Day Trip: All Aboard the Redwood Valley Steam Train Adventure

The Redwood Valley Steam Train, a historical gem, has been chugging through Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley for over fifty years. This fully functional miniature Railway, with one and a quarter miles of track, showcases replicas of old steam engines. The railway track, carefully laid on a scenic ridge in the over 2,000-acre Tilden Regional Park, offers marvelous views of the surrounding area as you travel along the one-mile loop around the park.

The Redwood Valley Railway, a historical gem in Tilden Regional Park, was established by Erich Thomsen, a former employee of Western Pacific Railroad. Each replica of an original steam engine is built on-site at the railway on a scale of 5 to 12 inches. Originally known as the Tilden South Gate and Pacific Railway, the railroad, now operated by volunteers and employees, is a living testament to the golden age of steam locomotives.

Train Rides at Tilden Regional Park

The Redwood Valley Railway operates year-round from 11 am to 6 pm on weekends, with extended hours during the summer. The train rides, which last 12 minutes, offer a budget-friendly experience, with free admission for children under 2. The rolling stock includes four 15-inch scale steam locomotives, uniquely designed by Thomsen and built at the Railway’s Redwood Valley Shops. These are not replicas of any specific full-size locomotives but share design elements with engines from the late 19th to early 20th century. There’s also a diesel-hydraulic locomotive used for maintenance.

Steam Train Museum & Merry-Go-Round

On Wednesdays and Saturdays, the museum is open for visitors to view the track layouts at the museum, but no trains are running. Admission on those days is free. If you prefer, after you ride the Redwood Valley Railway, you can take in some of the other adventures waiting in Tilden Regional Park, including the antique carousel and the Herschell-Spillman Merry-Go-Round, complete with carved wooden animals, spectacular paintings, and piped music from a calliope.

Tilden Park Nature Area and Botanical Gardens

The Tilden Botanical Gardens contain the most extensive collection of native California plants anywhere in the world. The garden features different sections, each representative of a distinct California ecosystem. The gardens offer guided tours on Saturdays at 2 pm and Sundays at 11 am and 2 pm. Both the parks and the tours are free to enter. Next to Tilden Regional Park is the Tilden Nature Area, which includes the Little Farm. The farm features various animals, including heritage breeds like sheep, rabbits, goats, cows, and fowl. Visitors are welcome to bring celery or lettuce to feed the animals. The Little Farm is open daily from 8:30 am to 4 pm, and free admission.

Golden State Model Railroad Museum

If you are interested in a railroad-themed day, once you have ridden the Redwood Valley Railway to your heart’s content, travel to the nearby community of Point Richmond, a short 20-minute drive, to visit the Golden State Model Railroad Museum. At the Railroad Museum, you will see elaborate setups of model trains spanning the history of railroads, from the steam engine to the modern diesel locomotive. Each set runs through detailed replicas of California scenery, town mock-ups, and wilderness. The model trains run on Sundays between April and December from 12 to 5. https://www.gsmrm.org/

Where is the Redwood Valley Steam Train

While the Redwood Valley Steam Train does not have a snack bar or a gift shop, the Merry-Go-Round at Tilden Regional Park has a snack stand. At Lake Anza, also part of the park, full food service is available at the beach.

Tilden Regional Park
2501 Grizzly Peak Blvd
Orinda, California
https://www.ebparks.org/parks/venues/steam-train

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