Redwood Valley Railway in Berkeley, California

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Berkeley, California · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Outdoor rail parkTrain ridesWeekends year-round, daily in summer, weather permitting

The Redwood Valley Railway, known to generations of Bay Area families as the Tilden Park Steam Trains, runs 15-inch gauge live steam locomotives designed and built on site, on 1.25 miles of track through redwoods its founder planted in 1952.

  • Running since 1952
  • 15-inch gauge live steam
  • Locomotives built on site
  • 1.25 miles of track
  • About 160,000 riders a year
  • Leashed dogs welcome aboard

Redwood Valley Railway at a glance

Hours
Saturdays and Sundays 11 am to 6 pm year-round (to sundown in winter); daily mid-June to Labor Day; weather permitting
Admission
Per-ride tickets; the last published price was $4 a ride or $16 for five (2024)
Train rides
Steam train loop of about 12 to 15 minutes; all riders over age 2 need a ticket
Seasonal events
Anniversary Meet, Winterfest
Plan for
About 1 hour, or a full day with the rest of Tilden Park
Best for
Toddlers, young kids and steam fans
Best ages
Toddlers to age 10
Parking
Lot near the station, a short walk away
Accessibility
Parking, drinking water and restrooms are wheelchair accessible, per the park district.

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

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Redwood 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 Berkeley.

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.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

Erich Thomsen's railroad on an old gun site

Erich Thomsen worked in the engineering department of the Western Pacific Railroad and held at least three patents for his work. In 1952 he opened a little 12-inch gauge line in Tilden Regional Park called the Tilden South Gate and Pacific Railway, on land near the base of Vollmer Peak that had once been an anti-aircraft gun emplacement. As he laid out the route, 800 redwood trees were planted along it. Those trees have grown into the grove that gives the railway its name.

In 1968 the railroad was rebuilt to 15-inch gauge, about 1:3.8 scale, which let two adults sit side by side and gave the trains the look of American narrow gauge lines. Thomsen designed the steam locomotives himself, and the Redwood Valley Shops built them on site. Two of them have even crossed the Atlantic to run on English 15-inch railways, including the Ravenglass and Eskdale. The original 12-inch engine, a 4-4-0 named Cricket, went to the Folsom Valley Railway.

After Thomsen died in 1995, his daughter Ellen Thomsen took over, and by 2019 she had planted 900 more redwoods on the property. The line has grown to 1.25 miles and now carries more than 160,000 passengers a year. It is privately funded: operations, maintenance, landscaping and fire hazard work are all paid for without money from the park district, whose lease with the railway expired in 2019. The district has called the railway a cherished and valued resource.

Four home-built steam engines and a train of gondolas

The railway's four 15-inch scale steam locomotives are not copies of any full-size engine, but they share many details with Baldwin locomotives built between 1875 and 1910. Each holds about 150 gallons of water, enough for 10 trips. They pull 13 wooden gondolas modeled on Western narrow gauge cars, each seating up to eight adults, plus three stock cars fitted for passengers, which small children love. A center cupola caboose based on a Denver and Rio Grande Western narrow gauge prototype has brought up the rear of most trains for more than 30 years.

The ride is a 12 to 15 minute loop through redwoods and eucalyptus on the ridge. Back at the station, a viewing window into the roundhouse lets visitors see the other steam engines resting between runs, and the shops are working on new projects, including a 2-6-0 locomotive, number 13, whose boiler and frame are already on site.

Don’t miss

  1. The roundhouse viewing windowA window into the roundhouse where the railway's other steam locomotives wait their turn.
  2. The stock carsThree slatted cars built to carry passengers, a favorite seat for small kids, though a full-size adult fits too.
  3. The D&RGW-style cabooseA short center cupola caboose modeled on a Colorado narrow gauge design, at the end of most trains for over 30 years.
  4. The redwood grovePlanted when the railroad was first laid out in 1952, and added to with 900 more trees by 2019.
  5. Anniversary MeetOn the first full weekend of June most locomotives are under steam, often joined by visiting engines and cars.

