dinner train rides, steam train excursions, kids trains, and railway museums that offer train rides. We might have missed out on some Northern California train rides. If you know of any, big or small, please let us know so we can add them to the list.

Northern California Train Rides

Napa Valley Wine Train

The Napa Valley Wine Train runs along a line built in 1847 to take visitors to the Calistoga resort. Today, the train runs as far as St. Helena and is rated one of the top twenty rail journeys in the world. Travelers view the vineyards while riding in vintage 1915-1947 Pullman Dining, Lounge, or Vista Dome cars.

Sonoma Train Town

Parents and grandparents will appreciate the budget-friendly prices while the kids revel in the carnival-like atmosphere. There is a small fee for park rides and train tickets but no general admission fee for visitors who prefer to keep their feet on the ground and skip the rides.

Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad

The railroad track is about a mile long, and rides last about eight minutes. Adults can relax and enjoy the nostalgia while children ooh and aah as the locomotives pass over the bridge at Los Gatos Creek and continue adjoining Vasona Park.

Skunk Train-Fort Bragg

The train trip from Fort Bragg is called the Pudding Creek Express and is a seven-mile round trip.  The Willits train is called the Wolf Tree Run and is a 2-hour round trip. Passengers enjoy beautiful Northern California scenery with views of redwood trees and the Noyo River.

Niles Canyon Railway

Historic Niles Canyon Railway runs from Sunol to Niles and back, offering departures and arrivals from both towns on most Sundays throughout the year. The Pacific Locomotive Association has railroad equipment on display and alternates between steam and diesel locomotives on Sunday runs.

Redwood Valley Steam Train

The Redwood Valley Steam Train has been operating within Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley for more than fifty years. It’s a fully operational miniature railway with a fleet of replicas of significant steam engines from the past. The railroad has one and a quarter miles of track to run these trains.

Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad

The Sacramento Valley Railroad offers train and motorcar rides along a section of Southern Pacific’s Placerville Branch railroad right-of-way. Rides last 30 to 45 minutes and feature scenic views of the Sacramento Valley.

Oakland Zoo Train

Experience a unique adventure at the zoo by hopping on the “Outback Express Adventure Train.” This exciting train ride takes you through the “Wild Australia” exhibit, where you can observe several emus and wallabies native to the Australian outback. The train ride is the only way to see these animals in the zoo, so don’t miss out on this opportunity!

Folsom City Zoo Train

Folsom Valley Railway is adjacent to the zoo and is a perfect place to end your day trip. This fun little train is the only 12-inch gauge railroad in the United States. A miniature steam engine pulls open-air rail cars along with a mile-long track.

Nevada City Railroad Museum

This narrow-gauge railroad is a sight to behold for model railroad fans. It’s well maintained by volunteers who strive to preserve rail history in this area. See a fantastic display of rolling stock, tunnels, buildings, and more. Train rides on select weekends during the summer season. Seasonal events year-round.

Western Railway Museum

Western Railway Museum allows visitors to ride historic streetcars and interurban electric trains from 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.

Northern California Train Rides San Jose Trolley

San Jose used to have a vast electric trolley car system with 130 miles of track. By 1938, the streetcars were replaced by automobiles and buses. Today, visitors to San Jose’s Kelley Park can ride restored trolley cars on most weekends. Tracks run from the trolley barn through the park to Happy Hollow Park and Zoo.

Yosemite Sugar Pine Railroad

Yosemite Sugar Pine Railroad is an exciting 4-mile railroad excursion at Yosemite Park’s south gate on Highway 41. Ride into history where powerful locomotives hauled massive log trains through the Sierra Mountains.

San Francisco Zoo Little Puffer

San Francisco Zoo’s little puffer train is older than the zoo itself. It started as a tourist train along the beach in Santa Cruz in 1907.  In 1925, the little puffer started a 50-year run shuttling guests around the zoo. The train was retired in 1978 and returned to service at the zoo in 1997.

Sacramento River Fox Train

The Sacramento River Fox Train runs from West Sacramento 10 miles to the outskirts of Woodland and back. The Train starts at the edge of the Sacramento River and then travels through fertile farmland for five miles before it reverses back to the train depot.

Roaring Camps Railway

Roaring Camp’s steam engine collection is among America’s oldest and most accurately preserved regularly scheduled passenger service trains. Roaring Camp offers two different tours to suit your tastes. The Roaring Camp & Big Trees is a steam-powered narrow-gauge line using Shay and Heisler locomotives.

Jamestown 1897 Park

Jamestown 1897 State Historical Park’s one-of-a-kind experience affords visitors a unique understanding of jumping aboard authentic steam and diesel locomotives. Ride in vintage passenger coaches on a six-mile, 40-minute round-trip ride through the scenic Sierra Nevada foothills.

Gilroy Family Gardens Train

Bonfante Railroad at Gilroy Family Gardens is a narrow-gauge railroad pulled by a 1/3 scale replica of an 1863 C.P. Huntington steam locomotive. The stops at two stations as it circles the theme park. Highlights of this train trip include the greenhouse, a tunnel, a waterfall, and a bridge.

Shadowbrook Restaurant Capitola

Shadowbrook features an inclined elevator that takes guests from the parking lot to the dining room adjacent to Soquel Creek. Riding the funicular railway is a fun start for an evening of dining at the historic Shadowbrook Restaurant.

Casa de Fruta Train

Casa de Fruta’s Narrow Gauge Railroad runs on a two-mile-long track adjacent to Pacheco Creek.  This little train trip is extensive for a miniature train and lasts about 20 minutes. Casa de Fruta also features a carousel and a kind of playground. And, of course, there is the original fruit stand and a 24-hour restaurant on the premises. 10021 Pacheco Pass Hwy, Hollister, CA 95023

Northern California Train Rides Cover Apple Ranch

Cover’s Apple Ranch Narrow Gauge Railroad traveled past a pond and threw two tunnels around the ranch.  Trains run on Saturday only along the 1,800-foot track and cost only $2.00 per person: cover Apple Ranch 19211 Cherokee Rd Tuolumne, CA 95379.

Pixie Express Train

Pixie Express is one of three rides at Pixie Woods Children’s Park in Stockton. This fun little train travels through Pixie Forest,  past Frontier Town, and around the park’s lagoon. Rides on the train only cost a few dollars. If you live in the area, you can buy a season pass and ride all day.

Swanton Pacific Railroad

Swanton Pacific Railroad features one-third-scale steam locomotives from the 1915 San Francisco Panama-Pacific International Exposition. The museum is open twice each year for special event days. They also host private events. Swanton Pacific Ranch is located in Santa Cruz County and is owned by Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

Timber Heritage Association Eureka

Timber Heritage Association offers speeder rides on the fourth Saturday of June, July, August, and September.  This scenic four-mile round-trip ride runs along  Humboldt Bay to Manila. The speeder is run along Waterfront Drive in Old Town Eureka on special occasions. The association houses its collection at the historic Roundhouse in Samoa, California.

Howarth Park Train Santa Rosa

Howarth Park is a 138-acre community park in Santa Rosa , California. The park features an excellent fishing lake, a small amusement area with a carousel, an animal farm, pony rides, and a miniature train. The train takes visitors on a quarter-mile ride with a tunnel and a bridge. There is a small fee to ride the train—kids 12 and under ride for free with an adult.

