Redwood Valley Railway
History
Selected locations in and near Tilden Regional Park
- Points of interest
- Nearby parks and museums
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. Thomsen worked in the engineering department for the Western Pacific Railroad and received at least three patents for his work. The railway occupies land near the base of Vollmer Peak that was previously used as an anti-aircraft gun emplacement.
800 now-mature redwood trees were planted when the railroad was initially laid out. In 1968, the railroad was re-gauged to 15 in (381 mm) in. The new 15" gauge, 5" scale equipment allowed two adults to ride side by side and is representative of American narrow gauge railroads. Two of Redwood Valley's locomotives have made trips to England, run on several English 15 in gauge railways, including the Ravenglass and Eskdale. After Thomsen died in 1995, his daughter Ellen assumed operations of the Redwood Valley Railway.
Operations
Rides last approximately 12 minutes. 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.
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 In addition, RVRy owns a single diesel-hydraulic locomotive, number 2, which only is used for work trains.
| 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. | ||
| 4 Laurel |
Columbia | 2-4-2 | Erich Thomsen's basement workshop | 1965 | In revenue service. Received new boiler and tender tank. | 
|
| 5 Fern |
American | 4-4-0 | Redwood Valley Shops | 1987 | In revenue service. Rebuilt in 2014. | .jpg)
|
| 7 Oak |
Prairie | 2-6-2 | Redwood Valley Shops | 2006 | In revenue service starting April 2006; built c.1978–2006 by Ray Pimlott. Partially rebuilt October–December 2017 | .jpg)
|
| 11 Sequoia |
Ten-Wheeler | 4-6-0 | Redwood Valley Shops | 1978 | In revenue service starting September 1978. Rebuilt early 2018. | 
|
| 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. 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. 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.
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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 has 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, along with a few 12" gauge cars were sold to the Folsom Valley Ry. in Folsom, California
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 a four cars.
References
- ^ www.redwoodvalleyrailway.com site
- ^ DelVecchio, Rick (June 1, 2002). "Tilden's iron horses / Miniature railroad celebrates 50 years in Berkeley". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
- ^ "Like You To Meet: The Redwood Valley Railway". The Blue Parrot's perch. June 9, 2010. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- ^ US 2475164, Thomsen, Erich, "Sanitary discharge nozzle for hose", published 5 July 1949
- ^ US 3469784, Campbell, Jackson E & Thomsen, Erich, "Apparatus for reducing shells in outer-curve rails", published 17 May 1968
- ^ US 3496882, Campbell, Jackson E & Thomsen, Erich, "Method for reducing shells in outer-curve rails", published 24 February 1970
- ^ Hartlaub, Peter (August 10, 2016). "Bay Area small-train culture gains steam". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- ^ Mitchell, Steve (2014). "Trip Report – Redwood Valley Railway". Yard Goat Images. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- ^ Booth, Steve. "History". Archived from the original on April 24, 2003.
- ^ Thomsen, Erich. "Architecture First". Archived from the original on June 6, 2003.
- ^ http://www.redwoodvalleyrailway.com/5236.html
- ^ Callan, Miles (March 7, 2009). "In Depth: Redwood Valley Railway's #2". Interacting with Miniature Railroading [blog]. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- ^ Bailey, Douglas C. "Redwood Valley RR No. 4 "Laurel"". steamlocomotive.info. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- ^ Bailey, Douglas C. "Redwood Valley RR No. 5 "Fern"". steamlocomotive.info. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- ^ Bender, Kristin (September 11, 2006). "Chief engineer keeps trains running in Berkeley hills". East Bay Times. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- ^ Bailey, Douglas C. "Redwood Valley RR No. 7 "Oak"". steamlocomotive.info. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- ^ Bailey, Douglas C. "Redwood Valley RR No. 11 "Sequoia"". steamlocomotive.info. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- ^ Callan, Miles (June 7, 2008). "What prototypes are the Redwood Valley's cars based?". Interacting with Miniature Railroading. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- ^ Quinn, Evan. "Folsom Valley Railway". Central California Rails [blog]. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- ^ Bailey, Douglas C. "Folsom Valley Railroad No. 1". steamlocomotive.info. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
External links
- The railway's official website
- Whiting, Sam (October 26, 2003). "All Aboard / Engineer Jim takes his turn driving the Tilden train". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- Zuckerman, Sam (September 3, 2007). "Ray Pimlott chief engineer, Redwood Valley Railway". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- Grand Scale Steam: Three Miniature Railways on Vimeo