Pacific Coast Railroad in Santa Margarita, California
Rail preservation groupTrain ridesRuns for occasional public events and private charters; ranch visits by appointment
The Pacific Coast Railroad is a steam-powered narrow gauge railroad that loops around the headquarters of the historic Santa Margarita Ranch, pulling four restored coaches that once carried guests on Disneyland's Santa Fe & Disneyland Railroad.
- Built 2000 to 2004
- 3 foot narrow gauge steam
- Coaches from Disneyland's 1950s railroad
- Three engines
- Loop around a 14,000-acre ranch
- Public event days only
Pacific Coast Railroad at a glance
- Hours
- No regular hours; rides run at occasional public events
- Admission
- Varies by event; one rail guide lists fares from $15
- Train rides
- Steam train loop around the ranch headquarters on public event days and private charters
- Seasonal events
- Christmas train rides (dates vary)
- Best for
- Families, Disneyland fans and wedding guests
- Best ages
- All ages
- Parking
- Gravel and mowed field lots at the ranch
- Accessibility
- Venue spaces and restrooms are ADA compliant; much of the ranch is rough terrain
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
- AddressSanta Margarita Ranch, 9000 Yerba Buena, Santa Margarita, CA(opens in a new tab)
- Phone(805) 540-3214
- Emailevents@historicsmr.com
- Websitehistoricsantamargaritaranch.com/pacific-coast-railroad(opens in a new tab)
Follow Pacific Coast Railroad
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Pacific Coast Railroad? 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 Santa Margarita.
Rally Takes the Train
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A rancher's tribute to Central Coast railroading
Santa Margarita Ranch has a long memory. Salinan and Chumash people lived on this land for thousands of years. Franciscan missionaries arrived in the 1770s and built the stone-and-mortar Santa Margarita de Cortona Asistencia, an assistance mission between Mission San Luis Obispo and Mission San Miguel. In 1841 the ranch was granted to Joaquin Estrada, remembered for his fiestas and rodeos, and it later served as a Wells Fargo stagecoach stop. Since 1999 the 14,000-acre ranch has been owned by three local winegrowing and ranching families, the Filipponis, Rossis and Wittstroms, who still run it as a working cattle ranch and vineyard.
Ranch co-owner Rob Rossi, a San Luis Obispo businessman, founded the Pacific Coast Railroad to honor the part railroads played in building Santa Margarita and the Central Coast. Work began in 2000 and the 3 foot narrow gauge line was completed in 2004. It follows a loop around the ranch headquarters with wide views of the meadows and mountains.
The star equipment came from an unexpected place. The railroad's four passenger coaches, built to 5/8 scale, rode on the Santa Fe & Disneyland Railroad at Disneyland in Anaheim in the 1950s; one family guide says they were built for the park's 1955 opening. The coaches have been carefully restored, and today they travel behind the railroad's steam power on event days.
Steam, Disneyland coaches and mission walls
On a public event day, the train circles the ranch headquarters on its narrow gauge loop, with three engines on the roster and the four restored Disneyland coaches carrying riders past open meadows with mountains beyond. The ride is short and scenic rather than a long excursion.
Around the headquarters you can also see the ranch's historic landmarks: the Asistencia, regarded as the first stone-and-mortar structure built in California, its walls now protected inside a barn; remnants of the original El Camino Real, the 600-mile Mission Trail; the old Wells Fargo building from the ranch's stagecoach days; and the original adobe ranch house, now covered in wood siding.
Don’t miss
- The Santa Fe & Disneyland coachesFour 5/8 scale coaches that carried Disneyland guests in the 1950s, now restored for a second career.
- The headquarters loopThe narrow gauge loop gives wide-open views of the ranch's meadows and surrounding mountains.
- The AsistenciaRegarded as California's first stone-and-mortar building, built by Franciscan missionaries near the railroad's loop.
- El Camino Real remnantsTraces of the original 600-mile Mission Trail still cross the ranch.
- The Wells Fargo buildingA reminder that the ranch was once an official stagecoach stop.
A short steam loop with a Disneyland story
Kids who have been to Disneyland usually love learning that these coaches once rode there. The ranch says the restored coaches delight children and adults alike, and the short loop around headquarters is easy for small riders.
