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Railroad Heritage in Siskiyou County
Trains, depots, excursions and railroad history.
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 again 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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North of Mount Shasta.
Photo courtesy Kevin Lahey
at Kevin Lahey Photography. |
FEATURED SERVICES
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A nostalgic three-hour train ride through spectacular scenery featuring elegant dining aboard restored vintage rail cars. Regular schedule throughout the year. Special events!
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A historic three-hour train ride through the Shasta Valley featuring our
1915 Baldwin Steam Locomotive. Regular schedule plus Special events!
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- The Yreka Western Railroad runs between Yreka and Montague.
Your trip back in time begins as you depart the 1889 Historic Yreka Depot
and board the Blue Goose Train. The steam engine, a 1915 Baldwin 2-8-2 Mikado
pulls a vintage train consisting of 1920 vintage Harriman Passenger Cars, an
open air car and a unique and rare caboose from the Great Northern Railroad.
Passengers are treated to the unique sights, sound and smell that only a steam
locomotive can produce.
As #19 works its way over Butcher Hill East of
Yreka, history stands still as you pass the Pioneer and Chinese Cemeteries while
their many varied monuments quietly stand guard over the individuals that
founded and built Yreka. Your journey continues down through the scenic Shasta
Valley with majestic 14,162 foot, snowcapped Mt. Shasta dominating the vista. As
your train crosses the Shasta River and through the surrounding meadow,
pastures and grazing land, you will see many examples of the area wild life. Your
journey continues to the old cattle town of Montague, California. The trip
on the "Blue Goose" takes approximately 1 hour to cover the 7.8 miles,
depending upon how many cows are on the track. Passengers will then disembark the
train for a lunch break. You may partake of one of the nearby restaurants, or
enjoy the shady Railroad Park, provided you brought your own lunch. Montague'
s Railroad Museum and other points of interest will round out your experience
in this historic "Old West" town.
- 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.
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.
- Dunsmuir, one of Siskiyou County's railroad towns, 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.
- McCloud has a long and rich rail history, with roots in the lumber industry and the need to carry loads of logs and sawn lumber. Find a web site filled with information and photos at McCloud Rails web site.
- Order 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. ocations included in this guide range
from easy road crossings to shots
requiring a mile of hiking.
- If you are interested in sleeping in a caboose and dining in a rail car, take a trip to Railroad Park a few miles south of Dunsmuir. Built in a loose circle surrounding the resort's swimming pool, deck and spa, the Caboose Motel is steeped in railroad lore as well. Once proudly coupled behind the freight trains of such
legendary carriers as the Southern Pacific, Santa Fe and Great Northern, these renovated cabooses now afford visitors the opportunity to sample the life of a railroader without sacrificing the comforts of today.
- 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.
- The Shasta Cascade Rail Preservation Society is dedicated to the restoration, preservation, maintenance, display and operation of all aspects of historical railroad equipment, especially as it pertains to the rich logging and mining railroad heritage of the Northern California area.
- 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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