Toddler-sized trains with real steam

This is one of the easiest steam train rides to do with toddlers: tickets are inexpensive, rides are short, and kids sit in open gondolas or the beloved stock cars while a real steam engine whistles up front. Older kids can study the locomotives at the station and peer into the roundhouse window.

Families often make a day of Tilden Park, which also has a vintage carousel, the free Little Farm, Lake Anza and the Botanic Garden. The hills can be cool and breezy, so bring layers. The park district says parking, drinking water and restrooms at the steam train are wheelchair accessible.

Plan your visit: tips for Redwood Valley Railway

  • Buy a multi-ride ticket if your kids will want to go around again.
  • Trains run weather permitting; call (510) 548-6100 if skies look doubtful.
  • Expect intermittent Tilden Park road and trail closures for fire fuel work through December 2026.
  • Dogs may ride on a leash.
  • Arrive early on weekends and holidays, when the park is busiest.

During the first and second weekends of December, the railway celebrates Winterfest, staying open until 7 pm while Father Solstice, in a green suit with a puffy white beard, rides along with passengers. In June, the Anniversary Meet puts most of the steam fleet to work at once. For more holiday rides around the state, see our guide to California Christmas train rides.

A family railroad, privately funded

The Thomsen family has run the railway since 1952, first Erich Thomsen and since 1995 his daughter Ellen. The railway pays for its own operations, maintenance and fire safety work with private funds, and its crew builds and maintains the equipment in the Redwood Valley Shops. Riding, and riding again, is the most direct way to support it.

More Bay Area trains after Tilden

The San Francisco Railway Museum is about 14 miles away across the Bay, near the San Francisco Cable Car Museum at about 15 miles. The Niles Canyon Railway in Sunol is about 16 miles south. See California train museums for the full list.

Every train museum in California

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi dreaming about his toy turtle, green bone and yellow ball
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

This little railway lets dogs ride on a leash, which made me laugh, because in our book Rally insists on packing his own suitcase: his turtle toy, his green bone and his yellow ball. I can picture a corgi squeezed into one of those stock cars with all three. My mom would have loved that. If your kids want to draw Rally's bag, it's on our coloring pages.

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

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

Work or volunteer at Redwood 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.

Redwood Valley Railway: 20 questions about the Tilden steam trains

Where is the Redwood Valley Railway?

The Redwood Valley Railway is inside Tilden Regional Park in the hills above Berkeley, at 2481 Grizzly Peak Blvd, Orinda, CA 94563, near the corner of Lomas Cantadas and Grizzly Peak Boulevard. It is an easy drive from Berkeley, Oakland and Walnut Creek, with parking a short walk from the station.

Are the Tilden Park Steam Trains the same as the Redwood Valley Railway?

Yes. Tilden Park Steam Trains is the popular name for the Redwood Valley Railway, the 15-inch gauge live steam railroad in Tilden Regional Park. It opened in 1952 as the Tilden South Gate and Pacific Railway and has been run by the Thomsen family ever since.

What are the Redwood Valley Railway hours?

As of October 2026, the trains are listed as running Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am to 6 pm year-round, closing at sundown in winter, and daily from mid-June to Labor Day, with weekday hours of 11 am to 5 pm. Holiday Mondays may also run. All hours are weather permitting, so call (510) 548-6100 to confirm.

How much are Redwood Valley Railway tickets?

The most recent published price, from October 2024, was $4 per ride for adults and children over 2, or $16 for five rides. Prices can change, so check the current Tilden attractions fee list or call (510) 548-6100 before you go. Multi-ride tickets are a good value for families.

Can you buy Redwood Valley Railway tickets online?

The railway does not advertise online ticket sales. Tickets are sold per ride at the railway, with multi-ride options. Some guide websites mention bringing a little cash, since smaller Tilden attractions may not all take cards, so it is worth having some on hand just in case.

How long is the Redwood Valley Railway ride?

Each ride lasts about 12 to 15 minutes on the railway's 1.25 miles of track, looping through redwoods and eucalyptus on the ridge. It is a good length for toddlers. Many families buy a multi-ride ticket and go around more than once.

