Not the AMTRAK or CAL TRAIN... but the ROARING CAMP RAILROAD in Felton, CA
We started around 12.30 pm and in an hours time, we were there.
With lots of doubt if we would get a ticket for the ride or not, we headed for parking.
Before paying for the parking we made sure if there might be availability, and the guard said "yes"!
We Parked our car, walked into this magnificent area where it took us to the early 1800's
It was more like a "Cowboy Area"
After purchasing the Tickets we had about half an hour for us to board the train. So we walked around to see what interesting things they had around there.
Lets start with this CAMP...
The Roaring Camp & Big Trees Railroad is a narrow gauge tourist railroad in California that starts from the Roaring Camp depot in Felton, California and runs up steep grades to the top of nearby Bear Mountain, a distance of about 2.5 miles. The travel is through second-growth redwood forest.
HISTORY
Roaring Camp Railroads operations began in 1963 under the guidance of F. Norman Clark (1935-1985), who was the founder and owner. Clark's wife, Georgiana, assumed the ownership and management responsibilities following his death.
Originally, two large trestles formed a "corkscrew" loop at Spring Canyon, but these were destroyed by a 1976 fire. Within six months, a switchback was constructed to bypass the severed loop and the entire line was returned to service. The length of the tail tracks in the switchback restricts the trains that may be operated to six cars or fewer.
ACCESS TO OPERATION
The railroad parking lot may be accessed directly from Graham Hill Road off State Highway 9. The standard-gauge Santa Cruz, Big Trees and Pacific Railway reaches the railroad from Santa Cruz. Visitors to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, which contains large old-growth redwood trees, picnic facilities, and river beachfront, may easily walk to the train operation.
Even before we reach the Ticket office, there were a few interesting things.
- John, the Blacksmith teaches us how to form strong metal items into rings and other fun things.
- Linn, An old time Photo studio , will dress us in terrific 1880 costume.
- There is also a town MARSHAL L's OFFICE where a magnificent trophy is displayed.
After the ticket office,
- A Food Stall having hamburgers, hot dogs, ice cream called the RED CABOOSE. We got ourselves a Golden Fried French Fries just to break our fast for lunch.
- A GENERAL STORE with many old trinkets.
- DEBRA, a portrait sketch artist.
The steam train through the Redwoods to Bear Mountains will take an hour and twenty minutes. The travel is through one of the few remaining virgin redwood forests in the country.
By virgin , we mean that the place was not manhandled for any logging or lumbering or any of that sort.
This property is as pristine as it was when the OH-LONE INDIANS lived, prior to the coming of Western settlers. Today, it remains in its natural state.
When finally the steam engine arrived to pick up passengers for the last tour of the day, it was exciting. The engine operating for the day was DIXIANE.
Of the several operational steam locomotives on the Roaring Camp & Big Trees roster, two 3-foot gauge Shays do the bulk of the work. No. 1, the Dixiana, is a 42-ton, two-truck Shay built in 1912. No. 7, the Sonora, is a 60-ton three-truck Shay built in 1911, and once served the West side Lumber Company.
We boarded the topless compartments of the train and waited for about 10 minutes for the last party to arrive before we started our journey into the Redwoods.
We were all boarded for Big Trees , Indian Creek , Grizzly Flats, Deer Valley and Hallelujah Junction!
The train took us through the Welch big Trees grove. The conductor narrated the history of the Roaring Camp, railroading and the forest. Upon reaching the Bear mountain, the train stopped at a cathedral grove of coastal redwoods. We were allowed to get down walk around and explore the place. People interested to know more about the place stood beside the TTR and listened as he explained the hidden past and present happenings of the woods. There were picnic benches around. If we start early on the day, we can take the first train to this spot, picnic, and explore and take the last train back to where we started.
After about 20 minutes of halt, the train was headed back to the Camp to drop off the last passengers of the day and end the Tour.
Roaring Camp operates 2 heritage railways. One being this steam engine to Bear Mountains and another one Beach Trains to Santa Cruz.
The second was however closed for the season and will reopen in November with HOLIDAY LIGHTS TOUR.
We are thinking about making that tour as well but dunno how far we can make it. But for now we headed home happy with this trip.
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