Closed but not forgotten  The Sierra Railroad ,  the third oldest railroad in North America

More Places to Ride Trains

Southern California Train Ride s – Nevada Train Rides

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The Ultimate California Train Trip To Plan Now

From railroad museums to scenic rides on the Pacific Surfliner, your dream California train trip is awaiting. It's time to explore.

April 07, 2021

Train rides are for people who value the journey as much as the destination. Trains aren’t the first thing to come to mind when you’re thinking of the Golden State. But, you’d be surprised to see how prevalent they used to be. From railroad museums to scenic rides on the Pacific Surfliner , a California train trip boasts plenty to see.  

California trains and railroad museums

Trains and California share a rich past. Whether you’re a history buff, railfan, or just out to explore California, these rides and museums are must-adds to your list. Take a spontaneous ride, explore the Golden State, and learn unexpected truths about its history. 

Can't-Miss California train rides

Train to San Diego

If you haven’t tried it yet, the best train to San Diego is the Pacific Surfliner . This train ride in California covers a lot of ground. It goes all the way from San Luis Obispo through Santa Barbara and L.A. down towards San Diego. If you’d like to get off on the way and explore the shores on your surfboard, you’re more than welcome.

The Surfliner has special racks to hold boards and bikes. You’ll also find plenty of noteworthy attractions along the way. Make sure to plan enough time to explore between each stop on this California train trip.

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Train from San Diego to L.A.

Leaving the coast of one sunny southern California metropolis for another is made easy thanks to the Pacific Surfliner. Most trains from San Diego to L.A. take about three hours, and rides are serviced throughout the day offering flexibility. Select a window seat and take in the striking views of the Pacific.

Train from L.A. to Santa Barbara

Continue your Surfliner trip from L.A. to Santa Barbara. You won’t have to change tracks—Amtrak operates a ride from Los Angeles Union Station to Santa Barbara Amtrak Station five to six times a day. You’ll have fantastic views of the West Coast on your journey and will arrive in less than three hours.

Skunk train Mendocino

Stepping back in time on the Skunk Train is one of the best things to do in the state. The Skunk Train in California takes you on a magical journey—you’ll spot towering redwoods, scenic bridges, and spectacular tunnels. The final destination? The heart of Noyo River Canyon.

Built in 1885, the Skunk Train was meant to transport redwood logs from the rugged countryside to the coast. To this day, the route remains largely unchanged. Riding this California rail is an annual tradition for many families. On special occasions, you even get themed seasonal rides. The Easter Express , Autumn Pumpkin Express , and the Magical Christmas Train are the best ones yet. These seasonal rides feature decked-out interiors and fun activities for everyone on the Skunk Train in California.

Train to San Francisco

You have plenty of options when it comes to hopping on a train to and from the City by the Bay. Depending on your destination, scenery of choice, and allocated time, trains to San Francisco are aplenty. 

To travel along some of the most spectacular scenery in the country, book a seat on the California Zephyr . Your journey begins from the Bay Area and goes towards Reno, Salt Lake City, Denver, and Chicago. Had more of a Los Angeles to San Francisco train ride in mind? The Coast Starlight is your go-to ride.

Train from San Jose to San Francisco

A complete Northern California train trip isn’t a fantasy, but a possibility. Hop aboard the Capitol Corridor to discover Auburn, Sacramento, San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose. Providing up to 32 daily train rides, this train from San Jose to San Francisco is convenient, affordable, and frequent. Whether you ride the entirety of this California train trip or just one portion (maybe the train from Sacramento to San Francisco ), you’ll love the adventure.

California railroad museums

Southern california railway museum.

Location : 2201 South A Street, Perris

The Southern California Railway Museum focuses on the area’s railroad history. This museum has the largest collection of Pacific Electric Railway rolling stock in the world. A significant portion of it was rescued from scrap yards after the discontinuation of operations. The railroad museum houses a large collection of historical locomotives, railcars, trolleys, model trains, and a three-foot gauge. Take a California train ride on an operating trolley every Saturday and Sunday at the museum.

Parking and admission to the museum are free year-round except for special events. Tours of the grounds, static exhibits, and shops can also be self-guided. There’s a picnic area near the main entrance, as well as an interactive railroad signal garden on site.

Train museums in Los Angeles

Los angeles live steamers railroad museum.

Location : 5202 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles

Located in Griffith Park, the Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum is a non-profit museum founded in 1956. Live steam enthusiasts established the museum to educate the public about railroad history. The founders also wanted to promote live steam and scale model railroad technology in L.A. 

This train museum in Los Angeles operates a stationary 19th-century steam plant. The plant runs every third Sunday with a variety of vintage restored steam appliances. Almost everything you see at the museum—tunnels, bridges, tracks, switches, buildings—are built by members of the non-profit.

San Diego train museum

San Diego Model Railroad Museum

Location : 1649 El Prado, San Diego

This San Diego train museum is definitely one worth visiting. Out of all the inspiring museums in the city , the San Diego Model Railroad Museum is among the most interesting. Upon visiting, you’ll come across miniature constructions of California railroads at every corner. 

San Diego’s train museum boasts the largest indoor exhibit of its kind in North America. With 27,000 square feet of space, the museum holds five large-scale model layouts depicting railroads of the Southwest. Not only does the museum collect exhibits, but it also preserves the heritage of American railroading. This California railroad museum is where people discover their love for trains and engineering. 

Sacramento train museum

California State Railroad Museum

Location : 125 I Street, Sacramento

Boasting over two and a half acres of exhibits, the California State Railroad Museum offers a deep dive into the rail history of the region. You’ll find the place filled with countless trains. The museum features a store, library, passenger station, and an authentic excursion train ride. 

This Sacramento train museum is one of the biggest draws for tourists in the region. The collection contains 19 steam locomotives from 1862 to 1944. The museum’s trains illustrate the development of steam technology from its early years to its climax in the 1940s.

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California State Railroad Museum Point of Interest

• GETTING HERE
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Phone Number

(916) 323-9280

Museum Hours:  10:00 am - 5:00 pm Tickets sold until 4:30 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day Train Operating Hours:  Departures run April through September from the Central Pacific Passenger Station at Front & “K” Streets. Visit the  Excursion Train Ride page  for the up-to-date schedule.

Dogs Allowed?

Yes Dogs allowed in exterior portions of railroad displays only. Services animals are allowed in the Museum and on excursion trains.

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Driving Directions to California State Railroad Museum

Other reservations are available for Adult Group Tours and School Field Trips.

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The California State Railroad Museum (CSRM) in Old Sacramento is the world-class tribute to the role of the "iron horse" in connecting California to the rest of the nation. The museum features restored locomotives and cars, some dating back to 1862. Immerse yourself in the 1860s construction of the Transcontinental Railroad high in the Sierra Nevada. Explore how railroads played a key role in the development of California and shaped people’s lives, the economy, and the unique culture of the West.

California State Railroad Museum Excursion Trains run from April through September and select dates from October through December. Climb aboard the Museum’s Sacramento Southern Railroad and enjoy a relaxing 50-minute roundtrip ride along the Sacramento River. Experience the sights, smells, and sounds of a historic steam or diesel locomotive as it pulls vintage passenger coaches and converted freight cars.

