San Francisco Zoo – Little Puffer
- The Little Puffer might be just a pint-sized version of the steam locomotives that crossed the continent nearly a century ago but it puffs out clouds of steam just like the big boys. Historians believe that the train once chugged away at Santa Cruz Beach. In 1925 it became a part of the Herbert Fleishhacker Zoo in Golden Gate Park and puffed its way around the third-of-a-mile track several times each day. After being in storage between 1978 and 1997, the Little Puffer was completely restored, thanks to mostly private donations. Once again it’s “puffing away” on a daily basis, except during rainy weather or when down for a bit of maintenance.
Oakland Area Fun Trains
- In the East Bay, the Oakland Zoo has its own Outback Express Adventure Train ride that runs through a recreated Australian landscape. Clack along on this miniature steam train replica and get a look at bouncing wallaroos and long-necked emus. The departure point is in the rides area to the right of the main gates. Other rides include a Sky Ride that takes you up and over the zoo to a nearby hill, an Endangered Species Carousel, a Tiger Coaster and a Red Baron airplane ride. Most rides, except for the Sky Ride, are geared towards the little ones. Adults and children both fit on the train. The train runs daily except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day when the zoo is closed. Children’s Fairyland in the heart of downtown Oakland has the Jolly Trolly, a cartoon-style train that’s been running since 1954. Its boldly colored mini-cars journey through a tunnel and into Old West Junction. The train is a tight squeeze for some adults but small children must be accompanied for the ride. Park hours vary throughout the year.
Tilden Park Trains -- Berkeley
- On the northern end of the Oakland-Berkeley Hills is Tilden Park. It’s home to the Redwood Valley Railway, located on the southern end of the park off Grizzly Peak Boulevard. The railway is open weekends year-round and on some holidays, weather permitting. Guests ride in open-air box cars on the scaled-down steam train. Golden Gate Live Steamers is also in Tilden Park but these are more like oversized, fully functional model trains. Some are big enough to ride on and rides are offered most Sundays. Golden Gate Live Steamers is near the Redwood Valley Railway.
Vintage South Bay Trains
- Niles Canyon Railway gives rides on both diesel and steam-powered trains from stations in Niles and Fremont, mostly on weekends. During the holiday season, the railway features the Train of Lights, an evening ride enhanced by Christmas lights and even Santa and his reindeer perched atop one of the train cars. Rides take about an hour and cover 13 miles round-trip. The onsite museum tracks the history of railroading in the Niles Canyon area going back to the mid-1800s. Niles Canyon was also known as a movie-making hotspot for westerns during the 1910s and 1920s. Even Charlie Chaplin came to town to be immortalized on film. If you’re an old western movie buff, you may recognize some of the scenery, sans most of the buildings of course.
Roaring Camp Railroads – Felton
- San Jose is on the southern end of the Bay Area. From here, follow Highway 17 south for 31 miles and you’ll come to Felton, a sleepy town in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Roaring Camp Railroads is a surprise hiding among the trees. It's a recreated old-time village that regularly hosts Civil War reenactments, holiday events and rides on vintage steam trains dating back to the 1800s. The Redwood Forest Steam Train ride is a little more than an hour’s journey through the Santa Cruz Mountains and includes a couple of twisty wooden trestles. Every summer Roaring Camp puts on the Great Train Robberies show where guests find out just what it was like to have outlaws try and take over your train. The good guys are there, of course, to fight back. Another option is the Santa Cruz Beach Train, taking you from the mountains to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. It’s a three-hour ride round-trip but if you like, hop off and enjoy the boardwalk and catch another train going back. Other special train rides include the Headless Horseman on Halloween, the Chanukah Train and the Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train.
