Folsom Valley Railway, California
Outdoor rail parkTrain ridesDoes not run in rain or above 100 degrees; call ahead
The Folsom Valley Railway is a 12-inch gauge steam train that has given rides in Folsom since 1970, using equipment that began its career in a park in the Berkeley hills, including the locomotive Cricket.
- Running in Folsom since 1970
- 12-inch narrow gauge steam
- Locomotive Cricket, a 4-4-0
- Began in the Berkeley hills
Folsom Valley Railway at a glance
- Hours
- Not posted online; call ahead or check the railway's Facebook page
- Admission
- Ticket prices not posted online
- Train rides
- Miniature steam train rides; no service in rain or above 100 degrees
- Best for
- Families with young children
- Best ages
- Toddlers to about age 10
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Folsom Valley Railway? Bring Rally along.
In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Folsom.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
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See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $13.99 on Amazon.
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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
Cricket's second home
The little train at the Folsom Valley Railway started life across the bay. Its first locomotive, a 12-inch gauge 4-4-0 steam engine named Cricket, was the engine used when Erich Thomsen began running his Tilden South Gate and Pacific Railway in a park in the Berkeley hills in the early 1950s. When that line grew and switched to a wider 15-inch gauge in 1968, Cricket and a few of the 12-inch cars were sold to the Folsom Valley Railway.
The train was brought to Folsom in 1970, and it has been giving rides there ever since. Its listing describes it as the only commercial steam train of its size and scale, a 12-inch narrow gauge train, still operating in the United States. The railway does not publish its ownership, hours or ticket prices online, so call ahead or check the railway's Facebook page before you go.
A small steam train in a Folsom park
Expect a miniature steam railway at 50 Natoma Street, with seasonal and themed rides mentioned in listings. The railway notes on its Facebook page that it cannot operate in the rain or when temperatures exceed 100 degrees.
Don’t miss
- CricketThe 12-inch gauge 4-4-0 steam locomotive that first ran in the Berkeley hills before coming to Folsom.
Sized for small riders
A 12-inch gauge train is built to a child's scale, which makes this a gentle first steam train ride for little ones. Because rides stop in rain and in heat over 100 degrees, plan summer visits for cooler parts of the day and call ahead on doubtful weather days.
Plan your visit: tips for Folsom Valley Railway
- Check the railway's Facebook page or call ahead before driving over.
- The train does not run in rain or in temperatures over 100 degrees.
- Pair it with the Folsom Railroad Museum in Historic Folsom, about a mile away.
Keeping a 1950s train running
The railway does not say publicly who owns or operates it today. The best way to support it is simple: buy a ride, share a photo, and leave a review so other families find it.
More trains around Folsom
The Folsom Railroad Museum is about a mile away in the Historic District, and the Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad boards nearby. Another small-scale favorite, the Sacramento Valley Live Steamers Railroad Museum, is about 9 miles away. Browse more California train museums.
- Folsom Railroad Museum / Folsom History MuseumFolsom, CA · about 1 mi
- Placerville & Sacramento Valley RailroadFolsom / Placerville area, CA · about 1 mi
- Southern Pacific Railroad History CenterRocklin, CA · about 8 mi
- Sacramento Valley Live Steamers Railroad MuseumRancho Cordova, CA · about 9 mi
- Central Pacific Railroad Passenger Station historic siteSacramento, CA · about 19 mi
- California State Railroad MuseumSacramento, CA · about 20 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
A 12-inch gauge train is just about corgi height, which makes me think Rally would finally have an easy climb. In our book, the big train stairs are too much for his little legs, and Dad has to give him a boost. Little trains like Cricket are made for short legs, whether they belong to a toddler or a dog. My kids, who are just learning to read, like sounding out the word boost.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.
Get the free coloring pages
A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)More for train families
- Train museums in California: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in California
- Halloween train rides in California
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Folsom Valley Railway?
We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.
Sources
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Folsom Valley Railway: 20 questions from parents
What is the Folsom Valley Railway?
The Folsom Valley Railway is a small 12-inch gauge steam train in Folsom, California, established in 1970. Its equipment first ran in a park in the Berkeley hills before moving to Folsom. Its listing describes it as the only commercial steam train of its size and scale still operating in the United States.
Where is the Folsom Valley Railway?
Listings place the Folsom Valley Railway at 50 Natoma Street, Folsom, CA 95630. It is about a mile from the Folsom Railroad Museum in the Historic District. Check the railway's Facebook page for directions and the exact boarding spot before you go.
What are the Folsom Valley Railway hours?