Excursion Trains depart from our reconstructed Central Pacific Passenger Station. Excursion train tickets are $15 adults, $8 youths (ages 6-17), ages 5 and under ride free. For the up-to-date schedule or for more information, please visit the California State Railroad Museum Foundation (CSRMF) Excursion Train Rides page .

Information Links

California State Railroad Museum Foundation Old Sacramento SHP

Location and Parking

Events and Education

We offer special events at the California State Railroad Museum in coordination with our non-profit partner, the California State Railroad Museum Foundation (CSRMF). Numerous engaging interpretive programs are available. Please visit the CSRMF website to learn more about the Museum’s school programs, digital exhibits, podcasts, and more.

Seasons/Climate/Recommended Clothing

Summer and spring are warm; fall and winter can be cool. We advise layered clothing. The interior of the museum is climate-controlled, but exterior displays and excursion trains are subject to the weather.

Photography

We welcome photography for personal use and handheld flash is allowed.

Tripods and free-standing flash are not permitted for safety reasons. Commercial photography is allowed on a case-by-case basis with advance arrangement. Visit www.film.ca.gov for more information.

C. P. Huntington, Southern Pacific Railroad Steam Locomotive No. 1, at the California State Railroad Museum

Niles Canyon Railway

A railroad museum where the exhibits come to life!

Museum collaboration featured on local news

Our recent collaboration with the Knight Foundry to have them cast some new brake shoes for our steam locomotive, Clover Valley Lumber Co. #4, along with some other parts for the restoration of Southern Pacific steam locomotive was recently featured on a piece by Joe Rosato Jr of NBC Bay Area.

Come Celebrate 100 Years of Service…

The Niles Canyon Railway (NCRy) will host a special birthday celebration to commemorate 100 years of service of its restored and operating steam locomotive, Clover Valley Lumber Co. #4 on Saturday March 2, 2024 starting at 10:30AM. The locomotive has served most of its life working in the state of California and has been part of the museum’s collection since 1973; just over one half of its life after being built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, PA in March of 1924.  

Museum helping museum…

Operating historical railroad equipment comes with many complications; one being the availability or lack thereof of spare and consumable parts like cast iron brake shoes for steam engines. With members that volunteer at both museums, a wonderful collaboration between our Niles Canyon Railway and the Knight Foundry in Sutter Creek, CA, came to being.

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Excursion Trains Are Back!

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Our Lives Are Made of Railroad Stories

The California State Railroad Museum — your Museum — is the keeper of stories. Together, we collect them, we preserve them, and we tell them.

Help us protect our future by supporting the history of Sacramento’s treasure, the biggest draw for visitors in our region, The California State Railroad Museum. All of the businesses in the community are raised if we are successful. People come from all over the world to visit our museum and ride our trains along the Sacramento River.

We want to be ready to celebrate as a community as soon as this pandemic has subsided. Every. Gift. Counts. Now more than ever, our community deserves a reason to feel good. With your help, we will be ready. Please give whatever you can today.

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• Thomas The Train

"Day Out With Thomas" Train Rides In California (2024)

Last revised: December 4, 2023

By:  Adam Burns

Day Out With Thomas is a popular train ride experience that takes place at various locations around the world. This family-friendly event offers children and their families the chance to ride on a real-life Thomas the Tank Engine train, meet their favorite characters from the show, and take part in fun activities and games.

There are two locations in California hosting this event for the kids; the Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton and the Southern California Railway Museum in Perris.

The Day Out With Thomas train rides are typically offered on weekends and during school holidays, and they often sell out quickly. Families are encouraged to book their tickets in advance to ensure that they can secure a spot on the train.

Once families arrive at the train station, they are greeted by Thomas the Tank Engine himself, along with other characters from the show like Percy, James, and Sir Topham Hatt. Children can take photos with the characters, and there are usually merchandise booths set up where families can purchase souvenirs like t-shirts, hats, and toy trains.

After the meet-and-greet, families board the train for their ride with Thomas. The train cars are decorated with Thomas and Friends artwork, and families can choose to sit in either open-air or enclosed cars. The train ride usually lasts around 25 minutes, during which time families can enjoy the scenery and snap photos of their children's delighted faces.

After the train ride, families can take part in a variety of activities and games. There may be bounce houses, face painting, and carnival games, as well as opportunities to take photos with other characters from the show. There may also be storytelling sessions and live music performances.

One of the highlights of the Day Out With Thomas experience is the opportunity to participate in a variety of Thomas-themed activities. Children can build with Mega Bloks or Duplo sets, play with wooden train sets, or engage in arts and crafts activities like coloring and painting.

Food and drink options are typically available as well, with vendors selling snacks like popcorn, cotton candy, and hot dogs. Families can also pack a picnic lunch and enjoy it on the grounds.

Overall, the Day Out With Thomas train ride experience is a fun and exciting event that children and their families are sure to enjoy.

From meeting their favorite characters to riding on a real-life Thomas the Tank Engine train, there's something for everyone at this popular event. So if you're a fan of the show or just looking for a fun day out with your family, be sure to book your tickets for Day Out With Thomas.

Roaring Camp Railroads

(Felton) : Owned and operated by the same organization which runs the Skunk Train the Roaring Camp hosts a number of different trains throughout the year including a beach train and forest train.

They also feature other specials including "A Day Out With Thomas" on these dates in 2024:

• October 12-13
• October 19-20
• October 26-27

Roaring Camp Railroads is a historic tourist railroad located in Felton, California, in the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Founded in 1963, Roaring Camp has been offering visitors a unique and immersive experience of California's rich railroad heritage for over half a century.

Visitors to Roaring Camp can ride on one of two historic steam trains: the Redwood Forest Steam Train or the Santa Cruz Beach Train. The Redwood Forest Steam Train takes passengers on a scenic ride through the towering redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains, while the Santa Cruz Beach Train travels along the coast to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

Both trains are pulled by vintage steam locomotives that were originally used in the logging industry during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Redwood Forest Steam Train features open-air cars that allow passengers to fully experience the beauty of the redwoods, while the Santa Cruz Beach Train offers both open-air and enclosed cars.

Along with the train rides, Roaring Camp also offers a variety of other activities and attractions. Visitors can explore the Roaring Camp Mining Company, where they can try their hand at gold panning and learn about the area's rich mining history. The camp also features a general store and a picnic area where visitors can enjoy a meal or a snack.

One of the highlights of Roaring Camp is the special events that take place throughout the year. During the holiday season, visitors can ride on the Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train, which takes them on a festive ride through the woods adorned with holiday lights and decorations. In the spring and summer, the camp hosts a variety of music and arts festivals, as well as a Civil War reenactment.

Roaring Camp is also home to the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, which features over 4,000 acres of ancient redwoods and other native trees, as well as hiking and biking trails. Visitors to the park can explore the towering trees and marvel at the beauty of this ancient forest.

Overall, Roaring Camp Railroads offers visitors a unique and unforgettable experience of California's rich railroad heritage. With its historic steam trains, mining attractions, and natural beauty, Roaring Camp is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in the history and natural wonders of the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Southern California Railway Museum

(Perris) : This railroad museum offers several excursion trains to choose from including steam powered trains and trolleys, which operate along their 1.5 mile system.

