Redwood Valley Railway

The Redwood Valley Railway is a 15 in (381 mm) gauge miniature railway at Tilden Regional Park near Berkeley, California.^[1]

Redwood Valley Railway
Locomotive No. 7 "Oak" and passengers
Overview
Website	Tilden Park Steam Train on Facebook
Technical
Line length	1.2 mi (1.9 km)
Track gauge	15 in (381 mm)
Highest elevation	497 m (1,631 ft)

History

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Selected locations in and near Tilden Regional Park 

•  Points of interest 
•  Nearby parks and museums 

1

Tilden Little Farm

2

Tilden Park Merry-Go-Round

3

Inspiration Point

4

Lake Anza

5

Brazilian Room

6

Regional Parks Botanic Garden

7

Tilden Park Golf Course

8

Redwood Valley Railway

9

Blake Garden

10

Indian Rock Park

11

Berkeley Rose Garden

12

Lawrence Hall of Science

13

San Pablo Reservoir

It was established in 1952 by Erich Thomsen as the Tilden South Gate and Pacific Railway, on a 12 in (305 mm) gauge, and has since expanded to 1+1⁄4 miles (2 km) of track and carries over 160,000 passengers yearly.^[2] Thomsen worked in the engineering department for the Western Pacific Railroad^[3] and received at least three patents for his work.^[4][5][6] The railway occupies land near the base of Vollmer Peak that was previously used as an anti-aircraft gun emplacement.^[2][7]

800 now-mature redwood trees were planted when the railroad was initially laid out.^[7] In 1968, the railroad was re-gauged to 15 in (381 mm) in.^[8] The new 15" gauge, 5" scale equipment allowed two adults to ride side by side and is representative of American narrow gauge railroads.^[9] Two of Redwood Valley's locomotives have made trips to England, run on several English 15 in gauge railways, including the Ravenglass and Eskdale.^[9][10] After Thomsen died in 1995, his daughter Ellen assumed operations of the Redwood Valley Railway.

Operations

Rides last approximately 12 minutes.^[7] As of January 2023, a ticket for anyone 2 or older (adults and children) costs $4.00. Young kids under 2 ride free. A five-ride ticket costs $16.^[11]

Schedule

The Redwood Valley Railway operates Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm year-round (11am to sundown in winter - weather permitting).

During the summer (from mid June to Labor Day) the railway operates 7 days a week from 11 am to 5 pm weekdays and 11 am to 6 pm weekends.

Special events

The first full weekend in June is the Anniversary Meet, which is open to the public from 11am to 6pm. Most of the RVRy's locomotives are under steam, and often visiting locomotives and rolling stock appear for the occasion.

RVRy celebrates "Winterfest", usually during the first and second weekends of December. During this time, the railway opens at its normal hours but closes after dark at 7pm. Guests experience the magic of the winter forest after dark complete with Father Solstice on his own train, illuminated themed areas of the railroad pertaining to the stages of water and a warm, holiday atmosphere. Ticket prices are the same as normal operating days.

Rolling stock

Locomotives

The railroad has four 15-inch scale steam locomotives, designed by Erich Thomsen and built on location by the railroad's Redwood Valley Shops. Each is designed for service on the RVRy and while they are not based on any full-size prototypes, they share many details with engines built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works built between 1875 and 1910^[2][10] In addition, RVRy owns a single diesel-hydraulic locomotive, number 2, which only is used for work trains.^[12]

Number/name	Class	Wheel arrangement	Builder	Year	Notes	Photograph
2 Juniper		0-4-0	Erich Thomsen	1930s	Diesel-hydraulic locomotive, used mainly for non-revenue operations. Formerly used vintage Hercules engine. Rebuilt in 2008.[12]
4 Laurel	Columbia	2-4-2	Erich Thomsen's basement workshop	1965	In revenue service.[13] Received new boiler and tender tank.
5 Fern	American	4-4-0	Redwood Valley Shops	1987	In revenue service. Rebuilt in 2014.[8][14]
7 Oak	Prairie	2-6-2	Redwood Valley Shops	2006	In revenue service starting April 2006; built c.1978–2006 by Ray Pimlott.[15][16] Partially rebuilt October–December 2017
11 Sequoia	Ten-Wheeler	4-6-0	Redwood Valley Shops	1978	In revenue service starting September 1978. Rebuilt early 2018.[15][17]
18 Anne		0-4-0	Hillcrest Shops	2001	Built for Chris Allen's private railroad. Lettered for West Side Flume & Lumber Co. (WSF&LCo.) Donated 2022. Used for special events.
02		Rail Truck	West Side Locomotive Works	1995	Built by Ken Kukuk while awaiting GSP&P 13's boiler. Same as H&W 03 & HH&YV 08. Lettered for GSP&P.

Cars and other stock

The Redwood Valley Railway maintains 13 wooden gondolas, built similar to those found on 36" narrow-gauge lines in the American West.^[18] The gondolas, equipped with seating for up to eight adults, are the mainstay passenger rolling stock for this operation. The RVRy also owns three stock cars which have been specifically built to carry passengers as well. These are often favorites with small children, although a full-sized adult can comfortably fit inside.

Other equipment includes a boxcar, a pair of extra convertible gondolas (from flatcars), which can either haul passengers or satisfy maintenance-of-way needs.

The RVRy owns 13 four-wheel maintenance-of-way cars known as "jimmies", which have specialized uses such as welding, tie replacement, or carrying ballast. Two of which came with WSF&LCo. 18, built for Chris Allen by the Hillcrest and Wahtoke in 2001.

The RVRy's first flatcar was built as a high school shop project by one of the crew in the 1970s. Three more have followed since then.

Unique among the roster of cars is a coal gondola, once used to carry extra coal for number 4. Coal was used up until the mid-1970s when number 4 was converted to fuel oil. The coal gondola, with its higher sides, is infrequently used. It currently carries a few dozen metal folding chairs for the annual meet.

RVRy caboose

A favorite with both young and old is the caboose. Based on a D&RGW 36" gauge prototype, this "short" center cupola caboose has graced the end of most revenue trains for over 30 years.

Future projects

Parts for a 2-4-4 Forney and a 2-6-0 exist, but currently remain unassembled. Plans for a second caboose and a lavish, scale (down to the furniture, wallpaper, and bar with tiny glasses) business car are in the works.

As of late-2024, the boiler and frame for number 13, the aforementioned 2-6-0 have been manufactured and are on-site. Not to be confused with a visiting GSP&P 13 from the Glenwood, Southpark and Pacific.

Former

Number 1 Cricket, the 12 in (305 mm)-gauge 4-4-0 steam locomotive that was first used when service started in 1952,^[2] along with a few 12" gauge cars were sold to the Folsom Valley Ry. in Folsom, California^[19][20]

Storage

The RVRy has 3 barns to store cars when not in use. They also have a roundhouse, which has a viewing window to see their other steam engines. There is also a tunnel, which was going to be part of an expansion line, until it collapsed mid-way. The tunnel is now used to hold four cars.