Poway-Midland Railroad, California

Oct 19

Poway, California · Updated October 19, 2026 · 11 min read

Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesWeekend rides; see the railroad's calendar for steam days

The Poway-Midland Railroad is a full-size narrow gauge railroad inside Old Poway Park, where volunteers have restored and run antique equipment since 1991, from a 1907 Baldwin steam locomotive to a 1906 San Francisco cable car.

1907 Baldwin steam locomotive
1906 San Francisco cable car
Volunteer-run since 1991
Unusual 3 ft 6 in gauge
Depot with a small museum
Owned by the City of Poway

Poway-Midland Railroad at a glance

Hours: Weekend rides; check the calendar on powaymidlandrr.org
Admission: Tickets sold per ride at the depot ticket office; check the website for prices
Train rides: Steam, cable car and speeder rides on weekends; steam on scheduled weekends except January and February
Seasonal events: Christmas in the Park, Train Song Fest, Rendezvous, Fourth of July
Plan for: About 1 hour with a ride and the depot museum
Best for: Families with toddlers and young kids
Best ages: Toddlers to age 10

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Contact and directions

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Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Poway-Midland 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 Poway.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from 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.

How a park and a band of volunteers built a railroad

The Poway-Midland Railroad began with a meeting in May 1991. That November the Poway-Midland Railroad Volunteers incorporated as a nonprofit dedicated to restoring, operating and maintaining antique railroad equipment, and a boxcar had already arrived on site. The railroad is owned by the City of Poway and lives in Old Poway Park, and the volunteers have operated and cared for it from the start.

The pieces came together quickly. A trolley arrived in April 1993, track work was finished that June, and on July 4, 1993, the day Old Poway Park was dedicated, the railroad carried its first passengers behind a speeder. Steam followed in September 1994 with the first locomotive passenger run. In July 1996 the railroad set a record of 2,500 passengers, and in January 1997 it qualified its first woman fireman. A San Francisco cable car arrived that October.

The volunteers kept building: a turntable dedicated on July 4, 2002, a barn expansion in October 2004, and in October 2009 a new depot holding a ticket office, train shop and museum. By 2006 the railroad counted more than 425,000 total passengers and over 74,000 volunteer hours, with 397 active members. Those volunteers also present Operation Lifesaver rail safety programs, 40 to 50 a year, reaching more than 20,000 people.

Three rides on one narrow gauge loop

The line runs on 3 foot 6 inch narrow gauge track, an unusual width for an American heritage railroad, on a loop inside Old Poway Park. The railroad has 11 pieces of equipment in all, and it rotates three ways to ride: the 1907 Baldwin 0-4-0 steam locomotive, a 1906 San Francisco cable car, and a Fairmont speeder, a small rail motor car. A ride lasts about 10 to 15 minutes, according to one ride guide.

Start at the train depot, where the ticket office sits alongside the train shop and a small museum. The turntable, dedicated in 2002, and the expanded barn are part of the grounds. The railroad posts which equipment is running each weekend on its calendar, so check before you go if your child has a favorite.

Don’t miss

1907 Baldwin 0-4-0The railroad's steam locomotive, which pulls trains on scheduled steam weekends.
1906 San Francisco cable carA cable car from San Francisco, here since 1997, that gives rides around the park loop.
Fairmont speederThe small motor car that carried the railroad's very first passengers on July 4, 1993.
The turntableDedicated on July 4, 2002, it is part of the railroad's working yard.
The depot museumOpened in 2009 alongside the ticket office and train shop.

Short rides made for little conductors

At roughly 10 to 15 minutes, a ride here fits a toddler's attention span, and with three kinds of equipment kids can come back to try the steam train, the cable car or the speeder.

For birthdays, the railroad suggests reserving space with Old Poway Park staff, then buying an estimated number of ride tickets at the depot ticket office on the day; unused tickets are refunded. Talk with the Station Agent once the trains are running to coordinate your group.

Plan your visit: tips for Poway-Midland Railroad

Check the calendar to see whether the steam engine, cable car or speeder is running.
Buy ride tickets at the ticket office inside the train depot.
Planning a party? Reserve space with Old Poway Park staff first.
Steam does not run in January or February.

Old Poway Park's big days bring the biggest crowds: the railroad carried 1,866 riders on July 4, 2005, and 1,732 during Christmas in the Park in 2004. Train Song Fest and Rendezvous have drawn crowds too. Check the railroad's calendar for this year's dates, and see our list of Christmas train rides in California for more December outings.

The Poway-Midland Railroad Volunteers

Poway-Midland Railroad Volunteers, Inc., a nonprofit founded in 1991, restores, runs and maintains the equipment, while the City of Poway owns the railroad. Every ride ticket supports the work, and the group welcomes new volunteers and members; reach out through its website or Facebook page to get involved.

More rail near San Diego

The Pacific Southwest Railway Museum in Campo is about 14 miles away on the map, and the San Diego Model Railroad Museum is about 18 miles. The National City Depot is about 20 miles south. See all of our California train museum pages.

Every train museum in California

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor view from inside a dark tunnel looking out at a sunny beach and cliffs — From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

This little railroad is only about 18 miles from San Diego, where Rally's train begins in our book. On one Fourth of July it carried 1,866 riders, and I can only imagine the noise. It reminds me of our tunnel page: dark for a moment, then a big bright light and happy cheers. If you have a reader at home, you might like our list of train books for toddlers.

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.

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More for train families

Train museums in California: every museum by town, with a map
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Christmas train rides in California
Halloween train rides in California
Every Amtrak route with kids

Work or volunteer at Poway-Midland 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

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Poway-Midland Railroad: 20 questions parents ask

What is the Poway-Midland Railroad?