They also boast a large collection of historic railroad equipment. During select dates in the fall they host "A Day Out With Thomas." Also featuring Percy!

• November 2-3
• November 9-11

The Southern California Railway Museum is a fascinating and educational museum located in Perris, California. Formerly known as the Orange Empire Railway Museum, this non-profit organization is dedicated to preserving the history of Southern California's railroads and electric railways.

The museum features an extensive collection of historic locomotives, railcars, and trolleys, many of which have been lovingly restored to their original condition. Visitors to the museum can explore the indoor and outdoor exhibits, ride on vintage trains and trolleys, and learn about the rich history of rail transportation in Southern California.

One of the highlights of the Southern California Railway Museum is the opportunity to ride on a variety of vintage trains and trolleys. The museum operates a number of different train rides, including the Heritage Valley Tour, which takes visitors on a scenic ride through the beautiful countryside of the San Jacinto Valley. There is also a streetcar ride, which offers a tour of the museum's collection of historic trolleys.

In addition to the train and trolley rides, the Southern California Railway Museum features a variety of exhibits that showcase the history of rail transportation in the region. The museum's indoor exhibits include displays of vintage locomotives, railcars, and other artifacts, as well as interactive exhibits that allow visitors to experience what it was like to work on a steam locomotive or operate a trolley.

Outdoors, visitors can explore the museum's extensive collection of historic railway equipment, including cabooses, boxcars, and steam locomotives. The museum's restoration shop is also open to visitors, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the process of restoring vintage rail equipment.

The Southern California Railway Museum also hosts a variety of special events throughout the year, including train and trolley rides, concerts, and holiday events. The museum's annual "Pumpkin Train" is a particularly popular event, offering families the chance to ride on a vintage train and pick out a pumpkin from the museum's pumpkin patch.

Overall, the Southern California Railway Museum is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in the history of rail transportation in Southern California. With its impressive collection of vintage trains and trolleys, interactive exhibits, and scenic train and trolley rides, the museum offers a unique and unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages.

SteamLocomotive.com

Wes Barris's SteamLocomotive.com is simply the best web resource on the study of steam locomotives. 

It is difficult to truly articulate just how much material can be found at this website. 

It is quite staggering and a must visit!

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Railroads & Locomotives Tourist Railroad Profiles Five scenic highlights aboard Amtrak’s ‘California Zephyr’

Five scenic highlights aboard Amtrak’s ‘California Zephyr’

| Last updated on March 5, 2024

What to keep an eye on while riding the “most talked-about train in America”

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While the California Zephyr name continues today under the Amtrak banner, much has changed since the final run of the streamlined predecessor in 1970. What hasn’t changed since the original 1949 debut is the premise from vintage advertisements to “look up, look down, and look all around” when taking the Chicago-Emeryville, Calif. trip . Especially when passing through these five scenic highlights aboard Amtrak’s California Zephyr .

Mississippi River

When it comes to the scenic wonders along the route, west of Denver is typically a daytime passenger’s best bet. Though crossing the Mighty Mississippi at Burlington, Iowa is still a surreal experience. As part of BNSF Railway ’s Ottumwa Subdivision, the Zephyr traverses a virtual lift bridge that connects the banks of Illinois in the east and Iowa on the west. The modern structure replaced its 118-year-old, swing span predecessor of the former Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad in 2012.

Whether you’re beginning to turn in for the night westbound or beginning your day eastbound, the passage is like stepping into a whole new world that’s waiting to be explored. There’s a sense of adventure for the Frontier while admiring this engineering feat to bridge the “Father of Waters” beginning in the 19th Century.

Moffat Tunnel

In tribute to the Denver banker and miner, the Rocky Mountain’s Moffat Tunnel was officially opened in February 1928 as David H. Moffat’s dream of a direct route west to Salt Lake City. While he never lived to see that dream become a reality, the tunnel continues service today as part of Union Pacific Railroad ’s Moffat Tunnel Subdivision. Three scheduled passenger trains use this engineering marvel: The Rocky Mountaineer from Denver to Moab, Utah; Amtrak’s Winter Park Express ski train from Denver to the Winter Park Resort; and of course, the California Zephyr .

The Moffat Tunnel cuts through 6.21 miles of the Continental Divide at 9,239 feet in elevation. The crossing itself takes approximately 15 minutes and passengers will be asked to remain seated for the duration. The best seats are obviously in the Sightseer Lounge , with its massive glass-topped windows offering quick glimpses of the architectural portals at each end. From the tunnel, traveling eastbound will showcase the Front Range with its dramatic slopes heading down to Denver, while westbound takes passengers deeper into the Rocky Mountains .

Glenwood Canyon

Between Granby, Colo., and the Utah state line, the Zephyr parallels the Colorado River for 238 canyon-filled miles. The 18-mile Glenwood Canyon along the gorge offers non-stop views of evergreens and rock-covered walls. It’s no wonder this iconic journey of the route led to one of the most iconic passenger car designs.

Cyrus R. Osborn, Vice President of the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors, was riding in the cab of a Denver & Rio Grande Western diesel locomotive through Glenwood Canyon in 1944. The unobstructed vista view was an absolute delight for Osborn and he wanted to share it with passengers aboard. The CB&Q rolled out the Silver Dome a year later, and dome cars became a staple to not just the original California Zephyr  but to many North American passenger trains for years.

Ruby Canyon

Traveling through Ruby Canyon can be described as transitional. This leg of the journey is located at the state line between Colorado and Utah. Scenic transitions take place in their respective states between the Colorado and Green Rivers, plus the Rocky Mountain and Utah desert terrains.

The twists and turns through the canyon offer unique formations of red rock. Outside the Union Pacific’s Green River Subdivision that traverses this area, Ruby Canyon is inaccessible to many. There’s an unearthly feeling no matter which direction you’re heading aboard the Zephyr , as if you’re visiting another planet.

Donner Pass

Between Salt Lake City and Emeryville, Amtrak’s incarnation takes a different approach from its predecessor. Instead of the former Western Pacific through the Feather River Canyon, the Zephyr ’s trackage rights are over the ex- Southern Pacific – now part of UP. Don’t let that deter you from traversing the Sierra Nevada Mountain range.

California’s Donner Pass between Truckee and Colfax is full of scenic beauty and rich heritage. Hugging the snow-capped cliffs at more than 7,000 feet in elevation gives you a birds-eye view of Donner Lake. There’s also the history surrounding the rails, tunnels and snowsheds that once hosted various steam locomotives of the past, from the American-type 4-4-0s of the first Transcontinental Railroad to the mighty 4-8-8-2 Cab-Forwards. Educational guides from Sacramento’s California State Railroad Museum are regularly on board during this portion of the trip to highlight these significant landmarks.

With the 75th Birthday of the “ most talked-about train in America ” arriving in March 2024, perhaps a future trip may be in order as part of the celebration. For those who’ve taken the California Zephyr in the past, what’s been your favorite scenic highlight?

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One thought on “ five scenic highlights aboard amtrak’s ‘california zephyr’ ”.

