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Siskiyou
County is an excellent destination for railroad enthusiasts, with
the main north-south railroad line running through the county, and a
variety of smaller lines and private tracks. Excursion trains run
out of McCloud in the afternoons during the summer, with open air
cars that allow visitors scenic views of the alpine forests and
Mount Shasta, and a gourmet dinner train excursion. In north county,
the Yreka Western Railroad's Blue Goose Steam Train will be making
daily runs between Yreka and Montague beginning Memorial Day
Weekend. You can even sleep in a caboose at Siskiyou County's
Railroad Park Resort. Find links below to please every railroad fan. |
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The
Yreka Western Railroad's Blue Goose Steam Train
will be making daily runs between Yreka and Montague beginning
Memorial Day Weekend. Enthusiasts can board the train mid-morning at
the depot east of the central Yreka I-5 exit for the hour long ride
through beautiful Shasta Valley. There is plenty of time for lunch
and a stroll through historic Montague before boarding the train for
the trip back to Yreka. Come early to have time to enjoy the
extensive model train display at the Yreka Depot. The
Shasta Sunset Dinner Train
provides a unique dining experience in turn-of-the-century restored
rail cars. Special events trains featuring music and theater happen
throughout the season. The Shasta Sunset Dinner Train operates over
the equally historic McCloud Railway, with roots back to 1897 and
the early logging days of Sisikiyou County. Built over the southern
flank of of 14,162-foot Mt. Shasta to connect the bustling company
town of McCloud with the outside world, then as now, forest products
from the region's rich timber belt were the railroad's mainstay.
Excursion trains
run out of McCloud in the afternoons during the summer. The McCloud
Railroad has open air cars that allow visitors scenic views of the
alpine forests and Mount Shasta. Taking a little over an hour, the
excursions operate weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day
departing from the historic town of McCloud. The trips feature
either diesel locomotives or one of our historic steam locomotives,
1925 Alco built No. 25 or 1914 Baldwin built No. 18.
Dunsmuir,
Siskiyou County's railroad town, has the last remaining working
turntable in the United States. It has been used for turning
locomotives since 1938. The electric motors that drive the heavy
metal table around its circular track are operated by an old
fashioned trolley controller. Train enthusiasts are drawn to this
historic town for Dunsmuir Railroad Days in June commemorating its
railroad history. Check out the freights and passenger trains
arriving and departing on the
Dunsmuir Rail
Cam, a live,
on-line camera located down at the station in historic Dunsmuir.
Order yourself a copy of the
Dunsmuir
Self-Guided Railroad Photography Tour
from the Dunsmuir Chamber of Commerce. Railroad photographers can
find great photo tips and locations with this handy self-guided tour
map. Discover trains heading up to Black Butte Summit, being helped
just as in the 1880's, but today with modern diesel-electric
locomotives. Historic buildings can be found along the line.
Discover dramatic shots of trains with awe-inspiring 14,162 foot Mt.
Shasta and the unusual spires of Castle Crags in the background.
Locations included in this guide range from easy road crossings to
shots requiring a mile of hiking.
Ride the
Blue Goose Video
That's not thunder you hear, it's the powerful sounds of a 1915
Baldwin steam engine rumbling across northern California's scenic
Shasta Valley. The locomotive affectionately known as the "Blue
Goose" is pulling you through working lumber mills and cattle
ranches. All in the presence of cattle and in the shadow of majestic
14,162 foot Mt. Shasta. This 60 minute video is $19.95 plus tax and
shipping from
AAAhwsome! Railroad Videos
at 2728 North Bonneyview Rd, Redding, CA 96001
For lots of great train photos, visit
ShastaRails
a site displaying photographs taken in and around Northern
California concentrating near the small towns of Mount Shasta and
Dunsmuir. And don't miss the
Dunsmuir Rail Fan Resource Page
from local photographer Robert Morris.
Photo of railroad workmen in Weed, California: ca. 1922. Courtesy
of the Weed Historic Lumber Town Museum. See this and many more
historic Siskiyou County photos at
SiskiyouHistory.org |
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