In its heyday, the line was about 31 miles long and served the communities of Freeport, Hood, Locke, Walnut Grove, and Isleton. Trains — on what became known as the Walnut Grove Branch — hauled pears, sugar beets, asparagus, and other products. The last Southern Pacific train journeyed to Hood Junction on October 10, 1978.
The California State Railroad Museum opened in 1976, and the first steam powered excursion train set out from Old Sacramento to Miller Park on June 2, 1984. (This route was extended to include Baths years later.)
Today, the California State Railroad Museum’s excursion railroad, the Sacramento Southern Railroad, is in operation from mid-April through September, when excursion trains depart every hour on the hour in Old Sacramento on the weekends (Hecteman himself is a crew member). The train features a combination of vintage closed coaches with comfortable seats, and open-air “gondolas” with bench style seating.
Since 1984, more than one million guests have taken a ride aboard the Sacramento Southern Railroad, served by all-volunteer crews fully trained and certified under Federal Railroad Administration regulations. Along the six-mile, 40-minute roundtrip excursion the train crosses Capitol Mall at Tower Bridge, passes under Pioneer Bridge, and rolls alongside the Miller Park Marina before stopping at Baths. At Baths, the steam engine uncouples from the front of the train, “runs around” the train on a sidetrack, and couples onto the other end of the train before sounding its whistle to begin the return trip to Old Sacramento.
It’s a sight to behold. Thanks to Hecteman’s Sacramento Southern Railroad, I plan to check it out very soon.
Article comments
1 - Tom Freeburger
And, Kevin is donating all of his royalties to the California State railroad Musem Foundation!