This train is at the top of my bucket list. We would drive to Denver from our home in eastern Utah and ride the train back via Arvada, CO and Big 10 Curve, Moffat Tunnel and Winter Park, Glenwood Springs Canyon and Grand Junction, northwest to the Gilluly Loops below Soldier Summit in Utah, across the Great Salt Lake, over Donner Pass and down to Roseville with the final tie-up at Emeryville. After some time in California, “Rinse and repeat…’ and drive home. A great trip all the way and back.

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4 great scenic train rides across the US

Want to truly immerse yourself in the vastness of the USA? There's no better way than to take a scenic cross-country train trip.

During these long-distance train rides, the journey is just as exciting as the destination itself. Relaxing in your seat as you watch the U.S. landscape out your train car window slowly change from cities to farmlands or from wide-open plains to towering mountains is an experience that's worth the extra transit time.

Amtrak offers many overnight and multiday scenic train rides across the U.S. from the East Coast, the West Coast and everywhere in between. Route names like the Empire Builder, the Coast Starlight and the California Zephyr are enough to inspire wanderlust for any traveler.

Whether you're new to train travel or an avid rider of the rails, here are four bucket list-worthy U.S. train rides to take for stunning scenery, plus some tips on how best to book and enjoy them.

Tips for cross-country train travel

While taking a cross-country train trip can be a rewarding experience, as it offers days to leisurely sit back and enjoy scenic landscapes, many people have worries about how best to book such a long trip and what to expect when it comes to sleeping arrangements. TPG has a few tips to help you get on board with the concept and easily plan your journey.

Browse routes by region

A good first step to take when looking for a route that's right for you is to search Amtrak's "Browse by Region" menu. You can pick a large area of the country from which to start or finish your trip.

Once you click on an area, Amtrak will provide lists of highlighted long-distance routes, as well as shorter point-to-point trips. You can then select a route like the Capitol Corridor in California before being directed to ticket purchase menus.

Explore Amtrak Vacations

Amtrak offers curated vacation packages to rail travelers via its Amtrak Vacations website. These tours can include side trips (via bus) to national parks , sightseeing tours in cities and hotel lodging on stopovers along the route. You can search for packages around vacation themes like "Fall Foliage" and "Multiple National Parks."

Amtrak's set of "Most Scenic Journeys" vacation packages include trips lasting up to two weeks that combine rail travel and additional tours. Think of these trips like cruises with shore excursions . Some of the scenic journey-designated options focus on national parks, while others are big-city oriented.

You can click on each option's details to find itineraries, dates and prices. Then, all that's left to do is book your rail vacation.

Consider famous routes

A shortcut to finding scenic cross-country rail routes on Amtrak is to visit its Amtrak Vacations website and click on "Famous Rail Routes." This set of approximately 20 different overnight train routes gives you a great set of suggestions for your own potential cross-country journeys.

For more details on the fixed routes, click on any of the tabs. Once you've chosen a route, you can either book a package tour with Amtrak Vacations or go to the regular Amtrak website and book a point-to-point trip.

Weigh your accommodation options

Taking an overnight or a multiday train trip means you'll need to sleep aboard the train. All of Amtrak's long-distance train trips provide a variety of seating and room arrangments.

The cheapest way to travel is to simply book a seat on the route. While Amtrak's seating is comfortable, with more legroom than you'll find in an airline's business class, it may not be the way you want to travel for many hours. You can get up, walk the train and stop in the cafe car, but this can still be a tough way to travel during a multiday journey.

Fortunately, Amtrak provides several classes of accommodations on cross-country trips, ranging from shared roomettes with fold-out bunks to bedrooms, larger family bedrooms and suites complete with private bathrooms and showers. Should you book one of these rooms on a cross-country itinerary, you'll enjoy access to a separate dining car.

Prices for the various ticket classes vary widely between routes and dates, so check potential itineraries to find the best option for you.

4 scenic train trips to take in the US

Now that you know the basics when it comes to picking a long-distance train route, you'll want to narrow down your options. Although there are many scenic routes in the U.S., here are our four favorites.

California Zephyr: San Francisco to Chicago

Amtrak's California Zephyr route travels between San Francisco and Chicago on a three-day journey. The 51-hour trip (on the west-to-east path) begins in nearby Emeryville, California, then travels through central California farmlands up into the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Along this part of the route, you'll enjoy spectacular panoramas from glassed-in viewing cars.

The train continues through Reno and the Nevada deserts into Salt Lake City before traveling up into the Rocky Mountains to reach Denver . You'll descend into the wide-open plains of Nebraska and eventually wind your way into the Windy City.

This trip is a great way to immerse yourself in the American West, as you'll get a true feeling of the vastness of the region and the variety of terrain that makes up the country.

One-way prices start at $141 per person for a seat in coach and $688 for a room.

Empire Builder: Seattle to Chicago

The Empire Builder train route connects Chicago and Seattle on a 46-hour journey connecting the Midwest and the Pacific Northwest. The train loosely follows the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, the route the explorers took to map out the region acquired during the Louisiana Purchase.

Meriwether Lewis and William Clark would have appreciated sitting back in the train's viewing cars to enjoy eyefuls of Montana 's Big Sky Country, Glacier National Park , the Cascade Range and the vast plains of North Dakota. Additionally, the explorers would have marveled at the metalwork of North Dakota's towering Gassman Coulee Trestle bridge.

Should you wish to depart or arrive in Portland, Oregon, instead of Seattle, know that there's an alternate route of the Empire Builder from this Pacific Northwest city, so you can plan your itinerary based on your preferences.

One-way train fares from Chicago to Seattle begin at $150 per person, while rooms cost at least $651.

Southwest Chief: Los Angeles to Chicago

Traverse the American Southwest on a southern route between Los Angeles and Chicago. The Southwest Chief route departs daily and takes roughly 40 hours to cross eight states.

For some of the journey, the train follows the classic American road trip thoroughfare of historic Route 66 . However, unlike its car-friendly neighbor, the train route offers views you won't find while driving the highway, as it winds on twisting tracks that travel through narrow red-rock canyon passages before offering wide-open vistas of mountains and deserts.

The train's main stops include Kansas City, Missouri; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Flagstaff, Arizona. You can also take advantage of excursions from the train when you purchase one of Amtrak's vacation packages. For example, you can visit the Grand Canyon (by train or bus) while the train is stopped in Williams, Arizona.

Even if you never leave the train, the views along the way are enough to create lasting memories.

Expect to pay at least $146 per person for a coach seat on this one-way route or a minimum of $899 for a room.

Crescent: New York City to New Orleans

See the American South on this 30-hour journey between New York City and New Orleans . Departing the urban landscape of the Big Apple, this route will take you through the Northeastern cityscapes of Philadelphia , Baltimore and Washington, D.C. , among other destinations.

Once it exits the urban corridor, the train winds through the countryside of Virginia and the Carolinas, offering stops in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Greenville, South Carolina. Then, it continues through the Deep South states of Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi before reaching its final stop in New Orleans.

Tickets for this one-way route start at $139 for a seat in coach and $580 for a room.

Bottom line

Traveling by train across the U.S. gives you a unique perspective of the scale and scope of the American landscape. While it may be slower than flying across the country, rail travel gives you the opportunity to sit back and savor the journey, appreciating the changing views as the hours roll by.

The four scenic cross-country train trips highlighted here are only some of Amtrak's many long-distance journeys available to book. By exploring Amtrak's website, you can find many different rail journeys in nearly every part of the U.S. Best of all, most offer an array of seating options, so you can choose the ticket that best suits your travel preferences and budget.

