Mendocino Railway in Fort Bragg, California
Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesConfirm current trips and times with the railroad before you go
Mendocino Railway, also known as the California Western Railroad and popularly as the Skunk Train, began in 1885 as the Fort Bragg Railroad, built to carry logs from the Mendocino Coast to the wider world. It still runs freight and heritage trains from its Fort Bragg headquarters.
- Began as the Fort Bragg Railroad, 1885
- Popularly called the Skunk Train
- Freight and heritage railroad
- Model railroad beside the depot
Mendocino Railway at a glance
- Hours
- Seasonal, check the railroad's website before you go
- Admission
- Train fares vary by trip, check the railroad's website; model railroad $5 adults, $3 children, free with train ticket
- Train rides
- Heritage excursions through the redwoods; check current schedule with the railroad
- Best for
- Families, rail fans and Mendocino Coast visitors
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Mendocino 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 Fort Bragg.
Rally Takes the Train
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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.
A logging line that connected the coast to the world
Timber built Fort Bragg, and timber needed a way out. In 1885 the Fort Bragg Railroad was organized to haul logs from the Mendocino Coast to the companies that needed them, and that line grew into the California Western Railroad, which also goes by Mendocino Railway and is known to most visitors as the Skunk Train.
Today the railroad still runs both freight and heritage trains from its headquarters in coastal Fort Bragg, with its line reaching inland to an interchange with the Northwestern Pacific. Excursions take visitors through the redwood forests of Mendocino County along the old logging route. Current schedules and fares change, so plan your trip with the railroad directly.
Redwood trips and a miniature timber town
Most visitors come for an excursion through the redwoods on the historic logging railroad. Right behind the Skunk Train's main building, the Mendocino Coast Model Railroad and Historical Society tells the same timber story in miniature, with more than 1,300 feet of model track (about 6 scale miles) running past trestles, a logging camp, bridges, a pier and a town.
Don’t miss
- Mendocino Coast Model RailroadJust behind the main building, it recreates Fort Bragg's logging railroad world, and admission is free with a train ticket.
- The redwood routeExcursions follow the old logging railroad through Mendocino County's redwood forests.
- The Fort Bragg headquartersThe coastal town where the railroad began in 1885 remains its home base.
Trains big and small in Fort Bragg
The model railroad behind the main building is billed as fun for the whole family, and children's admission is inexpensive. Pair it with an excursion through the redwoods for a full train day. Ask the railroad about age guidance and trip length before booking with small children.
Plan your visit: tips for Mendocino Railway
- Keep your train ticket: it gets you into the model railroad for free.
- Confirm trip times and fares directly with the railroad, since schedules change.
Who keeps the railroad running
Mendocino Railway is a working railroad company that runs both freight and passenger trains. The model railroad next door is kept by the Mendocino Coast Model Railroad and Historical Society, which preserves the local rail and logging story; visiting and paying admission there helps its work.
Other rail stops on a Northern California trip
This page covers the railroad company; for trip details see our page on the Skunk Train in Fort Bragg. Heading inland, the Napa Valley Wine Train is about 114 miles away and the Sacramento RiverTrain about 128 miles. See every California train museum for more.
- Skunk TrainFort Bragg / Willits, CA · same town
- Napa Valley Wine TrainNapa, CA · about 114 mi
- Sacramento RiverTrainWest Sacramento, CA · about 128 mi
- Western Railway MuseumSuisun City / Rio Vista, CA · about 132 mi
- San Francisco Cable Car MuseumSan Francisco, CA · about 137 mi
- California State Railroad MuseumSacramento, CA · about 137 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
I love the thought of riding a train into a redwood forest, where the trees are so tall the light goes soft and dim before the sun breaks through again. In our book, Rally rides through a dark tunnel and then comes out into a big bright light with happy cheers from Mom and Dad. My mom imagined that moment. Our coloring pages let kids color it in.
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
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- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Mendocino 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.
Mendocino Railway in Fort Bragg: 20 common questions
What is Mendocino Railway?
Mendocino Railway is another name for the California Western Railroad, the freight and heritage railroad in Mendocino County that most people know as the Skunk Train. It runs from its headquarters in the coastal town of Fort Bragg inland to an interchange with the Northwestern Pacific, along a historic logging route.
Is Mendocino Railway the same as the Skunk Train?
Yes. The California Western Railroad, also called Mendocino Railway, is popularly known as the Skunk Train. The names refer to the same railroad based in Fort Bragg. Our separate Skunk Train page focuses on riding the excursion trains, while this page covers the railroad's history and operations.
When was Mendocino Railway founded?