The railway does not publish regular hours online. The railway says on its Facebook page that it cannot run in the rain or when temperatures exceed 100 degrees, and it asks visitors to call ahead. Check its Facebook page for the latest days and times.
What is the Folsom Valley Railway schedule?
The railway does not post a schedule online. Operating days can change with the weather, since the train does not run in rain or in heat over 100 degrees. Check the Folsom Valley Railway Facebook page or call ahead before making the trip.
How much are Folsom Valley Railway tickets?
The railway does not publish ticket prices online, and they may change from season to season. Confirm current prices and payment options by checking the Folsom Valley Railway's Facebook page or calling ahead before you visit.
Who owns the Folsom Valley Railway?
The railway does not name its current owner or operator online. What is known is that the train came to Folsom in 1970 after running in the Berkeley hills, and that its first locomotive, Cricket, was sold to the Folsom Valley Railway by that Berkeley park railway.
What is Cricket at the Folsom Valley Railway?
Cricket is a 12-inch gauge 4-4-0 steam locomotive, Number 1 on the Tilden South Gate and Pacific Railway near Berkeley, where it was the engine used when service began. When that railway changed to 15-inch gauge in 1968, Cricket and a few 12-inch cars were sold to the Folsom Valley Railway.
When did the Folsom Valley Railway open?
The Folsom Valley Railway was established in Folsom in 1970. Its train had previously run in a park in the Berkeley hills, starting in the early 1950s, before it was moved to Folsom. Sources give slightly different start years for the Berkeley line.
Is the Folsom Valley Railway a real steam train?
Yes. It is a working steam railway built to 12-inch narrow gauge, a small scale sized for park rides. Its listing describes it as the only commercial steam train of its size and scale still operating in the United States.
Is the Folsom Valley Railway good for toddlers?
A 12-inch gauge train is built close to a child's scale, so it suits young riders well. Plan around the weather: it does not run in rain or above 100 degrees, so summer visits are best in the cooler part of the day. Call ahead to confirm it is running.
Does the Folsom Valley Railway run in the rain?
No. The railway says on its Facebook page that, for safety reasons, it cannot operate in the rain or when temperatures exceed 100 degrees. If the forecast looks doubtful, call ahead or check its Facebook page before you leave home.
Does the Folsom Valley Railway run in summer heat?
Not when it gets too hot. The railway does not operate when temperatures exceed 100 degrees, which can happen in Folsom summers. Morning visits are a safer bet, and checking the Facebook page that day can save a wasted trip.
What do reviews say about the Folsom Valley Railway?
The railway is listed on Yelp, TripAdvisor and Facebook, where families post reviews and photos. Listings describe it as family friendly, with themed and seasonal rides. Read recent reviews for up-to-date notes on wait times and operating days.
Where can I see photos of the Folsom Valley Railway?
Visitor photos of the Folsom Valley Railway appear on its Facebook page and on review sites such as Yelp and TripAdvisor. These are also good places to check for recent posts about operating days and weather closures.
Does the Folsom Valley Railway have special events?
Listings mention themed rides, including historical and seasonal events, but the railway does not publish specific dates online. Watch the Folsom Valley Railway's Facebook page for holiday or special event announcements, and call ahead to confirm before you go.
Is there parking at the Folsom Valley Railway?
The railway does not publish parking details online. The railway is listed at 50 Natoma Street in Folsom. Check the Facebook page or call ahead for the best place to park, especially on busy weekends.
Is the Folsom Valley Railway the same as the Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad?
No. The Folsom Valley Railway is a small 12-inch gauge steam train for park rides. The Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad is a separate nonprofit that runs full-size excursions and motorcar rides on the historic Placerville Branch, boarding in Folsom.
How is the Folsom Valley Railway connected to the Redwood Valley Railway?
Both trace back to Erich Thomsen's park railway near Berkeley. He started it on 12-inch gauge with the locomotive Cricket, then re-gauged to 15 inches in 1968. Cricket and some 12-inch cars were sold to the Folsom Valley Railway, while the Berkeley line became the Redwood Valley Railway.
How long is a ride on the Folsom Valley Railway?
The railway does not publish ride length online. Ask when you buy tickets or call ahead if you are planning around a nap or a meal for current details. Folsom has other rail stops nearby to round out the day.
What train museums are near the Folsom Valley Railway?
The Folsom Railroad Museum is about a mile away in Historic Folsom, and the Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad boards nearby. The Sacramento Valley Live Steamers Railroad Museum is about 9 miles away, and the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento is about 20 miles west.
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