Railroad Still Investigating 30 Tons Of Missing Dyno Nobel Explosive

Coming up on a year after 30 tons of ammonium nitrate went missing on a train ride from Dyno Nobel’s Cheyenne plant to California, railroad authorities say they’re still investigating what happened to it.

March 25, 2024 4 min read

Nearly a year after 30 tons of ammonium nitrate went missing on a train ride from Cheyenne to an old salt mining town in California, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is still investigating where and how the explosive fertilizer vanished.

“The FRA investigation is still being finalized,” a spokesman with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s FRA told Cowboy State Daily in an emailed statement.

The spokesman also wrote that the findings in the report are “pending potential enforcement actions.”

The spokesman did not elaborate on the enforcement actions, who they may be issued for and how serious they might be.

"FRA's investigation is focused on both the railroad and the shipper," the agency told Cowboy State Daily. "Enforcement action would be taken against any party which violated rail safety regulations."

A rail car carrying 30 tons of ammonium nitrate, a chemical used in explosives in Wyoming coal mines, left Cheyenne’s Dyno Nobel factory on the western edge of the city April 12, 2023.

When the Union Pacific train carrying the load of fertilizer more than 1,000 miles arrived in Saltdale, California, 13 days later, the rail car carrying the fertilizer was empty.

The loss of the fertilizer is concerning to federal authorities.

At mines and other industrial sites, the ammonia nitrate is mixed with other chemicals, such as diesel fuel, and then blasting caps are used to make it explode.

Ammonium nitrate is primarily used as a fertilizer, but it also was a key chemical used in the bomb that terrorist Timothy McVeigh built to blow up a federal building in Oklahoma City in 1995.

Unintentional Release

The FRA statement to Cowboy State Daily indicates that the FRA conducted a hazmat incident investigation, classified as a “non-accident release,” and determined that a faulty bottom outlet on a covered hopper car caused the “unintentional release” of ammonium nitrate fertilizer pellets, also known as prills.

The release of the pellets happened while the shipment was in transit from Dyno Nobel to California. Initial media reports stated that the seals on the rail car were still intact when it arrived in Saltdale.

The FRA stated that the fertilizer was noticed missing when the rail car arrived in Mojave, California, about 35 miles southwest of Saltdale.

A non-accident release occurs when a hazardous material is unintentionally released during transportation, encompassing activities like loading and unloading while under railroad control, but excluding incidents like derailments or collisions, according to the Association of American Railroads.

These releases can result from leaks, splashes or other malfunctions in valves, fittings or tank shells, as well as the venting of non-atmospheric gases through safety relief mechanisms.

All Signs Point To Leak

Dyno Nobel made its report May 10, 2023, to the federal National Response Center.

A spokeswoman for Dyno Nobel could not immediately comment on the investigation.

Mike Jaixen, a spokesman for the Union Pacific, told Cowboy State Daily in an email that the railroad had completed its investigation of the incident and fully cooperated with authorities.

“As we have previously indicated, all the available evidence suggests this was a leak that occurred over the course of transportation from origin to destination,” Jaixen said. “Such a leak is unlikely to pose any risk to public health or the environment.”

He also said that Union Pacific has no reason to believe any criminal or otherwise malicious activity took place during transport.

Vikki Migoya, a public affairs officer with the FBI’s Denver field office, said that her agency is aware of the situation.

“Any updates on that incident will come from the companies involved,” Migoya said.

Earlier this month, Dyno Nobel was fined nearly $400,000 by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency for safety violations at its Cheyenne plant unrelated to the loss of fertilizer last year.

Dyno Nobel, which is a business unit of Australian-based industrial chemicals giant Incitec Pivot Ltd., agreed to pay a $394,906 civil administrative penalty as part of the company’s violations of the Clean Air Act related to chemical accident prevention practices at the facility.

Four years ago, Incitec Pivot opted to not sell Dyno Nobel following a strategic review of the business.

In fiscal 2023, Dyno Nobel Americas saw its profitably fall 23%, according to an Incitec securities filing in Australia.

Pat Maio can be reached at [email protected] .

In case you missed it

Pat Maio is a veteran journalist who covers energy for Cowboy State Daily.

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Despite some progress, state’s high-speed rail is $100 billion short and many years from reality

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California’s high-speed rail train could feature an indoor play area for children and seating options that would allow people to meet as a group or cocoon in a reading nook. Recently released drawings of the imagined interior, station platforms and a video walk-through of a model train car offered a glimpse into the future of the transit system and its promise to transform the state.

But how — and if — it will ever live up to that promise to connect Los Angeles to San Francisco by train in less than three hours still remains unknown. While some progress has been made in the last 15 years, the timeline for completion has moved back by more than a decade and cost estimates have grown by the billions.

Transit experts and state policy advisers have continued to question how the lofty project will be paid for as the proposed cost has increased without guaranteed funding sources. Projected ridership has also dipped since the pandemic.

“Schedules are stretching out, demand estimates have fallen and financing is inadequate and unstable,” said high-speed rail peer-review group chair Louis Thompson at a recent state legislative hearing. The state-appointed panel advises the California High-Speed Rail Authority.

Rail Authority Chief Executive Brian Kelly , who plans to step down this year, and other rail officials have also acknowledged the questionable funding of a rail system with less than a quarter of its length under construction three years after the the first phase was supposed to be completed.

Here’s where things stand:

When will the train start running and where will it go?

Voters first approved a high-speed rail proposal in 2008 that would connect Los Angeles to San Francisco by 2020. That end date has changed considerably over time.

There is no set timeline for when anyone will be able to ride the entire 494-stretch from Anaheim to San Francisco.

The current focus centers on the Central Valley, where officials estimate the 171-mile line from Merced to Bakersfield will be finished between 2030 and 2033.

High-speed rail is coming to the Central Valley. Residents see a new life in the fast lane

For Central Valley residents, high-speed rail will be a reality in just a few years. Construction of the rail line is transforming local economies, and residents say they see a broad new horizon when it comes to accessing jobs, healthcare and education.

Feb. 8, 2024

There are currently 119 miles under construction stretching from Madera to Shafter. An environmental review cleared the expansion to Merced and Bakersfield, but the authority has not yet fully secured funding to do so.

While construction has been a boon for the area that was hard-hit by the Great Recession when the rail system was passed, bringing in more than 12,000 jobs to the Central Valley , the train has been out of sight for much of the state.

“We’re starting in the most underpopulated portion of the route,” said Ethan Elkind, director of the climate program at UC Berkeley Law’s Center for Law, Energy and the Environment. “The voters and the taxpayers in the [more] populated areas see no benefit from the system.”

There’s economic and social advantages for connecting areas in the Central Valley to “thriving coastal economies because we have a very unequal society in California,” Elkind said. But no one knows when that will definitively happen.

Officials expect that the 463-mile stretch between Los Angeles and San Francisco will be environmentally cleared by May, pending approval of a key section between Palmdale and Burbank. Funding for that additional construction has not been locked down.

The high-speed rail peer-review group has recommended the Legislature commission an “independent review of the economic and financial justification for the project” before “recommitting” to the first phase.

How much will the project cost?

