Redwood Valley Railway
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This is a 5 inch gauge railway in the Oakland hills. Each car is big enough for two adults to sit next to each other. The views getting there and on the ride are great. The ride is pretty much a there-and-back trip of about 2 km or 12 minutes. Most of the riders will children and families but my sister and I enjoyed it anyways. Though one mom was so eager to ride that she threw her kid on before the train stopped. Note that the train waits at the station for about 5 minutes between trips. Anyway, here’s a sound snapshot of the trip.
While you wait to board, you can walk down the trail and see a smaller-gauge railyard run by Golden Gate Live Steamers. You can also see much of the track from the ride.
I had heard there was a memorial to the members of the rail club who died in WWII near the tunnel, but I didn’t see it. If you know anything about it, let me know.
| Nearest Airport | OAK, SFO |
| Street Address | 498 Lomas Cantadas |
| Cross-Street | Grizzly Peak Boulevard |
| Secondary Cross-Street | Seaview Trail |
| Neighborhood | Tilden Regional Park |
| City | Orinda |
| County, Parish, or Township | Contra Costa County |
| State, Province, or Region | California |
| Country | USA |
| ZIP or Postal Code | 94563-2039 |
| Latitude | 37.88062 degrees |
| Longitude | -122.22297 degrees |
| Public Transit Information | AC Transit bus 74 |
| Parking | Small, free lot. |
| Contact E-mail Address | redwoodvalleyrailway@comcast.net |
| Contact Telephone | 1-510-548-6100 |
| Contact Fax | |
| Official Website | http://www.redwoodvalleyrailway.com/ |
| Related Website | http://www.ggls.org/ |
| Admission Price | $1.75 for 1 ride or 5 rides for $7.00. children under 2 and leashed dogs are free. |
| Hours | Weekends and Holidays: 11:00 to 18:00 or dusk, whichever is first. Summer weekdays: 11:00 to 17:00 or dusk, whichever is first. |
| Vegan Dining Options | No food served |
| Wheelchair Access | Yes, but you may need some help boarding. |
| Potential Hazards | Please keep your limbs inside the vehicle at all times. Wait for the train to stop completely and other passengers to disembark before boarding yourself or your children. |
| Special Events at Attraction | A Spring meet in June and a Fall meet in September or October. GGLS also have open houses in May and August. |
| Best Thing to See or Do Here | The train whistle |
| Last Visited | November 2005 |