This is a working ranch, so expect gravel and dirt roads, wear closed-toe shoes and bring layers, since warm afternoons can turn cool quickly. Venue spaces and restrooms are ADA compliant, though much of the ranch is rough terrain. Pets are not allowed, except service dogs.
Plan your visit: tips for Pacific Coast Railroad
- Ranch visits are by appointment only except for public and reserved private events.
- Stay on designated roads to protect wildlife habitat.
- Bring layers: temperatures can swing widely in a few hours.
- Mobile signal can be limited away from the event headquarters.
- The ranch is about a mile from Highway 101 in Santa Margarita.
Because the railroad runs only for occasional public events, the ranch's Public Events page is the place to watch for ride days. One rail guide lists 2026 Christmas dates for the train, so confirm details directly with the ranch, and compare other Christmas train rides in California while you plan.
A family ranch that shares its train
The railroad was founded by ranch co-owner Rob Rossi, and Santa Margarita Ranch is owned by the Filipponi, Rossi and Wittstrom families. The best ways to support it are coming to public events and booking the train for a wedding or private event, which the ranch welcomes inquiries about.
Rail stops along the Central Coast
The South Coast Railroad Museum in Goleta is about 74 miles south. Farther afield, the Tehachapi Depot Railroad Museum is about 125 miles away, and Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton is about 145 miles north. Browse California's train museums and rides to plan a coast trip.
- South Coast Railroad MuseumGoleta, CA · about 74 mi
- Fillmore & Western Railway historic collectionFillmore, CA · about 116 mi
- Fillmore Historical MuseumFillmore, CA · about 116 mi
- Tehachapi Depot Railroad MuseumTehachapi, CA · about 125 mi
- Santa Cruz Railroad Museum / historic railroad exhibitsSanta Cruz, CA · about 140 mi
- Roaring Camp RailroadsFelton, CA · about 145 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
These little coaches once carried Disneyland guests, and now their windows look out over meadows and mountains on a Central Coast ranch. In our book, Rally gazes through an arched window at the ocean and says hello to a white bird flying by. A window seat is where a small traveler's whole trip happens. You can read how my mom first imagined Rally's ride on our our story page.
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 Pacific Coast Railroad?
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
- Pacific Coast Railroad official website(opens in a new tab)
- Pacific Coast Railroad on Facebook(opens in a new tab)
- Pacific Coast Railroad on Pinterest(opens in a new tab)
- Pacific Coast Railroad on Wikipedia(opens in a new tab)
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Pacific Coast Railroad: 20 questions about the ranch train
What is the Pacific Coast Railroad at Santa Margarita Ranch?
It is a steam-powered, 3 foot narrow gauge railroad that loops around the headquarters of Santa Margarita Ranch in Santa Margarita, California. Ranch co-owner Rob Rossi founded it to honor the railroad's role in developing Santa Margarita and the Central Coast. It runs for occasional public events and private charters.
Can the public ride the Pacific Coast Railroad?
Yes, but only on certain days. The railroad operates for occasional public events throughout the year and is otherwise available for charter at weddings and private events. Ranch visits are by appointment only outside of those events, so watch the Public Events page on the ranch website for ride dates.
What is the Pacific Coast Railroad schedule?
There is no regular timetable. The railroad runs only for occasional public events and private charters at Santa Margarita Ranch. Check the ranch's Public Events page or call (805) 540-3214 to find out when the next public ride is planned.
How much is a ride on the Pacific Coast Railroad?
Prices depend on the event. One rail guide lists fares starting at $15, but the ranch does not post a standard fare online. Some searches mention a $97 train ride, which does not appear in the ranch's materials; confirm the actual price for your event with the ranch at events@historicsmr.com.
Did the Pacific Coast Railroad coaches really come from Disneyland?
Yes. The railroad's four 5/8 scale passenger coaches ran on the Santa Fe & Disneyland Railroad at Disneyland in Anaheim in the 1950s. One family guide says they were built for the park's 1955 opening. They have been restored and now ride the ranch loop.
How many engines does the Pacific Coast Railroad have?