Officials estimate it could cost about $35 billion to finish the first line from Bakersfield to Merced and roughly $100 billion more to complete the route from Los Angeles to San Francisco — about $100 billion more than what was originally proposed years ago. And the source of most funds is unclear.

High-speed rail development relies on state and federal funding and California’s cap-and-trade incentive, which is set to expire in 2030. The authority hopes to secure private investments in the future, according to its most recent business plan, but currently uses none.

New high-speed train from Vegas to SoCal will be a model for the nation — if it succeeds

The White House is betting that Florida’s Brightline can build a successful high-speed rail line. But the Las Vegas-to-Southern California route has challenges.

March 1, 2024

The outcome of the November election could have an effect on future funding.

“We want a federal partner that celebrates California and that celebrates what high-speed rail not only brings to our state, but really, to our nation,” state assembly Transportation Chair Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City) said.

The Trump administration previously tried to pull back funding for the project, while the Biden administration has been more supportive. It recently awarded the state more than $3 billion for the project, which will go toward the completion of the Central Valley line.

The authority is still about $7 billion short for what’s needed to finish the Central Valley line, in addition to the tens of billions of dollars needed to fund the rest of the route.

“There is no source of that money right now,” Thompson told The Times. “If and when they reach the point where they want to get out of the Central Valley, then the state itself is going to have to find a lot more money.”

Once the first line is complete, a second phase is supposed to connect Merced to Sacramento and Los Angeles to San Diego, expanding the line to about 800 miles.

Why the delay?

Transit experts have said the mega-project launched before it was ready to. As Thompson told the Legislature in 2019, “we got the cart before the horse.”

Kelly acknowledged the misstep at a recent hearing.

“It got federal monies to start in a specific location and those dollars had to be spent under an unrealistic timeline,” he said. “The authority wanted to advance work to keep the federal dollars which was understandable, but in so doing, it got into construction before some of the pre-construction activities were done.”

The rail authority essentially tried to learn how to develop the country’s first high-speed rail system in real time.

“They were hiring consultants, they were getting sued, they were spending a lot of money and nothing was getting built,” Elkind said.

Environmental reviews and lawsuits over the authority’s plans to disrupt housing complexes and developments have caused other setbacks. So has political jockeying and the project’s need for buy-in from voters across the state’s 58 counties. Over the years, local leaders have opined about where the train should go and which communities should directly benefit, leading to shifts in strategy that have prolonged the process.

Instead of taking a direct route up Interstate 5, for example, the train’s route veered through the eastern cities of the Central Valley to get support from county leaders and the federal government.

“That takes the route out of the most direct path and opens up a lot of land-use controversies, a lot of expense and hassle,” Elkind said.

How has the project affected communities?

The project has posed benefits and challenges for some communities. Thousands of construction jobs have been created in the Central Valley and some areas have seen a rise in businesses and redeveloped downtown areas in anticipation of the future rail.

“It becomes an equalizer,” Merced’s deputy city manager Frank Quintero said about the system’s ability to connect the Central Valley with other metropolitan areas. “Now we’re going to be as desirable as the Bay Area as a whole and Southern California.”

Construction and the possibility of construction has also brought some issues. In downtown Fresno, for example, a thoroughfare road has been closed for eight years. In Bakersfield, business owners have sought clarity about when they’ll have to move, and where they will relocate to, making planning difficult.

There are some logistical questions that have yet to be answered too, including how people will ultimately get to future stations in areas that have limited public transit.

Will the high-speed rail work with the Brightline rail?

The federal government has awarded a $3-billion grant to private railroad Brightline for the development of a high-speed rail line between Rancho Cucamonga and Las Vegas. It is a much more simple venture, not crossing though cities and farmlands, running down the wide median of Interstate 15 in the desert. The project is aiming to open by the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Kelly recently said that the hope is that the state’s high-speed rail will eventually integrate with the Brightline rail, potentially filling a transit gap between stations.

More to Read

Biden touts high-speed rail between Southern California and Las Vegas

March 19, 2024

Letters to the Editor: $400 for the Brightline train to Las Vegas? We’d rather drive

March 6, 2024

Letters to the Editor: Do we really need to repair coastal rail between L.A. and San Diego?

Feb. 18, 2024

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Colleen Shalby is a reporter for the Los Angeles Times. She has covered education, the pandemic, the vaccine rollout and breaking news throughout California. She was part of the team that was a 2020 Pulitzer Prize finalist for coverage of a dive-boat fire off the Santa Barbara coast. Shalby grew up in Southern California and graduated from George Washington University. She previously worked for PBS NewsHour and joined The Times in 2015.

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How to travel around the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore: A look at the traffic impact and alternate routes

By Rohan Mattu

Updated on: March 28, 2024 / 12:07 PM EDT / CBS Baltimore

BALTIMORE -- The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday  led to a major traffic impact for the region and cut off a major artery into and out of the port city. 

A bridge column was hit by a large container ship around 1:30 a.m., sending bridge workers and vehicles into the Patapsco River. A water search for six missing workers turned to a recovery effort Tuesday night.

Drivers are told to prepare for extra commuting time until further notice.

Alternate routes after Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse

Maryland transit authorities quickly put detours in place for those traveling through Dundalk or the Curtis Bay/Hawkins Point side of the bridge. The estimated 31,000 who travel the bridge every day will need to find a new route for the foreseeable future. 

The outer loop I-695 closure shifted to exit 1/Quarantine Road (past the Curtis Creek Drawbridge) to allow for enhanced local traffic access. 

The inner loop of I-695 remains closed at MD 157 (Peninsula Expressway). Additionally, the ramp from MD 157 to the inner loop of I-695 will be closed. 

Alternate routes are I-95 (Fort McHenry Tunnel) or I-895 (Baltimore Harbor Tunnel) for north/south routes. 

Commercial vehicles carrying materials that are prohibited in the tunnel crossings, including recreation vehicles carrying propane, should plan on using I-695 (Baltimore Beltway) between Essex and Glen Burnie. This will add significant driving time.   

Where is the Francis Scott Key Bridge? 

The Key Bridge crosses the Patapsco River, a key waterway that along with the Port of Baltimore serves as a hub for East Coast shipping. 

The bridge is the outermost of three toll crossings of Baltimore's Harbor and the final link in Interstate 695, known in the region as the Baltimore Beltway, which links Baltimore and Washington, D.C. 

The bridge was built after the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel reached capacity and experienced heavy congestion almost daily, according to the MDTA. 

Tractor-trailer inspections

Tractor-trailers that now have clearance to use the tunnels will need to be checked for hazardous materials, which are not permitted in tunnels, and that could further hold up traffic. 

The MDTA says vehicles carrying bottled propane gas over 10 pounds per container (maximum of 10 containers), bulk gasoline, explosives, significant amounts of radioactive materials, and other hazardous materials are prohibited from using the Fort McHenry Tunnel (I-95) or the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel (I-895).  

Any vehicles transporting hazardous materials should use the western section of I-695 around the tunnels, officials said. 

Rohan Mattu is a digital producer at CBS News Baltimore. Rohan graduated from Towson University in 2020 with a degree in journalism and previously wrote for WDVM-TV in Hagerstown. He maintains WJZ's website and social media, which includes breaking news in everything from politics to sports.