The Poway-Midland Railroad is a full-size narrow gauge heritage railroad in Old Poway Park in Poway, California. It is owned by the City of Poway and run by Poway-Midland Railroad Volunteers, Inc., a nonprofit founded in 1991. It offers rides behind a steam locomotive, on a cable car and on a speeder.

Where is the Poway-Midland Railroad?

The railroad is inside Old Poway Park in Poway, California, along Temple Street. Look for the train depot, which houses the ticket office, train shop and museum. Check powaymidlandrr.org or its Facebook page for directions before you go.

When does the Poway-Midland Railroad run?

The railroad runs rides on weekends, and its website posts a calendar with the details. Steam trips run on scheduled weekends, traditionally the first and third weekends of the month, except in January and February. Confirm the current schedule on powaymidlandrr.org before you visit.

How much does the Poway-Midland Railroad cost?

Ride tickets are sold at the ticket office inside the train depot, but current prices are best confirmed on the railroad's website. Check powaymidlandrr.org or the railroad's Facebook page for current fares before you go, especially if you are bringing a group.

Can you ride the steam train at the Poway-Midland Railroad?

Yes. The railroad's 1907 Baldwin 0-4-0 steam locomotive pulls trains on scheduled steam weekends, but it does not run in January or February. On other weekends you may ride the cable car or the speeder instead, so check the calendar if steam is the goal.

Is there really a San Francisco cable car in Poway?

Yes. A 1906 San Francisco cable car arrived at the Poway-Midland Railroad in October 1997, and it gives rides around the park loop on its scheduled days. One ride guide describes it as battery electric. Check the calendar to see when it is running.

What is the speeder at the Poway-Midland Railroad?

The speeder is a small Fairmont rail motor car. It carried the railroad's first passengers on July 4, 1993. Sources list it as a 1956 or a 1953 Fairmont. It is one of three ride options, along with steam and the cable car.

How long is a ride on the Poway-Midland Railroad?

One ride guide says rides typically last 10 to 15 minutes on the loop inside Old Poway Park. That length works well for toddlers and makes it easy to ride more than once or try a different piece of equipment on the same day.

Is the Poway-Midland Railroad good for toddlers?

Yes. Short rides of about 10 to 15 minutes, a park setting and three kinds of equipment make it a good fit for very young train fans. Bring snacks and plan for some time in Old Poway Park between rides. Check the calendar to see which equipment is running.

Can I have a birthday party at the Poway-Midland Railroad?

Yes. The railroad suggests checking with Old Poway Park staff to reserve space in the park. On the day, buy your estimated number of ride tickets at the depot ticket office, and the railroad will refund any you do not use. Then talk with the Station Agent once trains are running.

Who owns the Poway-Midland Railroad?

The Poway-Midland Railroad is owned by the City of Poway. It is operated and maintained by Poway-Midland Railroad Volunteers, Inc., a nonprofit organization founded in 1991 and dedicated to the restoration, operation and maintenance of antique railroad equipment.

When did the Poway-Midland Railroad start?

The volunteers first met in May 1991 and incorporated that November. The first passengers rode behind a speeder on July 4, 1993, the day Old Poway Park was dedicated, and the first steam locomotive passenger run came in September 1994. One listing gives an earlier founding year, so dates vary by source.

What track gauge does the Poway-Midland Railroad use?

The railroad uses 3 foot 6 inch narrow gauge, also described as 42-inch gauge. Wikipedia notes this is unusual for a heritage railroad. It is full size, not a miniature, so kids ride on real historic equipment.

Is there a museum at the Poway-Midland Railroad?

Yes. The train depot, dedicated in October 2009, holds a ticket office, train shop and museum. It is a good first stop to buy tickets and learn about the equipment before riding. The railroad also has a turntable and an expanded barn on the grounds.

Does the Poway-Midland Railroad do Christmas events?

The railroad has been part of Christmas in the Park at Old Poway Park, which drew 1,732 riders in 2004. For this year's holiday dates and ride plans, check powaymidlandrr.org or the railroad's Facebook page in late fall.

What special events does the Poway-Midland Railroad host?

Big park days bring big crowds. The railroad carried 1,866 passengers on July 4, 2005, 1,829 during Train Song Fest in 2006 and 1,422 during Rendezvous in 2005. Check the calendar on powaymidlandrr.org to see which events are on this year.

How can I volunteer at the Poway-Midland Railroad?

Poway-Midland Railroad Volunteers, Inc. runs everything, from restoration to operating the trains, and has logged tens of thousands of volunteer hours. To join, contact the group through powaymidlandrr.org or its Facebook page. Its volunteers also present Operation Lifesaver rail safety programs.

Is there parking at Old Poway Park for the railroad?

The railroad does not list its own parking details. The railroad is inside Old Poway Park, so check the City of Poway's park information or the railroad's website for parking guidance, especially on busy event days like the Fourth of July.

Does the Poway-Midland Railroad have a turntable?

Yes. The railroad dedicated its turntable on July 4, 2002. It is part of the working yard alongside the barn, which was expanded in 2004. Ask a volunteer whether it will be in use during your visit.

What train museums are near Poway?

The Pacific Southwest Railway Museum in Campo is about 14 miles away on the map, and the San Diego Model Railroad Museum is about 18 miles. The San Diego Electric Railway Association's National City Depot is about 20 miles away, and the Southern California Railway Museum in Perris is about 56 miles north.

Keep exploring

More family train guides from Rally

Kelsey Cecil