The ranch says the railroad includes three engines along with its four restored passenger coaches. The ranch does not describe the individual engines, including any locomotive numbered 1, on its website, so ask the ranch at an event if you want to know which engine is running.
When was the Pacific Coast Railroad built?
Rob Rossi, a San Luis Obispo businessman and ranch co-owner, established the railroad in 2000, and the line was completed in 2004. It was built as a narrow gauge loop around the ranch headquarters, and the railroad sees only limited public operation.
Where is the Pacific Coast Railroad?
The railroad is at Santa Margarita Ranch headquarters, 9000 Yerba Buena, Santa Margarita, California, about a mile from Highway 101. The ranch's mailing address is 750 Pismo Street in San Luis Obispo, but that is not where the train runs. Lodging is about 10 minutes away in San Luis Obispo and Atascadero.
Is there a map of the Pacific Coast Railroad?
The ranch website includes a map link for the Santa Margarita Ranch headquarters, where the loop is located. The ranch does not publish a detailed track map. The railroad is a single loop around the headquarters, so there is no long route to plan.
Is the Pacific Coast Railroad the same as the old Pacific Coast Railway?
No. The Pacific Coast Railway was a former narrow gauge system near San Luis Obispo. The Pacific Coast Railroad at Santa Margarita Ranch is a separate tourist railroad, established in 2000, that honors the region's railroad history with a loop around the ranch headquarters.
Is this the Pacific Coast Railroad in Washington?
No. A different, former Pacific Coast Railroad operated near Seattle, Washington. This page covers the tourist railroad at Santa Margarita Ranch on California's Central Coast. Searches for the North Pacific Coast or South Pacific Coast railroad maps also refer to other, historic lines.
Is the Pacific Coast Railroad operating right now?
It runs only for occasional public events and private charters, so it is not open every day. To find out if a ride is coming up, check the Public Events page on the Santa Margarita Ranch website or call (805) 540-3214. Visits outside events are by appointment only.
Does the Pacific Coast Railroad run Christmas trains?
One rail guide lists 2026 Christmas dates for the Pacific Coast Railroad, but the ranch's own railroad page does not give them. Check the Santa Margarita Ranch Public Events page or call (805) 540-3214 in the fall to confirm holiday rides, prices and tickets.
Can I rent the Pacific Coast Railroad for a wedding or party?
Yes. The railroad is available for charter at weddings and special events at Santa Margarita Ranch, and the ranch also hosts birthday parties, reunions and corporate events. Contact events@historicsmr.com or (805) 540-3214 to ask about firing up the train for your event.
Is the Pacific Coast Railroad good for kids?
Yes. The ranch says the restored coaches delight children and adults alike, and the short loop suits young riders. Plan for a working ranch: gravel and dirt roads, closed-toe shoes and layers for changing temperatures. Pets are not allowed except service dogs.
Is Santa Margarita Ranch wheelchair accessible?
The ranch says its venue spaces and restroom facilities are ADA compliant, though much of the ranch is rough terrain with gravel or dirt roads. Accessibility of the train coaches themselves is not described, so call (805) 540-3214 before your visit to ask about boarding.
Where do you park at Santa Margarita Ranch?
Parking is in designated gravel and mowed field lots, and drivers must stay on designated roads to protect wildlife habitat. For private events the ranch provides parking staff. Expect limited exterior lighting after dark, so bring a flashlight for evening events.
What else is there to see at Santa Margarita Ranch?
The ranch headquarters includes the Asistencia, regarded as California's first stone-and-mortar structure; remnants of the original El Camino Real; a Wells Fargo building from its stagecoach days; and the original adobe ranch house. The ranch is also a working cattle ranch and vineyard.
Where can I see photos and reviews of the Pacific Coast Railroad?
The ranch posts photos on its railroad page and shares updates on Facebook and Pinterest. Wedding couples have praised the train in the ranch's testimonials, and rail guides such as Scenic Railroad USA list the railroad as well.
What train museums are near the Pacific Coast Railroad?
The South Coast Railroad Museum in Goleta is about 74 miles south. The Fillmore & Western Railway collection is about 116 miles away, the Tehachapi Depot Railroad Museum about 125 miles, and Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton about 145 miles north.
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