Excursion Train Rides

Ride behind a historic diesel locomotive on a train trip through California’s scenic Gold Country.
  1. Visit
  2. Excursion Train Rides

All Aboard For Family Fun

Ride The Historic Sierra Railroad Through The Heart Of Gold Country

Railtown 1897 State Historic Park and the California State Railroad Museum Foundation are pleased to welcome guests aboard the historic Sierra Railway. Ride behind a historic diesel locomotive on a train trip through the heart of California’s scenic Gold Country. Your 6-mile, 45-minute roundtrip train ride will take you past the water tower from Petticoat Junction and transport you from the backyards of Jamestown to the rugged hillsides of California’s Mother Lode country. After your ride, explore the historic grounds, have a picnic, and spend the day in the beauty of California’s Gold Country.

You, too, can ride in a caboose!

Railtown 1897 State Historic Park now offers the opportunity to ride in an authentic caboose! Back in the day, cabooses could be found at the end of nearly every American freight train, serving as a rolling office for the conductor and lookout post for the rear brakeman, who would sit in the cupola to keep an eye on the train for any problems. Cabooses often carried stoves on which the train crew cooked meals.

Caboose No. 7 came to the Sierra in the mid-1950s from the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern, which operated in Illinois and Indiana. In addition to freight duties, this caboose has been seen in a number of movies and TV shows filmed on the Sierra Railway, including Little House on the Prairie, Back to the Future III, The Long Riders and an Aflac commercial.

Be advised that seating and outdoor views are limited, and the caboose does not have wheelchair or accessible seating options.

Ticket Information

Days and Hours of Operation

April through October

Saturdays and Sundays
10:30 a.m.; Noon; 1:30 p.m.; and 3 p.m.

Wednesdays, June 10-August 12
June: 10:30 a.m.; noon; 1:30 p.m.
July-August: 10:30 a.m. and noon

Note: Trains may be pulled by steam or diesel locomotives. Sierra Railway steam locomotive No. 3 is scheduled to operate roughly every other weekend; click here to see No. 3's schedule. Note that motive power is subject to change on short notice due to weather, mechanical or personnel factors.

Ticket Prices:

Tickets are sold per person and include park admission. Please select the appropriate quantity of tickets you need for each age range of passengers.

  • Adult: $23
  • Youth (6-17): $18
  • Child (5 and under): Free
  • Members: Free or reduced price based on membership

*Note: The Caboose does not have wheelchair or accessible seating options.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS

Members ride free or at reduced cost based on their membership level.
CLICK HERE FOR MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION.


Buy Tickets
keyboard_arrow_up