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California High-Speed Rail has created 13K labor jobs, Authority says

by: Travis Schlepp

Posted: Mar 19, 2024 / 04:40 PM PDT

Updated: Mar 19, 2024 / 04:40 PM PDT

California’s most ambitious public works program has created thousands of new labor jobs, according to a status update from the California High-Speed Rail Authority.

The bullet train project which aims to connect the Bay Area with the Los Angeles Basin has created 13,000 labor jobs since construction began in 2015, the vast majority of which have come in the last five years.

In a news release issued Tuesday, the Authority said more than 10,000 labor jobs have been created in the last five years and more than 70 percent of those jobs have gone to residents of the Central Valley.

More than 4,200 of those jobs can be found in Fresno County, 2,500 in Kern County, 1,200 in Tulare County and more than 1,000 jobs between Madera and Kings counties. Fewer than 400 of those jobs have gone to out-of-staters.

On average, around 1,400 people are dispatched to high-speed rail construction sites in the Central Valley every day, the Authority says. The jobs have gone to union workers, the majority of which come from disadvantaged communities.

In releasing news of this latest jobs milestone, the California High-Speed Rail Authority highlighted what it calls a strong partnership with the California State Building Trades .

“In 2023, the Authority marked 10 years since the establishment of our Community Benefits Agreement, which has helped create thousands of good-paying union jobs – including more than 10,000 in the past five years – with most of the jobs going directly to individuals from disadvantaged communities,” the Authority said in its Tuesday news release.

“High-speed rail construction has continued to flourish, creating good-paying construction jobs for men and women across the Valley,” said Chuck Rojas of the Fresno, Madera, Kings and Tulare Counties Building and Construction Trades Council. “As the number of construction sites continues to grow, so does the need of a growing workforce to bring the nation’s first high speed rail system to California. When construction grows, these workers and their families thrive, and we couldn’t build this system without them.”

Work is currently underway on the Merced-to-Bakersfield portion of the project known as the “initial operating segment.”

Right now, active construction work is taking place within a 119-mile section, but the Authority says it is actively working to expand into the remaining 50-plus miles that comprise that portion of the system.

There are currently 25 active construction sites in the Central Valley and the Authority says it has environmentally cleared 422 miles of the system between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Only the Palmdale-to-Burbank section has yet to receive environmental clearance, but officials say it’s expected to be cleared this summer.

To read more about the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s jobs update, click here .

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First look: How Universal is bringing ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ to life at Epic Universe

This is Berk – and next year, you’ll finally be able to visit.

On Thursday, Universal Orlando Resort revealed its first look at How to Train Your Dragon - Isle of Berk. The mythical land from the beloved “How to Train Your Dragon” franchise is one of five immersive worlds coming to life at the Florida resort’s highly anticipated Universal Epic Universe theme park in 2025.

“Guests visiting Berk will encounter one of the most breathtaking environments Universal has ever created – complete with immense architecture featuring hand-carved details, lush landscaping, and extraordinary heights of rolling hills surrounding vibrant dragon houses and local establishments,” Universal shared in a press release. 

Here’s what you can expect from How to Train Your Dragon - Isle of Berk at Epic Universe.

You can visit Berk

It may sound obvious, but for years, Berk has only lived on pages, screens and in fans’ imaginations, like other famous franchises Universal has materialized in its parks, including The Wizarding World of Harry Potter . Universal Creative is developing this world with DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures filmmakers.

“Guests’ first sight of Berk will be reminiscent of the iconic sweeping vista straight from the films – featuring a vast sparkling lagoon that boasts two 40-foot-tall Viking statues set against an energetic village perched above churning seas,” Universal said.

Vikings and dragons live together on Berk, so you can expect to see “endless activity – from active dragons in their natural habitats and sheep attempting to disguise themselves as Terrible Terror dragons to sporadic bouts of fire,” according to Universal.

You can soar like a dragon

Hiccup’s Wing Gliders is one of four attractions coming to How to Train Your Dragon - Isle of Berk, three of which are rides. The family coaster will give you a taste of what it’s like to soar like Hiccup Haddock and his fellow Dragon Riders, Astrid, Snotlout, Ruffnut, Tuffnut and Fishlegs. 

“Hiccup invites brave new Vikings to take a ride in his latest glider contraption – a winged flying machine that launches aspiring Dragon Riders into the sky for a dragon’s eye view of Berk,” according to Universal. 

Family coasters tend to have lower height requirements than traditional roller coasters, so they can be enjoyed across broader age ranges without sacrificing thrills. Hiccups Wing Gliders will hit up to 45 miles per hour.

Dragon Racer’s Rally will give you a feel for the high-flying skills needed to be a Dragon Rider.

“Berk’s new Vikings racers can practice aerobatic maneuvers and high-speed barrel rolls on two Viking-made dragon-riding trainers that reach heights of up to 67 feet in the air,” according to Universal, which notes guests will be able to control how “mild” or “wild” they want the ride.

Fyre Drill is what you’d expect from mischief-making twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut. 

“Guests will board a colorful dragon-headed boat and blast water cannons at flame-like targets to practice putting out fires – a crucial skill to master when living with dragons,” Universal said. 

But you won’t just be competing for scores. Viking teams can also try to “out-soak each other on this wet-and-wild boat battle.”

Viking Training Camp will be an expansive, interactive play area for Junior Vikings, “featuring a Viking agility course, a Toothless-themed teeter-totter, baby Gronckle dragon climbers and so much more,” according to Universal.

Universal Islands of Adventure and Universal Volcano Bay water park also have dedicated play areas for kids to stretch their legs and explore. Universal Studios Florida’s new Kung Fu Panda-themed play area is opening within its new DreamWorks Land this summer.

You can see Dragon Riders in action

The Untrainable Dragon will be a live show inspired by the popular “Untrainable” show at Universal Beijing Resort .

“This dragon-filled live spectacular takes guests on an unforgettable journey with beloved characters Hiccup, Toothless, Gobber, and Astrid as they work together to solve the mystery of The Untrainable Dragon,” according to Universal. 

Fans love its sister show’s stunning visuals, swelling music and soaring night fury, Toothless. There will be some differences in Orlando's version, but it's sure to be a must-see at the new park.

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You can meet Toothless

Hiccup may be the main character of the “How to Train Your Dragon” franchise, but his faithful companion Toothless is its heart.

You can meet both Hiccup and Toothless at the Haddock Paddock in How to Train Your Dragon - Isle of Berk. 

“Throughout the day, guests may also encounter other familiar Vikings and dragons while exploring Berk,” according to Universal.

You can get a taste of Berk

The main gathering and dining hall in How to Train Your Dragon - Isle of Berk will be a fast casual eatery called Mead Hall . In addition to mead and cider, it will serve savory dishes like fish and sandwiches. There will also be two quick-service dining venues, Spit Fyre Grill and Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel.

Guests who want to bring a bit of Berk back home can find themed merchandise at Viking Traders , How to Treat Your Dragon , Hiccup’s Work Shop , and Toothless’ Treasures. 

Beyond Berk, Epic Universe guests will be able to visit The Wizard World of Harry Potter - Ministry of Magic, Super Nintendo World, a Universal monsters world called Dark Universe, and Celestial Park , which Universal describes as a celestial world between worlds.