October 17, 2006 > Local railroad hums with haunts

by Julie Grabowski

Experience a "slightly frightful evening" aboard the Haunted Railroad at Ardenwood Historic Farm, departing Friday through Sunday the last two weekends in October. A gas-powered locomotive takes visitors on a narrated ride through fields and woods alive with Halloween scenes and spirits. You might witness a ghostly woman riding a handcar, or have Billy Bones, a friendly skeleton, gather himself up to say hello. The spooky excursion is designed for families with children 12 and under.

The Haunted Railroad is put on by the Society for the Preservation of Carter Railroad Resources (SPCRR), located at Ardenwood. The SPCRR is a non-profit narrow-gauge railroad museum dedicated to preserving local railroad history. Run in conjunction with the East Bay Regional Park District, the SPCRR has 1 1/2 miles of track and over 17 wooden cars from the 1870s and 1920s with seven currently in service. Funds raised through the annual Haunted Railroad are used for research and restoration of Carter Brothers' train cars and other railroad artifacts.

Rides depart every half hour in open-air railcars and last 20 minutes. Visitors are welcome to wear costumes. After completing your haunted trip, Joe Perry's Pumpkin Patch is nearby for searching out that perfectly pleasing gourd, or attempt to find your way out of a cornfield in The Maize.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children 3 through 12; cash or checks only. Tickets can be purchased in advance Monday through Saturday October 2-19, and 23-26 at The Book End, 5678 Thornton Ave. in Newark, or Sundays, October 1-29 at the SPCRR Museum at Ardenwood. Tickets will also be available at the gate on operating nights beginning at 4 p.m.

For group reservations (through October 19 only) and more information call (866) 417-7277 or visit www.spcrr.org.

Haunted Railroad
Friday, October 20 and 27, Saturday, October 21 and 28
7:00-9:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 22 and 29
7:00-8:30 p.m.
Ardenwood Historic Farm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
(866) 417-7277