Is the Redwood Valley Railway a real steam train?

Yes. The railway runs four live steam locomotives on 15-inch gauge track, designed by founder Erich Thomsen and built in its own Redwood Valley Shops. They share many details with Baldwin engines of 1875 to 1910. A single diesel locomotive is used only for work trains.

What is the Redwood Valley Railway schedule in summer?

From mid-June to Labor Day the railway runs seven days a week, from 11 am to 5 pm on weekdays and 11 am to 6 pm on weekends. The rest of the year it runs on weekends. Summer weekends are busy, so arriving early helps.

Does the Redwood Valley Railway run in bad weather?

Trains run weather permitting, so heavy rain or other conditions can stop service. The hills above Berkeley can also be cool and breezy on warm days, so bring layers. If the forecast looks uncertain, call (510) 548-6100 before heading up to Tilden.

Does the Redwood Valley Railway do a Christmas event?

Yes. Winterfest runs on the first and second weekends of December, when the railway stays open until 7 pm and Father Solstice, with his green suit and puffy white beard, rides along. Check with the railway for this year's exact dates and any changes.

Who owns the Redwood Valley Railway?

The railway is a privately run family operation. Erich Thomsen founded it in 1952, and his daughter Ellen Thomsen has run it since he died in 1995. It sits on East Bay Regional Park District land, but the railway receives no money from the district and pays its own costs.

Does the Redwood Valley Railway have an official website?

Several websites use the railway's name, and at least one describes itself as an independent visitor guide. For reliable hours and prices, call the railway at (510) 548-6100 or check the East Bay Regional Park District's Tilden Steam Train page and its Tilden attractions fee list.

Is the Redwood Valley Railway in the town of Redwood Valley?

No. Despite the name, the Redwood Valley Railway is in Tilden Regional Park above Berkeley, with an Orinda mailing address. It is named for the redwood grove planted along its tracks. Searches for weather or post office hours in a town called Redwood Valley refer to a different place.

Are dogs allowed on the Redwood Valley Railway?

Yes. Dogs are allowed on the train but must be kept on a leash at all times. That makes it a rare steam train ride the whole family, including the dog, can enjoy. Bring water, since summer afternoons on the ridge can be warm.

Is the Redwood Valley Railway good for toddlers?

Very. Rides are short, tickets are inexpensive, and toddlers can sit in an open gondola or one of the stock cars that small children love. Families often call the Tilden steam trains a favorite outing for little ones, especially paired with the nearby Little Farm and carousel.

Is the Redwood Valley Railway wheelchair accessible?

The East Bay Regional Park District says parking, drinking water and restroom facilities at the steam train are wheelchair accessible. The park district does not describe wheelchair seating on the trains themselves, which use small open gondolas, so call (510) 548-6100 to ask before your visit.

Where do you park for the Redwood Valley Railway?

There is a parking lot near the station, a short walk away. Parking at most of Tilden Park is free. Through December 2026, fire fuel reduction work in the park may cause intermittent road and trail closures, so leave a little extra time.

Can you have a birthday party at the Redwood Valley Railway?

Families do plan birthday outings around the steam trains, but the railway does not advertise an official party package. Multi-ride tickets and Tilden Park's picnic areas make it easy to build your own. Call (510) 548-6100 to ask about larger groups.

What is the history of the Redwood Valley Railway?

Western Pacific engineer Erich Thomsen opened it in 1952 as a 12-inch gauge line on a former anti-aircraft gun site and planted 800 redwoods along it. It switched to 15-inch gauge in 1968. Two of its locomotives have run in England, and it now carries over 160,000 riders a year.

What train museums are near the Redwood Valley Railway?

Across the Bay, the San Francisco Railway Museum is about 14 miles away, and the San Francisco Cable Car Museum and Market Street Railway collection are about 15 miles. The Niles Canyon Railway is about 16 miles south in Sunol, and the Santa Clara Depot museum is about 29 miles away.

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