The line began in 1885 as the Fort Bragg Railroad, built so the Mendocino Coast logging industry could move timber to the people and companies that needed it. Over time it became the California Western Railroad, which operates today as Mendocino Railway and the Skunk Train.
Why was the railroad in Fort Bragg built?
Logging. The Mendocino Coast's timber industry needed a reliable way to get logs out to buyers, and a railway system linking the coast to the rest of the world was one of the main answers. The Fort Bragg Railroad, started in 1885, was that link.
Does Mendocino Railway still carry freight?
Yes. The California Western Railroad is described as both a rail freight and heritage railroad, so it is more than a tourist line. Its passenger excursions run alongside its role as a working railroad with a connection to the Northwestern Pacific.
Where is Mendocino Railway based?
The railroad's headquarters is in the coastal town of Fort Bragg in Mendocino County, California. The railroad's street address is not listed here, so check the railroad's official website or a current map listing for the depot location before you drive.
Can you ride a train on Mendocino Railway?
Yes. The railroad runs heritage excursions that take visitors through Mendocino County's redwood forests along the historic logging line. Trips, departure times and fares change by season, so book through the Skunk Train's official site or call the railroad before you go.
How much does it cost to ride Mendocino Railway?
Train fares typically vary by trip and season. Check the railroad's official website for prices before you go. One bonus: a train ticket gets you into the Mendocino Coast Model Railroad behind the main building for free.
What are the Mendocino Railway hours?
The railroad's hours and train schedule are not listed here, and excursion times often change with the season. Check the Skunk Train's official website or call the railroad before you go so you arrive in Fort Bragg in time for your departure.
What is the model railroad near the Skunk Train depot?
The Mendocino Coast Model Railroad and Historical Society sits just behind the Skunk Train main building in Fort Bragg. Its layout recreates the local logging railroad world with more than 1,300 feet of track, equal to about 6 scale miles, along with trestles, a logging camp, bridges, a pier and a town.
How much is the Mendocino Coast Model Railroad?
Admission to the Mendocino Coast Model Railroad is free with a Skunk Train ticket. Without one, the visitor bureau lists admission at $5 for adults and $3 for children. Prices can change, so confirm before your visit, and keep your train ticket handy to get in free.
Is Mendocino Railway good for kids?
Train-loving kids can enjoy both a ride through the redwoods and the model railroad behind the main building, which the local visitor bureau calls fun for the whole family. Age guidance and trip lengths for the excursions are not posted here, so ask the railroad before booking with toddlers.
Do Mendocino Railway trains go through the redwoods?
Yes. Excursions on the historic logging railroad travel through the redwood forests of Mendocino County, the same timber country the line was built to serve in 1885. The model railroad in Fort Bragg shows how logging camps, trestles and bridges once worked along the route.
Where does the Mendocino Railway line go?
The line runs from the railroad's headquarters in Fort Bragg on the coast inland to an interchange with the Northwestern Pacific. Passenger trips cover parts of that historic route. Check the railroad's official site for which segments and turnaround points are offered on current excursions.
Has Mendocino Railway been in the news?
Yes. Recent news coverage has reported a long-running dispute in which a court approved the Skunk Train's use of eminent domain, a decision some local residents opposed. Ongoing legal matters do not change how you book a ride, but check the railroad's official site for any operational updates.
Can I visit Mendocino Railway in winter?
The railroad's winter excursion calendar changes from year to year. Many heritage railroads run fewer trips in winter, so check the official website or call the railroad for winter dates before planning a trip to Fort Bragg.
Does Mendocino Railway have a gift shop?
Gift shop and visitor services at the Fort Bragg headquarters are not described here. Ask the railroad when you book, or check its website. The neighboring model railroad and historical society is another place to learn about the area's rail past.
How can I support Mendocino Coast rail history?
Riding the trains supports the railroad, and visiting the Mendocino Coast Model Railroad and Historical Society helps preserve the local rail and logging story. Volunteer and membership programs are not posted online, so ask the historical society directly when you visit.
Is Mendocino Railway accessible for wheelchairs?
Accessibility details for the trains and the Fort Bragg depot are not posted here. Contact the railroad before booking to ask about boarding, seating and restrooms, and contact the model railroad separately about access to its layout.
What other train attractions are near Mendocino Railway?
The Skunk Train, run by the same railroad, departs from Fort Bragg. Farther afield, the Napa Valley Wine Train is about 114 miles away, the Sacramento RiverTrain about 128 miles, and the Western Railway Museum about 132 miles. San Francisco's rail museums are about 137 miles south.
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