Redwood Valley Railway
Encyclopedia
The Redwood Valley Railway is a ridable miniature railroad
in Tilden Regional Park
near Berkeley, California
. It was established in 1952 by Erich Thomsen, and has expanded to 1.25 miles of track and over 160,000 passengers a year.
The railroad uses 5" scale model live steam
locomotives on a narrow gauge track. Rides last approximately 12 minutes. As of September 2011, tickets for adults and children are $3 (children under 2 years old ride free). A five-ride ticket costs $12.
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.
Other equipment includes a boxcar, extra convertible gondolas, which can either haul passengers or satisfy M.O.W. needs.
The RVRy. owns numerous four-wheel maintenance-of-way cars known as "jimmies", which have specialized uses such as welding, tie replacement, or carrying ballast.
The RVRy. also rosters a single flatcar, built as a high school shop project by one of the crew in the 1970s. This rugged flatcar has seen thousands of uses, and is one of the most versatile cars on the railroad.
Unique among the roster of cars is a coal gondola, once used to carry extra coal for the #4. Coal was used up until the mid-1970s when the #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.
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.
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 mid-2010 the boiler for the #13, the aforementioned 2-6-0 has been manufactured. Not to be confused with a visiting GSP&P #13 from the Glenwood Southpark and Pacific.
The #9, a brand-new diesel-hydraulic switching locomotive is in the planning and development stages and should look somewhat similar to the temperamental but faithful #2. The #9 will have a diesel engine instead of a gasoline engine, and will be built as a heavier and more powerful two-axle diesel locomotive, similar to <25ton American industrial locomotives like those found on narrow gauge operations around the country.
Ridable miniature railway
A ridable miniature railway is a ground-level, large scale model railway that hauls passengers using locomotives that are models of full-sized railway locomotives .-Overview:Typically they have a rail track gauge between and , though both larger and...
in Tilden Regional Park
Tilden Regional Park
Tilden Regional Park, also known as "Tilden" , is a regional park in the East Bay, part of the San Francisco Bay Area in California. It is situated between the Berkeley Hills and San Pablo Ridge....
near Berkeley, California
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
. It was established in 1952 by Erich Thomsen, and has expanded to 1.25 miles of track and over 160,000 passengers a year.
The railroad uses 5" scale model live steam
Live steam
Live steam is steam under pressure, obtained by heating water in a boiler. The steam is used to operate stationary or moving equipment.A live steam machine or device is one powered by steam, but the term is usually reserved for those that are replicas, scale models, toys, or otherwise used for...
locomotives on a narrow gauge track. Rides last approximately 12 minutes. As of September 2011, tickets for adults and children are $3 (children under 2 years old ride free). A five-ride ticket costs $12.
Operation Schedule
The Redwood Valley Railway operates Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm year-round (5pm 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 11 to 6. Most of the RVRY's locomotives are under steam, and often visiting locomotives and rolling stock appear for the occasion.Locomotives
- The Number 2- An 0-4-00-4-0Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-0 represents one of the simplest possible types, that with two axles and four coupled wheels, all of which are driven...
Gasoline-Hydraulic locomotive "Juniper" - The Number 4- A 2-4-22-4-2Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-4-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle, four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle...
Columbia "Laurel" - The Number 5- A 4-4-04-4-0Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-4-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and no trailing wheels...
American "Fern" - The Number 7- A 2-6-22-6-2Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-6-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels, six coupled driving wheels and two trailing wheels.Other equivalent classifications are:...
Prairie "Oak" - The Number 11- A 4-6-04-6-0Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles in a leading truck, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels. This wheel arrangement became the second-most popular...
Ten-Wheeler "Sequoia" - The Number 13- A 2-6-02-6-0Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle, usually in a leading truck, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels. This arrangement is commonly called a Mogul...
Mogul (under construction)
Rolling stock
The Redwood Valley Railway maintains a dozen or so 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, extra convertible gondolas, which can either haul passengers or satisfy M.O.W. needs.
The RVRy. owns numerous four-wheel maintenance-of-way cars known as "jimmies", which have specialized uses such as welding, tie replacement, or carrying ballast.
The RVRy. also rosters a single flatcar, built as a high school shop project by one of the crew in the 1970s. This rugged flatcar has seen thousands of uses, and is one of the most versatile cars on the railroad.
Unique among the roster of cars is a coal gondola, once used to carry extra coal for the #4. Coal was used up until the mid-1970s when the #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.
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 2-4-42-4-4
In Whyte notation, a 2-4-4 is a steam locomotive with two unpowered leading wheels followed by four powered driving wheels and four unpowered trailing wheels.-Equivalent classifications:Other equivalent classifications are:...
Forney and a 2-6-0
2-6-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle, usually in a leading truck, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels. This arrangement is commonly called a Mogul...
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 mid-2010 the boiler for the #13, the aforementioned 2-6-0 has been manufactured. Not to be confused with a visiting GSP&P #13 from the Glenwood Southpark and Pacific.
The #9, a brand-new diesel-hydraulic switching locomotive is in the planning and development stages and should look somewhat similar to the temperamental but faithful #2. The #9 will have a diesel engine instead of a gasoline engine, and will be built as a heavier and more powerful two-axle diesel locomotive, similar to <25ton American industrial locomotives like those found on narrow gauge operations around the country.